Best of Rockers 'n' Ballads

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Best of Rockers 'n' Ballads
Best of Rockers n' Ballads Scorpions.jpg
Compilation album by
Scorpions
ReleasedNovember 29, 1989
Recorded1978–1989
Genre
Length61:28 (Europe) / 55:08 (US)
LabelEMI (Europe)
Mercury (US)
ProducerDieter Dierks, except "I Can't Explain" by Bruce Fairbairn
Scorpions compilations chronology
Gold Ballads
(1985) 		Best of Rockers 'n' Ballads
(1989) 		Hot & Slow: The Best of the Ballads
(1991)
Singles from Best of Rockers 'n' Ballads
  1. "I Can't Explain / Lovedrive"
    Released: 1989
  2. "Is There Anybody There? (Long Version) / The Zoo"
    Released: 1989
The Essential Scorpions cover
Scorpions Essential.jpg
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4.5/5 stars[1]
AllMusic3/5 stars
(The Essential Scorpions)[2]

Best of Rockers 'n' Ballads is a compilation album by the German hard rock band Scorpions, released in 1989. All songs on this album are from their tenure with Mercury Records, from 1979 to 1988, in addition to rare or never-before released material.

Background[]

The record was released with different track listings in different regions: At all the compilation features several rare or completely unreleased tracks: There are remixes of "Big City Nights", "Lovedrive", "Holiday" and "Is There Anybody There", which were previously unreleased. Also included are two different versions of "Hey You". While the European pressing features a previously unreleased remix of the song, the US and Japanese editions feature the original version, which was released in 1980 as a single. So far it's still the only CD pressing where you can find the original version of "Hey You". Another rarity was a cover of The Who's "I Can't Explain", which was also included on that same year's Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell charity compilation album. The European CD edition also includes one more rarity: the version of "China White", which features a different solo, a solo that was just released on US editions of Blackout before.

The track listing and individual running times differ between the US, European and Asian editions. While the European pressing features 14 or 15 tracks, the original version of "Hey You" is missing and replaced by a remix. The US and Japanese version just feature twelve tracks and omit the re-recorded version of "Is There Anybody There?" as well as "Another Piece of Meat" and "China White", but it includes the longer, original version of "Hey You". The European edition was re-released with the title The Essential Scorpions in 2003.

Best of Rockers 'n' Ballads reached platinum status in the United States, and is the Scorpions' only compilation album to be certified at least gold by the RIAA there.[3]

Track listing[]

European edition[]

No.TitleWriter(s)From the albumLength
1."Rock You Like a Hurricane"Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine, Herman RarebellLove at First Sting, 19844:10
2."I Can’t Explain"Pete TownshendStairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell, 19893:19
3."Rhythm of Love"Schenker, MeineSavage Amusement, 19883:47
4."Big City Nights (Remix)"Schenker, MeinePreviously unreleased (Original version from Love at First Sting)3:52
5."Lovedrive"Schenker, MeineLovedrive, 19794:50
6."Is There Anybody There? (Remix)"Schenker, Meine, RarebellPreviously unreleased (Original version from Lovedrive)4:16
7."Holiday (Remix)"Schenker, MeinePreviously unreleased (Original version from Lovedrive)6:50
8."Still Loving You"Schenker, MeineLove at First Sting6:25
9."No One Like You"Schenker, MeineBlackout, 19823:54
10."Blackout"Schenker, Meine, Rarebell, Sonja KittelsenBlackout3:49
11."Another Piece of Meat"Schenker, RarebellLovedrive3:21
12."You Give Me All I Need"Schenker, RarebellBlackout3:37
13."Hey You (Remix)"Schenker, Meine, RarebellPreviously unreleased (Original version from the "Hey You" single, 1980)3:43
14."The Zoo"Schenker, MeineAnimal Magnetism, 19805:29
15."China White (US-solo version)* (CD bonus track)"Schenker, MeineBlackout6:56

US and Japanese edition[]

No.TitleWriter(s)From the albumLength
1."Rock You Like a Hurricane"Schenker, Meine, RarebellLove at First Sting4:12
2."I Can’t Explain"TownshendStairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell3:22
3."Still Loving You"Schenker, MeineLove at First Sting6:27
4."Big City Nights"Schenker, MeineLove at First Sting4:09
5."Lovedrive (Remix)"Schenker, MeinePreviously unreleased (Original version from Lovedrive)4:51
6."Holiday (Remix)"Schenker, MeinePreviously unreleased (Original version from Lovedrive)6:48
7."Blackout"Schenker, Meine, Rarebell, KittelsenBlackout3:45
8."Rhythm of Love"Schenker, MeineSavage Amusement3:49
9."No One Like You"Schenker, MeineBlackout3:55
10."You Give Me All I Need"Schenker, RarebellBlackout3:40
11."Hey You"Schenker, Meine, RarebellNon-album single4:29
12."The Zoo"Schenker, MeineAnimal Magnetism5:28

Charts[]

Album[]

Year Chart Position
1989 German Albums Chart[4] 14
Swiss Albums Charts[5] 21
Swedish Albums Chart[6] 35
Billboard 200 (North America)[7] 43
GfK Dutch Charts[8] 92

Singles[]

Year Title Chart Position
1989 "I Can't Explain" Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[7] 5

Certifications[]

Country Organization Year Sales
USA RIAA 1993 Platinum (+ 1,000,000)[3]
Canada CRIA 1991 Gold (+ 50,000)[9]
Germany BVMI 1991 Gold (+ 250,000)[10]
Switzerland IFPI Switzerland 1991 Gold (+ 25,000)[11]
Finland IFPI Finland 1991 Gold (+ 25,000)[12]

References[]

  1. ^ Weber, Barry. "Scorpions The Best of Rockers 'N' Ballads review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  2. ^ Theakston, Rob. "Scorpions Essential review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Scorpions. Retrieved on 2011-02-22.
  4. ^ "Album – Scorpions, Best Of Rockers 'n' Ballads". Charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  5. ^ "Scorpions – Best Of Rockers 'n' Ballads". Hitparade.ch (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  6. ^ "Scorpions – Best Of Rockers 'n' Ballads (album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Best of Rockers 'N' Ballads Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  8. ^ "Scorpions – Best Of Rockers 'n' Ballads (album)". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  9. ^ "Gold Platinum Search for Scorpions". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  10. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Scorpions)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  11. ^ "Awards". Hitparade.ch. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
  12. ^ "Tilastot: Scorpions". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
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