Greatest Hits: Back to the Start

Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedJune 28, 2005
Recorded1984–2000
Genre
Length78:04
Label
Megadeth chronology
Still, Alive... and Well?
(2002)
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
(2005)
Warchest
(2007)

Greatest Hits: Back to the Start is the second greatest hits album by Megadeth. It was released on June 28, 2005, via Capitol Records.[1] The title "Back to the Start" is a reference to lyrics in "Rust in Peace... Polaris" from Megadeth's 1990 album Rust in Peace: "The day of final conflict/All pay the price/The third World War rapes peace/Takes life back to the start." The cover art is an edited version of the 1954 Castle Romeo H-bomb test.

Background and release

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The selection of tracks for the album was largely determined by fans, who voted on songs in polls on the band's website.[2] However, the inclusion of "Kill the King," a track originally released on Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years in 2000, was insisted upon by Mustaine.[3] To help promote the release, a new video was made for "Kill the King."[1]

Commercial performance

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Greatest Hits: Back to the Start reached No. 65 on the U.S. Billboard 200,[4] selling 17,441 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.[5] By December 16, 2005, the album had sold about 133,000 copies in the U.S.[6] The album was also certified gold in Canada on July 15, 2011.[7] On July 23, 2011 in Toronto, Canada, the band was presented with gold plaques by EMI in recognition of the achievement.[8]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blender[9]
AllMusic[10]

Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic critiqued the album for being more of a sampler and having a more "balanced" approach to the band's Capitol Records material, rather than focusing on Megadeth's first few records.[10]

Track listing

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No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"1990 - Rust in Peace6:32
2."In My Darkest Hour"1988 - So Far, So Good... So What!6:26
3."Peace Sells"1986 - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?4:02
4."Sweating Bullets"1992 - Countdown to Extinction5:26
5."Angry Again"1993 - Last Action Hero (Soundtrack)3:47
6."A Tout le Monde"1994 - Youthanasia4:25
7."Trust"1997 - Cryptic Writings5:12
8."Kill the King"2000 - Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years3:42
9."Symphony of Destruction"1992 - Countdown to Extinction4:06
10."Mechanix"1985 - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!4:21
11."Train of Consequences"1994 - Youthanasia3:30
12."Wake Up Dead"1986 - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?3:38
13."Hangar 18"1990 - Rust in Peace5:12
14."Dread and the Fugitive Mind"2000 - Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years4:23
15."Skin o' My Teeth"1992 - Countdown to Extinction3:15
16."She-Wolf"1997 - Cryptic Writings3:39
17."Prince of Darkness"1999 - Risk6:28
Total length:78:04

[2]

Limited edition DVD

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  • "Kill the King" music video
  • "Live at the Fillmore Auditorium December 27, 1999"
    • "Prince of Darkness"
    • "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"
    • "In My Darkest Hour"
    • "Hangar 18"
    • "Sweating Bullets"
    • "Symphony of Destruction"
    • "Peace Sells"
  • Arsenal of Megadeth trailer

[11]

Personnel

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[2]

Charts

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Chart (2005) Peak
position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 21
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 47
US Billboard 200[14] 65

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[7] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 60,000
United States 133,000[6]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Megadeth: New 'Kill The King' Video Posted Online - June 6, 2005". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Greatest Hits: Back to the Start liner notes. Capitol Records. 2005. pp. 6, 8–9.
  3. ^ Begrand, Adrien (July 28, 2005). "Megadeth: Greatest Hits: Back to the Start". Popmatters. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  4. ^ "Greatest Hits: Back to the Start - Megadeth | Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Soundscan Report: CKY, Megadeth, Devildriver, Darkest Hour, Throwdown". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Megadeth: Album Sales Update". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Canadian album certifications – Megadeth". Music Canada.
  8. ^ "Megadeth Presented With Canadian Gold Plaques For 'Back To The Start'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  9. ^ Blender Review Archived May 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "Greatest Hits: Back to the Start - Megadeth". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Greatest Hits: Back to the Start limited edition back panel. Capitol Records. 2005.
  12. ^ "Megadeth: GREATEST HITS - BACK TO THE START" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  13. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "Megadeth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  15. ^ "British album certifications – Megadeth". British Phonographic Industry.