Growing up in the 70s, I discovered a number of bands, and their back-catalogues, through compilation albums. It surprises many people when I tell them my favourite Beatles album is the Red Album, for example.

The Rolling Stones – Hot Rocks 1964-1971

The South African version had a different track listing to the US release. Included ‘Little Red Rooster’ and ‘Under The Boardwalk’ for example, and omitted ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Wild Horses’.

Track list for South African Album

1. Time Is On My Side
2. Little Red Rooster
3. Under The Boardwalk
4. Tell Me
5. Heart Of Stone
6. Play With Fire
7. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
8. Get Off Of My Cloud
9. As Tears Go By
10. Mothers Little Helper
11. 19th Nervous Breakdown
12. Paint It Black
13. Under My Thumb
14. Ruby Tuesday
15. Let’s Spend The Night Together
16. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
17. Street Fighting Man
18. Sympathy For The Devil
19. Gimme Shelter
20. Honky Tonk Women
21. Midnight Rambler
22. You Can’t Always Get What You Want (single version)

More info on Hot Rocks

The Beatles – The Red And The Blue Albums

Two double albums, with every song a masterpiece. When these were re-released on CD in 1993, I bought them the day they came out. And though the whole of the Red Album could have been fitted onto a single CD, I didn’t mind paying full double album price. How many double CDs have so many classic chart-topping and million-selling songs on them? Worth every cent.

American Graffiti (soundtrack)

My introduction to rock ‘n roll history.

The Who – Pinball And Other Wizards 1965-1975 (SA only release?)

Actually only goes up to 1971, despite the title, but a great collection, nonetheless.

Deep Purple – Mark I and Mark II

Brilliant collection, and this was the only place to find ‘When A Blind Man Cries’ for many years.

Music Of Our Time

A CBS sampler from 1971, that was sold cheaply. Amazing collection. Still one of my favourites. I’ve made an iTunes playlist with all these songs on.

Golden Earring – Hearing Earring

This was a compilation only released in South Africa and Holland, I think, which featured the best tracks from ‘Together’ and ‘Seven Tears’.

Jimi Hendrix –  Sound track recordings from the film Jimi Hendrix

A compilation of various live tracks and interviews. My main introduction to the live experience that was Jimi Hendrix

Track listing (interviews excluded)

1. Rock Me Baby from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
2. Wild Thing from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
3. Machine Gun I from Isle of Wight Festival (August 31, 1970)
4. Johnny B. Goode from Berkeley Community Center, Berkeley, California (May 30, 1970)
5. Hey Joe  from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
6. Purple Haze from Berkeley Community Center, Berkeley, California (May 30, 1970)
7. Like a Rolling Stone from Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)
8. The Star Spangled Banner from Woodstock (August 1969)
9. Machine Gun II (Band of Gypsys) from Fillmore East (January 1, 1970)
10. Hear My Train A Comin’ (acoustic) from London (1967)
11. Red House from Isle of Wight Festival (August 31, 1970)
12. In From the Storm from Isle of Wight Festival (August 31, 1970)

Revelations

Triple album collection from Glastonbury Fayre in 1971. A strange mixture of artists and genres that introduced me to bands like Gong, Pink Fairies and The Grateful Dead.

The Continuing Saga Of The Aging Orphans

Great album, that helped me discover the early years of Thin Lizzy, though I already knew Vagabonds Of The Western World, which is still one of my all-time favourite albums.

The Moody Blues – This Is The Moody Blues

A double compilation album with all the songs crossfading into each other. Like Pink Floyd’s Echoes collection many years later.

Suck It And See

Double album sampler from Vertigo, this time. From Folk (Magna Carta) to Metal (Black Sabbath) and most places in-between. The South African pressing had a different track listing to the overseas version.

Honourary mention

Let The Good Times Roll (soundtrack)

Not really a compilation but the soundtrack to a film of a live rock and roll revival, that I saw over and over again. Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chubby Checker and others just blew me away. And the sampled soundbites from old TV shows, backstage comments and DJ introductions made it even better.
My favourite place for vinyl and a place that reminds me of the type of record store I used to hang-out in when I was a teenager is Mabu Vinyl in Cape Town.