Mötley Crüe's Greatest Hits, released in 1998, is a 17-track compilation that peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. While the album is widely available on streaming and standard CD formats, audiophile versions in FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) are often sought after for their high-fidelity sound quality, typically sourced from high-resolution digital releases or CD rips. Key Highlights of the 1998 Release
New Tracks: The compilation featured two new studio songs, "Bitter Pill" and "Enslaved," which were recorded just before drummer Tommy Lee began a prison sentence in 1998.
Chart Success: Both new singles reached the Billboard charts: "Bitter Pill" hit No. 22 on Mainstream Rock, and "Enslaved" reached No. 34 on the Heritage Rock chart.
Bonus Content: Original 1998 releases often included one of three random bonus discs—"Rare Crüe," "Live Around the World 1989-1990," or "5 Live '85"—making it a popular item for collectors.
Critical Reception: Reviewers generally consider it a "solid 'Best of' collection" and a strong introduction for new fans, as it covers the band's most commercially successful era through 1998. 1998 Tracklist Overview
The album spans the band's career from their 1981 debut through the late 90s: Song Title Original Album Bitter Pill New Track (1998) Enslaved New Track (1998) Girls, Girls, Girls Girls, Girls, Girls Kickstart My Heart Dr. Feelgood Wild Side Girls, Girls, Girls Glitter (Remix) Generation Swine Dr. Feelgood Dr. Feelgood Same Ol' Situation Dr. Feelgood Home Sweet Home Theatre of Pain Afraid Generation Swine Don't Go Away Mad Dr. Feelgood Without You Dr. Feelgood Smokin' In The Boys Room Theatre of Pain Primal Scream Decade of Decadence Too Fast For Love Too Fast For Love Looks That Kill Shout at the Devil Shout At The Devil '97 Generation Swine
Detailed release information and track credits can be found on Discogs and Amazon.
Mötley Crüe's 1998 compilation, Greatest Hits (often stylized as Greate tHitt cap H i t
), is the band's second major retrospective. Released on October 27, 1998, via their own Mötley Records and Beyond Music, it served as an updated version of 1991's Decade of Decadence. Album Overview Performance: The album reached No. 20 on the Billboard 200. motley crue greatest hits flac 1998 hot
Key Features: It includes two new studio tracks recorded with the original lineup: "Bitter Pill" and "Enslaved".
Visuals: The cover art is a caricature of the band by artist/designer Erik Casillas (often incorrectly attributed to Mort Drucker of Mad magazine).
Rarity: Some original US pressings included one of three different special free bonus CDs featuring rare tracks. Original 1998 Tracklist (17 Tracks)
The album spans their career from 1981 to 1998, though it notably excludes material from the 1994 John Corabi era. Bitter Pill (New Recording) Enslaved (New Recording) Girls, Girls, Girls Kickstart My Heart Wild Side Glitter (Remix) Dr. Feelgood Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.) Home Sweet Home Afraid Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) Without You Smokin' in the Boys Room Primal Scream Too Fast for Love Looks That Kill Shout at the Devil '97 (Generation Swine remix) Buying & Audio Guide
As of April 2026, the 1998 CD and modern 2LP vinyl pressings are widely available from various retailers. Typical Price Greate tHitt cap H i t [1998] (CD) eBay, Alibris ~$11 (New) / ~$6 (Used) Greatest Hits (2LP Vinyl) Music Direct , Elusive Disc
For a high-quality preview of the full 1998 compilation, watch this complete album stream:
M̲ö̲tley Crü̲e̲ – Great̲e̲s̲t̲ ̲H̲its (Full Album) 1998 United By Rock YouTube• Jan 13, 2021
Note on Audio Formats: While the original CD provides 16-bit/44.1kHz audio (the basis for standard FLAC rips), audiophiles often prefer the 2009 reissue or the 2018 remasters, which feature an expanded 19-track list and adjusted mastering. Mötley Crüe's Greatest Hits , released in 1998
Mötley Crüe’s 1998 Greatest Hits (often stylized as GREATE THITcap T cap H cap I cap T
) remains a defining artifact of the late '90s hard rock scene. For audiophiles and die-hard fans, finding this specific compilation in FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is more than just a quest for high-quality audio—it is a pursuit of a unique moment in the band's history that later reissues have largely altered or erased. The 1998 Era: A Crossroads for the Crüe
Released on October 27, 1998, via Mötley Records and Beyond Music, this compilation served as an updated successor to the then-out-of-print Decade of Decadence 81–91. It arrived at a volatile time: vocalist Vince Neil had recently returned, drummer Tommy Lee was finishing a prison sentence, and the band was trying to reclaim its throne after the experimental Generation Swine (1997).
