The Latest and Greatest is a greatest hits compilation album by Australian rock band Skyhooks. It was released by Mushroom Records in November 1990 in Australia and peaked at number 4 on the chart and was certified platinum.[1]
Skyhooks formed in inner Melbourne in 1974 and sold well across Australia with their first two albums, Living in the 70's and Ego Is Not a Dirty Word, both peaking at number 1 in 1975. At the time, it was unusual to hear a band sing about buying dope in the inner city, sex in the suburbs, the local gay scene and lost girlfriends in Sydney. The group's popularity has been particularly attributed to their socially-aware lyrics and timely style.[2]
The band had been on hiatus since 1984, but in 1988 Greg Macainsh began working on new material. This led to two new songs: "Jukebox in Siberia" and "Tall Timber". "Jukebox in Siberia" was released as a single in October 1990 and peaked at number 1 on the ARIA singles chart and opened the band to a whole new audience. As a result, their record label decided to release a new "best of" album in the November, titled The Latest and Greatest.[3]