The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour (And a Bit)

On 11 September 1995, Thunder released a cover version of "In a Broken Dream", originally recorded by Python Lee Jackson with additional vocals from Rod Stewart, as a single.[1] The song debuted at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart,[2] number 28 on the Scottish Singles Chart,[3] and number 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart.[4] Two weeks later, the band's first compilation album The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour (And a Bit) was released.[1] The album features a selection of tracks from Thunder's first three studio albums – including five from 1990's Backstreet Symphony, four from Laughing on Judgement Day and three from 1995's Behind Closed Doors – as well as "In a Broken Dream", a re-recorded version of "Higher Ground" dubbed "Higher Ground '95", a recording of The Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter" (originally released on a various artists single of the same name), and the previously unreleased "Once in a Lifetime".[5]

A greatest hits album was originally suggested to Thunder by EMI Records, their record label at the time, which the band's vocalist Danny Bowes interpreted as a sign that they were "about to get dropped" by the company.[6] Recalling the situation in the group's 2016 biography Giving the Game Away: The Thunder Story, Bowes noted that "my first thought was 'That means we're off the label. They're trying to get the money in before they heave us out the door.'"[6] The band recorded the new tracks "In a Broken Dream", "Higher Ground '95" and "Once in a Lifetime" at Wool Hall Studios in Beckington, Somerset.[6]

The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour (And a Bit) was released in the UK and Europe by EMI Records on 25 September 1995.[1] The album debuted at number 22 on the UK Albums Chart,[2] number 3 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart,[7] and number 47 on the Scottish Albums Chart.[8] It was also certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry, indicating sales in the UK of 60,000 units.[9] The album was issued in Japan by Toshiba EMI on 29 November 1995.[10] The album was also reissued in Japan in 2004, featuring the previously unreleased track "Sex Groove".[5] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Doug Odell described Their Finest Hour (And a Bit) as "a well-rounded collection for diehard fans or a perfect introduction for new ones".[11] The compilation was promoted on its own short concert tour dubbed Their Finest Set (And a Bit), which visited five cities in England between 27 September and 2 October 1995.[12]

Notes

• Tracks 1, 3, 7, 14 and 16 were originally released on Backstreet Symphony (1990)
• Tracks 2, 12 and 15 were originally released on Behind Closed Doors (1995)
• Tracks 4, 8, 10 and 11 were originally released on Laughing on Judgement Day (1992)
• Tracks 5, 6, 13 and 17 were previously unreleased
• Track 9 was originally released on Gimme Shelter Rock (1994)

• McIver, Joel (11 November 2016), Giving the Game Away: The Thunder Story, London, England: Omnibus Press, ISBN 978-1785581373

• The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour (And a Bit) on Thunder's official website
• The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour (And a Bit) at Discogs (list of releases)