The 1998 release is famous for its iconic black-and-white caricature cover by artist Erik Casillas, which was later replaced by a red-tinted version in the 2009 reissue. Why the 1998 Version is "Hot" for FLAC Collectors
Collectors specifically hunt for the 1998 FLAC files because this version contains tracks and mixes that are missing from modern streaming platforms and newer editions:
"Bitter Pill" and "Enslaved": These two "new" tracks were recorded specifically for this release with producer Bob Rock. While heavy and punchy, they were excluded from the 2009 reissue, making the original CD (or a lossless rip of it) the only way to hear them in high fidelity.
"Glitter (Remix)": This softer, more electronically processed remix of the Generation Swine track was a staple of the '98 release but has since been deleted from official digital catalogs.
"Shout At The Devil '97": This re-recording (originally from Generation Swine) appears here instead of the 1983 original found on later compilations. Torrent Sites : Websites like The Pirate Bay,
Original Remastering: Audiophiles often prefer the 1998 mastering by Kris Solem and George Marino, which many feel captures the "punchy, heavy rock" sound of the era better than more modern, compressed remasters. Tracklist (The Original 1998 Sequence) Bitter Pill (New Recording) Enslaved (New Recording) Girls, Girls, Girls Kickstart My Heart Wild Side Glitter (Remix) Dr. Feelgood Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.) Home Sweet Home Afraid Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) Without You Smokin' in the Boys Room Primal Scream Too Fast for Love Looks That Kill Shout at the Devil '97 The "Rare Crüe" Bonus Discs
Adding to the "hot" collector value, certain 1998 CD editions included one of three different Special Free Bonus CDs: Rare Crüe, Live Around the World 1989-1990, or 5 Live '85. These discs were randomly distributed, making a complete set of lossless FLAC rips from these sessions extremely rare. Finding the Best Quality
When Greatest Hits dropped on October 13, 1998, the entertainment world was shifting. Grunge had come and gone, and pop-punk was taking over the airwaves. Mötley Crüe, however, refused to fade quietly. This compilation wasn't just a cash grab; it was a curated timeline of debauchery.
For the lifestyle enthusiast, the album serves as a time capsule. It opens with the punishing "Bitter Pill" and the hip-hop-influenced "Enslaved," two new tracks recorded specifically for this release. These songs bridged the gap between their bluesy Too Fast for Love roots and the polished, arena-filling production of Dr. Feelgood. Listening to them offers a glimpse into a band grappling with maturity while trying to keep their identity alive.
Released on November 17, 1998, this compilation captures the band’s peak from Too Fast for Love (1981) to Generation Swine (1997). Unlike later re-recordings or remasters, this original pressing preserves the raw, analog energy of the ’80s Sunset Strip.
Key tracks for entertainment value:
FLAC files offer a way to store audio at high quality without any loss of data. They're preferred by audiophiles for their ability to store music at a quality level that matches or exceeds the original CD.
Sometimes, bands or their labels offer downloads or streams of their music directly. This could be a good place to look for high-quality versions of their songs.
Title: Greatest Hits Artist: Mötley Crüe Release Year: 1998 Label: Mötley Records / Elektra Audio Format Focus: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)