This cd is what got me on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. What happened was about 5 years ago my brother bought this cd. But, he never listened to it. I was 10 years old at the time I never had anything to do. So I sat around and listened to this cd. I didn't like it much at first. All I liked was Under the Bridge and Show Me Your Soul. But then, slowly, I started to like it more and more till i loved practically every song the cd. About a year One Hot Minute came out, I bought it and took it back because it swore too much for me. But, about 2 years later, I bought it again and I became an even bigger fan, much bigger. Finally, I bought BSSM about a little over half a year ago. That one's my favorite right now. I love that so much. But, I have to give credit to this cd for turning me too them. Now they're one of my all-time favorite bands. I will always love them. I'm getting Californication soon. I'm planning on getting Mother's Milk soon cause I've heard it's great. But, anyways the Red Hot Chili Peppers are some of the best musicians to ever grace the earth.

What Hits!? (with it's nicely sarcastic title) is next to WB's Greatest Hits CD, the second best RHCP contemplation album. Spanning from 1984 to 1991, this features some of the Chili's best fan-favorite songs, incompasing everything from the funk/rock/rap/sex/mayhem of the 1980's to the sentimental classic "Under the Bridge". So without further ado, the review.

1. Higher Ground: An awesome tribute to Stevie Wonder, featured on the 1989 album "Mother's Milk". Very funky and energetic, a song to headbang to.

2. Fight Like a Brave: From the 1987 album "Uplift Mofo Party Plan", this is a rip-roaring song to raise your fist in the air to and chant "Fight like a brave! Don't be a slave!"

3. Behind the Sun: A delightfully playful (and psychadelic) acid-rock song, this tale of talking dolphins is a truly feel-good tune. From Uplift Mofo.

4. Me and My Friends: This song from Uplift Mofo is a tribute to the friendship of the Chili Peppers. Features some rapid-fire raps and a chorus to chant to, this is a great tune to dance like a freak to.

5. Backwoods: This tribute to the origins of rock music is one kick-*** jam! Featuring a rocking chorus and some funktacular (allow me to invent a word) rapping, make this a song a powerhouse of pure energy.

6. True Men Don't Kill Coyotes: From the Chili Peppers 1984 debut, this hard rockin' song has a certain quality to it unlike other RHCP songs; a rough, gritty garage-band feel. Another great 'chant to the chorus song'.

7. Fire: A minute-and-a-half of pure, unadulterated, musical insanity. Featured on Mother's Milk, but also a live favorite.

8. Get Up and Jump: One of the absolute best party songs, ever. Extemely funky and energetic, this song is guarenteed to have you jumping like a frog on speed. Featured on the Chili Peppers' first album

9. Knock Me Down: A bit of a darker song, this is an anti-drug themed song about the death of Hillel Slovak, the Chili Peppers' guitarist and friend. Not only does it rock, but it is also rather touching and true-to-life. Featured on Mother's Milk

10. Under the Bridge: Curiously, the only song from 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik here, which makes it feel rather out-of-place. If you have listened to a rock radio station within the past 15 years, you've heard this song. This is a sentimental and heart-felt song about Anthony Kiedis' drug addiction. This is also a special song for me, as it is not only the song that introduced me to the Chili Peppers (thus making me a big fan), but it also embodies what I feel about life (and I'm not a drug user, though). Features guitarist John Frusciante's mother singing harmony vocals, and an absolutely atmospheric outro.

11. Show Me Your Soul: A song that was contributed to the soundtrack for the movie "Pretty Woman", this is a very funky pop-flavored love song, like only RHCP can make.

12. If You Want Me To Stay: A stunning cover of the Sly and the Family Stone song of the same name, this is a song to both relax to and to slow-dance to. Featured on 1985's Freaky Styley.

13: Hollywood (Africa): A re-titled cover of "Africa" by 1970's funk band The Meters, this is a wonderfully funky slow-burning party jam. Featured on Freaky Styley.

14: Jungle Man: A tribute to bassist Flea, this is another funky song to chant to the chorus and dance along. Featured on Freaky Styley.

15: The Brother's Cup: A funky song for a party, this song features some very imaginative lyrics, a staple of the Chili Peppers. Featured on Freaky Styley.

16: Taste the Pain: A darker kind of Chili Peppers song, this features some very morose lyrics (try and find your own interruptation of them), and a knockout chorus. Featured on Mother's Milk.

17: Catholic Schoolgirls Rule: A literally "quick-and-dirty" (with emphasis on "dirty") tribute to the sexiness of Catholic schoolgirls. Featured on Freaky Styley.

18: Johnny Kick a Hole In The Sky: A song about Native American (that's "Indian" for you numbskulls) rebellion, this is a truly knockout song and outro. Featured on Mother's Milk.

Alright, you've heard enough, now go buy this and the other RHCP albums!

Anyway, this is the red hot chili peppers greatest hits collection with songs from 1984 to 1991. This is considered one of their best cd's and i agree.
THE GOOD:
- You get all the old hits.
- When the early peppers weren't remastered and weren't available in stores, this was the only early peppers you could listen to.
- If you want only one 80's peppers, and make it this one, you'll get some songs you never knew, like the brother's cup, show me your soul, get up and jump, johnny kick a hole in the sky, backwoods, if you want me to stay and many more.
- It has the non-album track, show me your soul, which is great.
THE BAD:
- It's missing some songs like yertle the turtle, special secret song inside, mommy where's daddy, blackeyed blondie, good time boys, subway to venus, stone cold bush, american ghost dance, nevermind, sex rap, why don't you love me.
- If you put under the bridge, then why only one song from blood sugar sex magik?
- If you have all the studio albums, this is worthless.

Overall, it's a great compilation, and one of the best. But I would better buy all the first 4 albums.

You know a few days ago I had a chili peppers revelation. I didn't own any of their CDs, however I remembered how catchy the album "Californiacation" sounded when I went over to my friends houses and I remember also lovin' "under the bridge." I noticed that there was the highly priced greatest hits compilation, and then there as the below 10 dollars "amazon 5 star" rated "What Hits?!" I bought it with the intent of hearing a lot of songs like under the bridge. That song is on black sugar sex maghik, and not being an avid fan yet, I thought it would be less risky buying the best of collection. I love funk. The peppers are very original (when they aren't giving 5 covers) Most songs are from tyhe 80's and though remotely catchy, I wasn't able to latch on and enjoy it. Avid fans will probably love this - most songs charted. But fans familiar with californiacation and newer stuff will consider this fluff.

To me, this is hands down their best cd. Besides being 18 tracks, it's full of the funkiest funk from their first four funky albums. This includes the early hits "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes", "Fight Like A Brave", "Behind The Sun", and the covers of "Fire" and "Higher Ground". Also "Under The Bridge" was thrown on for all the newcomers at the time. My personal favorites are "Me & My Friends" and "The Brothers Cup". If I could add anything, I'd have it be "Why Don't You Love Me", "Good Time Boys", and the whole "Uplift Mofo Party Plan" album. That rocks. Overall though, this is pure perfect 80's Peppers. I'd get this disc before their new "Greatest Hits" collection.