Like many former superstar acts, Roxette has taken to living off its past. "A Collection of Hits" is the duo's fourth greatest hits package in the past 12 years and third compilation since 2002. That makes this set less than worthwhile for fans who own the others, especially "The Ballad Hits" and "The Pop Hits." If you own those two albums, you won't need this new one (every hit song on this disc is covered by the others), unless you've 'just gotta have' the two new tracks featured on "Collection."

Speaking of the new cuts -- "One Wish" and "Reveal" are nothing stellar; they're passable fare, but you can save a bit of money by buying (and downloading) them through an online vendor.

However, "A Collection of Hits" is a great buy for the casual Roxette fan, or that person who stopped following them after their early 90s heyday in America. Unlike "Ballad" and "Pop" from a few years ago, "Collection" features only their best-known numbers from the past 20 years. If you've never looked into Roxette and want to see what the rest of the world has appreciated for two decades, grab this disc. Otherwise, pony up the extra cash for the more-complete, earlier greatest hits collections.

Here are the songs that were all over the radio in the 80s and 90s...songs I grew up listening to and howling (er, singing) along to but never knew who sang them. I stumbled across this gem the other day and I can't stop listening to a few of the songs, especially Fading Like a Flower, Joyride, It Must Have Been Love, Dangerous, and Listen to Your Heart. Granted, a couple of these songs have been remixed into techno, but the originals are truly classics...you will be smiling after listening to it!

By the time that Roxette's career blossomed, I'd largely lost interest in contemporary pop music beyond following artists that I was already familiar with, such as Madonna. I occasionally discovered other artists that I liked but mostly I ignored the pop music scene. Eventually persuaded to give Roxette a chance, I decided not to bother initially because I didn't want to pay the full price, but I seized the opportunity to buy this compilation when it was offered in a sale at a tempting price. Their sound is basically melodic pop/rock with an eighties/nineties edge.

Comprising Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson, Roxette's main period of commercial success ran from 1986 to 1994. During that period, four of their singles (The look, Listen to your heart, It must have been love, Joyride) made the very top of the American pop charts with two others (Fading like a flower, Dangerous) just missing the top spot, peaking at number two. Their British hit record was less spectacular, with five singles making the top ten, the most successful (It must have been love) peaking at number three first time around, later making the the top ten again when re-issued following its use in a TV commercial. Of the six major American hits, it's worth noting that one of them (Listen to your heart) was initially only a very minor hit. Re-issued as a double A-side with Dangerous (another of those big American hits) following the British success of It must have been love, it made the UK top ten, but as I wasn't paying attention, I don't know which side was the most popular. Another of those big American hits, Fading like a flower, just failed to make the UK top ten. Almost unreal (from the soundtrack of Super Mario Bros) also made the UK top ten, while three other songs (Wish I could fly, How do you do, Sleeping in my car) made the UK top ten in the nineties.

Two songs recorded especially for this compilation (One wish, Reveal), both of which later became successful as singles around Europe, start and end this wonderful compilation that shows why Roxette were so popular.

I wanted to buy something that I would like to listen when I'm not alone in my car. Well, those 20 Greatest songs work. When I'm alone driving, I usually listen to Slayer, Sepultura, Sodom..... but with my wife, well... you know.... the first time that I played this cd with "company" in my car, I saw everyone following the music with their head, hands and legs, so I though "Perfect". If you want some easy-listening music, this cd is the chosen one....

Another great collection of 20 Roxette Hits but if you've got their other albums or even just their previous greatest hits collection Don't Bore Us Get to the Chorus : Roxette's Greatest Hits there's not much new here for you. The cover insert of Don't Bore Us comes with the lyrics as well to their songs which this album insert doesn't do.

The only difference this album has song wise is that it includes songs from albums released after their album Crash Boom Bang which obviously since they weren't released yet didn't make it onto Don't Bore Us Get to the Chorus. So if you haven't got (or haven't even heard of as they weren't that successfully promoted) the albums Have a Nice Day and Room Service or have bought the song A Thing About You that was the single release on another subsequent greatest hits album called Ballad Hits then this will give you the released songs from those albums. The 20th song (Reveal) is also a new release for this album but none of these songs are as good as their classic songs. I'd get Don't Bore Us Get to the Chorus instead as it has more of their big songs than this greatest hits album if you're only going to buy one Roxette album. Otherwise they are a sensational band and I'd just buy all their independent albums and not worry about buying greatest hits albums at all!