The Flaming Lips 2002 album “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” was a huge album in the UK, selling over 300,000 units on its way to Platinum certification. The success was driven by 4 hit singles, including the title track and the Lip’s most popular song “Do You Realize??” The band frequently toured the UK during the album cycle, playing larger venues than previous tours, and were frequent guests on several radio shows.
The Flaming Lips compile a selection of their best-loved tracks from throughout their storied career. The band remastered the album with long time producer Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios. “Greatest Hits Vol. 1” compiles eleven Warner-era singles and album tracks. This release includes singles from “Transmissions From The Satellite Heart” (1993), “Clouds Taste Metallic” (1995), “The Soft Bulletin” (1999), “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots” (2002), “At War With The Mystics” (2006), “Embryonic” (2009) and “Oczy Mlody” (2017). The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” is also featured on the Marvel Studios’ Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), available now on Hollywood Records.
The Flaming Lips haven’t had any real chart hits as such, but they are releasing “Greatest Hits Vol. 1” which is a sprawling 52 track 3 CD collection containing some of their best-loved songs and more obscure ditties from 1992 onward. It even includes that song that was only released on an MP3 stick inside a gummy skull.
The LP version is a more concise and recognisable Only a 11 track best of.
The 3CD – This significantly expands the concept of their “hits” and gathers some of their best-loved album tracks from the aforementioned albums plus deep cuts from their Warner album debut, “Hit To Death In The Future Head” (1992), along with music from, “Zaireeka” (1997), “The Flaming Lips And Heady Friends” (2012) and “The Terror” (2013). The Deluxe Edition also compiles a generous hatful of International single B-sides, studio outtakes and several previously unreleased tracks to present an essential view into the extraordinary body of work from one of the most influential and enduring rock bands of all-time. Some the aural treasures found on disc 3 are among the rarest recorded curios in The Lips musical medicine chest including the previously unreleased demo track “Zero To A Million” which features The Lips short-lived line-up that included Jonathan Donahue on guitar (Mercury Rev) and Nathan Roberts on drums. This track was on the original cassette tape which led to The Lips Warner Bros. Records signing. Another early obscurity “Jets (Cupid’s Kiss Vs. the Psyche of Death)” is one of the three tracks from The Lips first-ever WBR CD EP, “Yeah, I Know It’s A Drag…Wastin’ Pigs Is Still Radical”. Various tracks included here that have never been available on CD until now include the epic, fan favourite “The Captain” which was left off “The Soft Bulletin” and a welcome addition to this set.
“We Can’t Predict The Future” is taken from a June 2000 John Peel BBC Session. “Your Face Can Tell The Future, and You Gotta Hold On are outtakes from At War With The Mystics sessions. Another rare gem, “Noodling Theme”, is from the 2001 Lips soundtrack to director Bradley Beesley’s indie-film “Okie Noodling” about bare-handed fishing in Oklahoma. Those lucky enough to attend early screenings were handed a copy of this now ultra-rare 3-song CD upon entry. “Spiderman Vs Muhammed Ali”, originally recorded for 2007’s Music from and Inspired by Spider-Man 3 soundtrack has never released in any form. Prior to this collection, “Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear Part 2” existed on a USB drive – along with two other tracks – buried within the edible Gummy Fetus sold on tour in 2011. Closing out the collection is Silent Lord which is comprised of The Lips mash-up of “Silent Night” with Spacemen 3’s “Lord, Can You Hear Me” from a Christmas 2008 limited edition 7” picture disc.
Each of the tracks in this collection has been remastered from the original tape sources by The Flaming Lips and long-time producer Dave Friedmann at Tarbox Road Studios. The resultant sound quality of these recordings is now far superior to all previously released versions. The most comprehensive of any Lips compilation to date, this becomes an essential piece of the puzzle into the wonderful and strange world view of The Flaming Lips.
The Fat Angel Sings 