You’re looking for the definitive amy winehouse greatest hits cd, right? It makes sense. Usually, when an artist this massive passes away, the label slaps a black-and-white photo on a jewel case, picks twelve songs, and calls it a day.
But here’s the thing: there isn't actually an "official" album called Greatest Hits in the way you’d expect.
Sure, you can find bootlegs on eBay. You might see some questionable imports from Russia or Brazil floating around Discogs with titles like Greatest Hits or The Best Of. But if you walk into a record store—or what’s left of them—looking for a single-disc career retrospective curated by Island Records, you’re going to be disappointed.
Amy’s discography is weirdly short. She only gave us two studio albums while she was alive. Because of that, the "greatest hits" experience is scattered across a few different releases.
The Posthumous Puzzle: Lioness and Beyond
When Amy died in 2011, the industry was desperate for a "best of" package. Instead, we got Lioness: Hidden Treasures. It’s often mistaken for an amy winehouse greatest hits cd because it features heavy hitters like "Valerie" and the Tony Bennett duet "Body and Soul."
But Lioness is a compilation of rarities and covers, not a collection of her chart-toppers. It was curated by Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson to show her range. It’s got that reggae-tinged version of "Our Day Will Come" and a heartbreakingly raw demo of "Wake Up Alone."
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Honestly, it's better than a standard hits disc. It feels more personal.
If you want the hits on a single physical format, the closest official thing you'll find is The Album Collection. This is a 3-CD box set. It basically just bundles Frank, Back to Black, and Lioness together. You get every single "hit" she ever had, but you have to swap discs to hear them all.
Then there’s The Collection, which is the 5-CD version. That one adds a live disc from Shepherd’s Bush and a disc of remixes. If you’re a completionist, that’s your holy grail. But if you just wanted one CD for the car? You’re kinda out of luck.
Why "Back to Black" Is Basically the Greatest Hits
Let's be real for a second. Most people looking for an amy winehouse greatest hits cd are actually just looking for Back to Black.
Almost every song on that album was a hit.
"Rehab."
"You Know I’m No Good."
"Tears Dry on Their Own."
It’s one of those rare "no-skip" albums. Even the deep cuts like "Some Unholy War" feel essential. When you look at the tracklist of the bootleg "Greatest Hits" CDs popping up online, 80% of the songs are just the Back to Black tracklist in a different order.
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If you already own that album, buying a "best of" (if it existed) would be a waste of money.
The Essential Tracklist
If someone finally did release an official single-disc amy winehouse greatest hits cd, it would have to look exactly like this:
- Stronger Than Me (The song that started it all on Frank)
- Fuck Me Pumps (The ultimate "cool girl" jazz track)
- Rehab (The one everyone knows)
- Back to Black (The emotional core)
- Love Is a Losing Game (George Michael's favorite song, apparently)
- Valerie (The Mark Ronson version is the one people want)
- Tears Dry on Their Own (That Ain't No Mountain High Enough sample is perfection)
- Body and Soul (Her final recording with Tony Bennett)
- You Know I'm No Good (The soul-baring anthem)
The Bootleg Trap
Be careful if you're shopping on marketplaces like Amazon Marketplace or Discogs. You will see a CD with a yellow cover or a generic photo of Amy holding a microphone labeled "Greatest Hits."
These are unofficial.
The audio quality is often ripped from low-bitrate files. Sometimes the tracklist is even wrong. One famous bootleg floating around has "Monkey Man" listed as "Moneky Man" on the back. It’s a mess.
If you want the best audio quality on CD, stick to the 2020 The Collection box set. It’s remastered, it’s official, and the money actually goes to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
Digital vs. Physical Hits
Most of us have moved to streaming, and Spotify’s "This Is Amy Winehouse" playlist serves as a functional "Greatest Hits." But there’s something about the CD. You get the liner notes. You see the photography of her in her prime, the beehive, the winged eyeliner.
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Physical media matters for an artist like Amy because her music was so rooted in the past. She loved the 60s girl groups. She loved the tactile feel of records.
If you're hunting for an amy winehouse greatest hits cd for a gift, don't buy a fake. Buy the 2-disc Deluxe Edition of Back to Black. The second disc has "Valerie," "Cupid," and her cover of "Monkey Man." It covers almost every base you need.
How to Get the Full Experience
So, what should you actually buy?
If you're a casual fan, get the Back to Black Deluxe Edition. It’s cheap, it’s everywhere, and it has the "hits" that weren't on the original album.
If you're a die-hard, save up for the 5-CD The Collection. It’s the only way to get the remixes and the live tracks without hunting down individual singles from 2004.
The reality is that Amy's career was a flash in the pan. She didn't have twenty years of hits to cull from. She had a handful of perfect songs that changed music forever. You don't need a "Greatest Hits" CD when her actual albums are already perfect.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Label: If you find a "Greatest Hits" CD, look for the "Island Records" or "Universal" logo. If it's not there, it's a bootleg.
- Go Deluxe: Prioritize the Back to Black Deluxe Edition (2-CD) over a standard version to get the essential Mark Ronson collaborations.
- Support the Foundation: Buy official merchandise and CDs to ensure proceeds go toward the Amy Winehouse Foundation's work with young people struggling with addiction.