The Essential Foo Fighters is a greatest hits album released on October 28, 2022 by American rock band Foo Fighters.[3][4] It is part of Sony Music's The Essential series. It was the first Foo Fighters release after the death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
The Essential Foo Fighters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | October 28, 2022 | |||
Recorded | October 1994 – 2021 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 77:35 | |||
Label | Legacy Recordings,[1][2] Sony Music | |||
Producer |
| |||
Foo Fighters chronology | ||||
|
Reception
editThe album debuted at number eight on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, making it the first in the Essential series to reach the top ten of that chart. It also debuted at number 42 on the Billboard 200.[5] In a review by the German edition of Rolling Stone, Kristina Baum stated that "With a new hits compilation which now bears the more modest name The Essential, it becomes clear in 2022 what has happened in 13 more years of band history" and that in "12 to 15 years another Foo Fighters Best Of could probably be released without any problems. Could it still be the end of the Foo Fighters chapter due to the sad circumstances ? It would be a shame". Baum also rated the album four out of five stars.[6]
A review by Drew's Reviews stated that "I suspect The Essential Foo Fighters will sell well", but was critical that some tracks were omitted from the album: "Seriously, how do you leave out "Congregation" off Sonic Highways? In fact nothing off Sonic Highways. Weird." Drew's Reviews also noted that it is missing the song "Run" from the Concrete and Gold album which is only represented by one song, "The Sky Is a Neighborhood".[7] A review by AllMusic was more positive stating that 13 years since the band's last Greatest Hits album Foo Fighters have had an additional four Top 10 albums which provide a "fair chunk" on The Essential Foo Fighters and that "The end result is that The Essential Foo Fighters winds up being a stronger comp than its predecessor".[8]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Foo Fighters except where noted
No. | Title | Originally from | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Everlong" (Dave Grohl) | The Colour and the Shape, 1997 | 4:10 |
2. | "Making a Fire" | Medicine at Midnight, 2021 | 4:15 |
3. | "Times Like These" | One by One, 2002 | 4:27 |
4. | "Rope" | Wasting Light, 2011 | 4:19 |
5. | "Monkey Wrench" | The Colour and the Shape | 3:52 |
6. | "My Hero" | The Colour and the Shape | 4:20 |
7. | "Cold Day in the Sun" | In Your Honor, 2005 | 3:28 |
8. | "Big Me" (Grohl) | Foo Fighters, 1995 | 2:12 |
9. | "Long Road to Ruin" | Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, 2007 | 3:46 |
10. | "Shame Shame" | Medicine at Midnight | 4:17 |
11. | "Best of You" | In Your Honor | 4:16 |
12. | "All My Life" | One by One | 4:24 |
13. | "The Pretender" | Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace | 4:27 |
14. | "This Is a Call" (Grohl) | Foo Fighters | 3:54 |
15. | "Waiting on a War" (not included on CD version) | Medicine at Midnight | 4:13 |
16. | "Walk" | Wasting Light | 4:17 |
17. | "Learn to Fly" | There Is Nothing Left to Lose, 1999 | 3:56 |
18. | "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" | Concrete and Gold, 2017 | 4:05 |
19. | "Breakout" (not included on CD version) | There Is Nothing Left to Lose | 3:22 |
20. | "These Days" | Wasting Light | 4:58 |
21. | "Everlong" (acoustic version) | Greatest Hits, 2009 | 4:12 |
Total length: | 85:00 |
Personnel
editFoo Fighters
- Dave Grohl – lead vocals, guitars, drums, bass guitar, producer
- Pat Smear – guitar, producer
- Chris Shiflett – guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Nate Mendel – bass guitar, producer
- Taylor Hawkins – drums, cowbell, lead vocals and rhythm guitar on "Cold Day in the Sun",[7] backing vocals, producer
- Rami Jaffee – keyboards, piano, producer
- Randy Merrill – mastering at Sterling Sound
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ Strauss, Matthew (September 16, 2022). "Foo Fighters Announce New Essential Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "'The Essential Foo Fighters' Out Now". legacyrecordings.com. October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Richards, Will (September 16, 2022). "Foo Fighters announce new greatest hits album 'The Essential Foo Fighters'". NME. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Colothan, Scott (September 15, 2022). "Foo Fighters reveal track listing for new compilation album 'The Essential Foo Fighters'". Planet Rock. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 9, 2022). "The Beatles' 'Revolver' Reissue Tops Multiple Charts, Hits No. 2 on Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Baum, Kristina (November 11, 2022). "Foo Fighters – The Essential". Rolling Stone (in German). Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Drew (October 29, 2022). "Album Review: The Essential Foo Fighters". Drew's Reviews. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "The Essential Foo Fighters". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Foo Fighters – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Foo Fighters – The Essential" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – The Essential" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Foo Fighters – The Essential" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Foo Fighters – The Essential" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Foo Fighters – The Essential" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Foo Fighters". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Foo Fighters – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Foo Fighters – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Foo Fighters – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "Foo Fighters Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2023". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Foo Fighters – The Essential". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – Foo Fighters – The Essential". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2023.