New Jersey Stage Issue 60 | Page 23

Wouldn’t it be great if the band simply had a CD featuring their best songs? Popular artists have released “Greatest Hits” compilations for decades, but independent artists and lesser known acts rarely do. It’s not unheard of though. Many Jersey music fans first fell in love with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes from their Havin’ A Party release, which was essentially a best of collection taken from their first three records. Some of the songs had received radio airplay, but largely it was a record highlighting the best of an artist from their record label. It was a way they hoped to recoup some of the money spent on developing the artist. But the same approach could benefit independent artists as well. Instead of hoping people buy all of your CDs or pick one at random (generally the latest release), why not give them something showcasing your best work? If they get hooked, chances are they’ll order additional releases from you afterwards. Nowadays you don’t even have to create a professional CD, you could just burn a best from mp3s or wav files onto a CD-R or Wouldn’t it be great if the band simply had a CD featuring their best songs? their work. It’s a release that is still available 40 years later. In the seventies, many record companies produced such compilations after they dropped NJ STAGE - ISSUE 60 offer a download card for them to grab it when they got home. Some artists sell USB sticks at their shows featuring multiple albums or even their entire catalog and outtakes. INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 23