Gems is a compilation album released by Aerosmith in 1988 under the label Columbia. It was the first compilation of studio material since 1980's Greatest Hits. Concentrating mainly on heavier material than the radio-friendly singles output on Greatest Hits, the album is noted for the inclusion of the 1978 studio version of "Chip Away The Stone" – previously released as a single from 1978's Live! Bootleg, only a live rendition of the song was released at the time. Originally scheduled for release on November 8, 1988,[3][4] the album was delayed one week and issued on November 15, 1988.[5]
Gems | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | November 15, 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1972–1982 | |||
Genre | Hard rock, blues rock | |||
Length | 53:26 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | David Krebs, Steve Leber, Gary Lyons, Adrian Barber, Tony Bongiovi, Jack Douglas, Steven Tyler, Ray Colcord | |||
Aerosmith compilation chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B[2] |
In 2007 The album was released by Sony BMG as part of their 'Collections' series entitled 'Greatest Hits' and reissued the following year by Sony in their 'Steel Box' series.[6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Rats in the Cellar" (from Rocks, 1976)) | Steven Tyler, Joe Perry | 4:06 |
2. | "Lick and a Promise" (from Rocks) | Tyler, Perry | 3:05 |
3. | "Chip Away the Stone" (previously unreleased studio version, live version released previously on Live! Bootleg, 1978) | Richard Supa | 4:01 |
4. | "No Surprize" (from Night in the Ruts, 1979) | Tyler, Perry | 4:26 |
5. | "Mama Kin" (from Aerosmith, 1973) | Tyler | 4:27 |
6. | "Adam's Apple" (from Toys in the Attic, 1975) | Tyler | 4:34 |
7. | "Nobody's Fault" (from Rocks) | Brad Whitford, Tyler | 4:18 |
8. | "Round and Round" (from Toys in the Attic) | Tyler, Whitford | 5:03 |
9. | "Critical Mass" (from Draw the Line, 1977) | Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Jack Douglas | 4:52 |
10. | "Lord of the Thighs" (from Get Your Wings, 1974) | Tyler | 4:14 |
11. | "Jailbait" (from Rock in a Hard Place, 1982) | Tyler, Jimmy Crespo | 4:39 |
12. | "Train Kept A-Rollin'" (from Get Your Wings) | Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, Lois Mann | 5:41 |
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] | 39 |
US Billboard 200[8] | 133 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Tracks | Label | Catalog # | Barcode | Edition | Series | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USA | Nov 15, 1988 | LP | 12 | Columbia/CBS | FC 44487 | 074644448719 | — | — | sched. for Nov 8, 1988 - delayed 1 week[5] |
USA | Nov 15, 1988 | CD | 12 | Columbia/CBS | CK 44487 | 074644448726 | — | — | sched. for Nov 8, 1988 - delayed 1 week[10] |
USA | Nov 15, 1988 | Cassette | 12 | Columbia/CBS | FCT 44487 | 074644448740 | — | — | sched. for Nov 8, 1988 - delayed 1 week[11] |
USA | Oct 25, 1990 | CD | 12 | Columbia/CBS | CK 44487 | 074644448726 | — | The Nice Price | possibly released in a "The Nice Price" Longbox[12] |
USA | Jan 22, 1991 | Cassette | 12 | Columbia/CBS | PCT 44487 | 074644448740 02 | — | The Nice Price | approx. date[13] |
USA | Sep 7, 1993 | CD | 12 | Columbia/SMEI | CK 57371 | 074645737126 | Special Limited Collector's Edition | The Nice Price | 1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 2 weeks[14] |
USA | Sep 7, 1993 | Cassette | 12 | Columbia/SMEI | CT 57371 | 074645737140 | — | The Nice Price | 1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 2 weeks[15] |
USA | Feb 1, 2008 | CD | 12 | Columbia/SMEI | CK 57371 | 886972387321 | — | — | 1993 Remaster[16] |
USA | Feb 1, 2008 | MP3 256k | 12 | Columbia/SBME | CK 57371 | 886972387321 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; album only[16][17][18] |
USA | Jul 1, 2009 | MP3 192k | 12 | Columbia/SME | CK 57371 | 886972387321 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; album only[19][20] |
USA | Oct 6, 2009 | MP3 320k | 12 | Columbia/SME | CK 57371 | 886972387321 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; indiv. tracks; approx. date; issued between Oct 6 - Nov 28, 2009[21][22][23] |
USA | Nov 6, 2012 | MP3 256k | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; indiv. tracks[24] |
USA | Nov 6, 2012 | AAC 256k | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; indiv. tracks[25][26] |
USA | Apr 23, 2014 | FLAC 96/24 | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[27][28][29] |
USA | Dec 2014 | MP3 320k + AAC 320k | 12 | Columbia/SME | CK 57371 | 886972387321 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; indiv. tracks; approx. date; issued between Dec 11 - 17, 2014[30][31][32] |
USA | Dec 2014 | FLAC 44.1/16 | 12 | Columbia/SME | CK 57371 | 886972387321 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; indiv. tracks; approx. date; issued between Dec 11 - 17, 2014[30][31][32] |
USA | Dec 23, 2014 | AIFF 96/24 | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[33][34] |
USA | Dec 23, 2014 | ALAC 96/24 | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[33][34] |
USA | Dec 23, 2014 | WAV 96/24 | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[33][34] |
USA | Aug 7, 2019 | AAC 256k | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | Apple Digital Master | 2012 Remaster; indiv. tracks[35][36] |
USA | Sep 27, 2019 | FLAC 96/24 | 12 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 6 | 886443711969 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[37] |