Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
Encyclopedia
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start is the second greatest hits album
by Megadeth
. It was released in 2005 by Capitol Records
. The tracklist for Back to the Start was largely the result of a poll on their official website, in which tens of thousands of fans voted for their favorite tracks from the band's albums and rarities compilation. All songs are digitally remastered (including all the songs also from Capitol Punishment
which were the original recordings and excluding a few songs from that compilation). The face of Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead
can be seen in the mushroom cloud
on the album cover. The mushroom cloud itself is likely from one of the tests in Operation Castle
, most likely Castle Romeo. If the Special Edition was purchased at Best Buy
it included a free Napster
download of the track "One Thing," which was originally the Japanese bonus track on the original release of Cryptic Writings
and would later be released on the box set Warchest
. It also features "Angry Again
" from Hidden Treasures and the movie soundtrack Last Action Hero
.
The title "Back to the Start" is a reference to lyrics in the title track, "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"
, Ontario, the band was presented with gold plaques by EMI in recognition of the achievement.
The limited edition DVD feature the line-up as Dave Mustaine, Matry Friedman, David Ellefson and Jimmy Degrasso during the live set.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. It was released in 2005 by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. The tracklist for Back to the Start was largely the result of a poll on their official website, in which tens of thousands of fans voted for their favorite tracks from the band's albums and rarities compilation. All songs are digitally remastered (including all the songs also from Capitol Punishment
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years
-Track listing:-Hidden track :-Bonus track :-Charts:AlbumSingles...
which were the original recordings and excluding a few songs from that compilation). The face of Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead
Vic Rattlehead
Vic Rattlehead is the mascot of the heavy metal band Megadeth. Vic is a skeletal figure who embodies the phrase, "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." His eyes are covered by a riveted-on visor, his mouth is clamped shut, and his ears are closed with metal caps.His image appears on several...
can be seen in the mushroom cloud
Mushroom cloud
A mushroom cloud is a distinctive pyrocumulus mushroom-shaped cloud of condensed water vapor or debris resulting from a very large explosion. They are most commonly associated with nuclear explosions, but any sufficiently large blast will produce the same sort of effect. They can be caused by...
on the album cover. The mushroom cloud itself is likely from one of the tests in Operation Castle
Operation Castle
Operation Castle was a United States series of high-energy nuclear tests by Joint Task Force SEVEN at Bikini Atoll beginning in March 1954...
, most likely Castle Romeo. If the Special Edition was purchased at Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
it included a free Napster
Napster
Napster is an online music store and a Best Buy company. It was originally founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing audio files that were typically digitally encoded music as MP3 format files...
download of the track "One Thing," which was originally the Japanese bonus track on the original release of Cryptic Writings
Cryptic Writings
Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Megadeth. The album was released on June 17, 1997 and debuted at #10 on Billboard Top 200. This is the last Megadeth studio album to feature drummer Nick Menza. His departure would mark the end of the band's longest lasting lineup to...
and would later be released on the box set Warchest
Warchest
Warchest is a box set from the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Warchest features five discs and features studio tracks, demos and live recordings of a number of the band's songs from its previous eleven studio albums and rarities EP...
. It also features "Angry Again
Angry Again
"Angry Again" is a 1993 heavy metal song by Megadeth, written by Dave Mustaine. The song was written exclusively for inclusion in the 1993 satirical action film Last Action Hero, directed by John McTiernan which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger, and appeared on the film's soundtrack...
" from Hidden Treasures and the movie soundtrack Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero is a 1993 American action-comedy-fantasy film directed and produced by John McTiernan. It is a satire of the action genre and its clichés, containing several parodies of action films in the form of films within the film....
.
The title "Back to the Start" is a reference to lyrics in the title track, "Rust in Peace...Polaris" from Megadeth's 1990 album Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace
Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on September 24, 1990, it was the third Megadeth album distributed through Capitol Records. The album was the band's only collaboration with record producer Mike Clink who was the first producer to...
: "The day of final conflict/All pay the price/The third World War rapes peace/Takes life back to the start"
Commercial performance
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start was certified gold in Canada in July 2011. On July 23, 2011 in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario, the band was presented with gold plaques by EMI in recognition of the achievement.
Reception
Track listing
Limited edition DVD
- "Kill the King" - Mega-mix video
- "Megadeth Live At The Fillmore" intro screen / Prince of Darkness - Live footage, previously unreleased
- "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" - Live footage, previously unreleased
- "In My Darkest Hour" - Live footage, previously unreleased
- "Hangar 18" - Live footage, previously unreleased
- "Sweating Bullets" - Live footage, previously unreleased
- "Symphony of Destruction" - Live footage, previously unreleased
- "Peace Sells" - Live footage, previously unreleased
- Preview of upcoming 2 DVD release: Arsenal of MegadethArsenal of MegadethArsenal of Megadeth is an anthology of Megadeth's first 20 years. The 2-disc DVD set contains music videos, live performances, interviews, home videos and special appearances. Arsenal of Megadeth is an EMI/Capitol release...
Personnel
- Dave MustaineDave MustaineDavid Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
- lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and lead and rhythm guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
on all tracks - Marty Friedman - guitar on Tracks 1, 4-7, 9, 11, 13, and 15-17
- Chris PolandChris PolandChris Poland is an American guitarist, best known for being a former member of heavy metal band Megadeth.-Early career:...
- guitar on Tracks 3, 10 and 12 - Al PitrelliAl PitrelliAl Pitrelli is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Joe Lynn Turner, Asia and Savatage.-Early career :...
- guitar on Tracks 8 and 14 - Jeff YoungJeff YoungJeff Young is an American guitarist. He graduated from Musicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with the thrash metal band Megadeth, appearing on the 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!...
- guitar on "In My Darkest Hour" - David EllefsonDavid EllefsonDavid Warren "Dave" Ellefson is a bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on all tracks - Nick MenzaNick MenzaNick Menza is an American drummer best known for his work in Megadeth from 1989 to 1998, appearing on four of the band's studio albums.-Early life:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on Tracks 1, 4-7, 9, 11, 13, and 15-16 - Gar SamuelsonGar SamuelsonGary C. "Gar" Samuelson was a drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth, working in it from 1984–1987.-Biography:Little is known about Samuelson before he joined Megadeth...
- drums on Tracks 3, 10 and 12 - Jimmy DegrassoJimmy DeGrassoJimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
- drums on Tracks 8, 14, and 17 - Chuck BehlerChuck BehlerChuck Behler is an American drummer. Behler played drums for the heavy metal band Megadeth from 1987 through 1989, recording the album So Far, So Good… So What! with the group in 1988...
- drums on "In My Darkest Hour"
The limited edition DVD feature the line-up as Dave Mustaine, Matry Friedman, David Ellefson and Jimmy Degrasso during the live set.
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
65 |
| Finnish Album Charts | 21 | |
| UK Album Charts | 47 | |