Best of Hilary Duff is the first greatest hits album by American singer Hilary Duff, released on November 11, 2008, by Hollywood Records. The standard 12-track edition consists of eight of Duff's previous singles, as well as two new recordings: "Reach Out" and "Holiday". It also includes three new remixes: two of the former, and one of her 2003 single, "Come Clean". Alternate editions of the album with additional tracks were released in Australia, Europe, and Japan.
One single was released from the album, the Ryan Tedder-produced "Reach Out", which became her third consecutive single to chart at number one on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart.[1]
Background
Duff confirmed that she had collaborated with a rapper called Prophet on a previously unheard song on the Dignity tour's set list, "Reach Out" in September 2007.[2] In an interview with remix producer Joe Bermudez in November 2007, she said that Dignity would be re-released in a CDVU+ edition featuring remixes of the original songs alongside two new tracks: "Reach Out" and "Holiday". Duff said she hoped to write a third new song for the re-release, and to have "Holiday" released as its first or second single.[3] However, these plans did not come to fruition. Duff was disappointed with the release, saying in an interview on the Johnjay and Rich Show: "my label had an option to put this record out, and they did it, and I was a little bummed."[4] The album artwork, photographed by Leslie Kee, was previously used for the Japanese release of Dignity.[5]
Unlike Duff's first compilation album Most Wanted (2005), which was advertised as strictly a compilation, Best of was strictly advertised as a greatest hits, making it her first.
Best of Hilary Duff received mostly mixed reviews from critics. Allmusic gave the album a positive review stating that Best of Hilary Duff "is a flipside of her 2005's Most Wanted", which was "pitched squarely at bright, happy tweens". They also went on to say the album "is not a look back at the past but a blueprint for the future".[6]
Rachel Devitt of Rhapsody said the collection "is largely pleasant, nicely polished and, rather surprisingly, sleek and even a little edgy. Turns out Lizzie McGuire is a dancefloor diva, and even with that feathery little voice, she manages to work it on tracks like the dark "Stranger," saucy new tune "Reach Out" and a clubby remix of "Dignity."[9]Common Sense Media described the album as having varied influences, and said that "Duff deftly combines the infectious dance beats she's known for with a more sultry vocal tone reminiscent of Nelly Furtado and even Britney Spears."[7] In a more negative review, David Balls from Digital Spy also described the album as having a varied sound, but felt that it prevented the album from coming across as "genuine", writing: "her sound has changed as often as Posh Spice's hairstyle".[8]
Commercial performance
On November 29, 2008, Best of Hilary Duff debuted at number 125 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 5,500 copies in its first week of release in the US, making it her least successful album to date.[10]
Singles
"Reach Out" was released as the only single from the album. The music video was directed by Philip Andelman and five official versions were released. The music video premiered on Duff's official MySpace on October 28, 2008.[11][12][13]
^ abReleased on Monday, January 26, 2009 (January 26, 2009). "Hilary Duff: 'Best Of' - Music Album Review". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 8, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
