"Greatest Hits" is a compilation album by the English rock band The Cure, released on November 7, 2001, in Japan, and shortly thereafter in the UK, Europe, and the US. This album came about as the band's contract with Fiction Records came to a close, and they were required to release one final album for the label. Lead singer Robert Smith agreed to release a greatest hits album under the condition that he could personally select the tracks. As part of the release, the band also recorded a special bonus disc titled Acoustic Hits, which features acoustic re-recordings of 18 songs from the North American release.
The album includes a selection of the band's most iconic singles from their 25-year history, as well as two new tracks, "Cut Here" and "Just Say Yes". The tracks were newly remastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering specifically for this collection. The tracklisting is similar between the UK and international versions, but there are a few key differences. The international release includes "The Walk", while the UK version substitutes it with "The Caterpillar" and "Pictures of You."
In an effort to provide something fresh for long-time fans who already owned the majority of the songs, Robert Smith arranged for the band, along with former drummer Boris Williams, to re-record acoustic versions of the tracks. These acoustic renditions were included as a bonus disc with the initial pressings of Greatest Hits.
The album was also released in video format, available on both VHS and DVD. The video includes a track listing similar to the North American audio CD, though it features hidden Easter eggs, including "The Caterpillar," "Pictures of You," and "Close to Me (Closest Mix)." Additionally, six of the acoustic performances appear on the DVD.
In 2017, Greatest Hits was reissued on vinyl as a picture disc for Record Store Day, although this version does not include the Acoustic Hits disc. The album's success continued into 2019, reaching a peak position of number 19 on the UK Albums Chart following the Cure's headline performance at Glastonbury Festival that year.
