Big Ones

Big Ones is one of the many compilation albums by the American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 1, 1994[1] by Geffen Records (see 1994 in music). Big Ones featured 12 hits from the band's three consecutive multi-platinum albums, Permanent Vacation (1987), Pump (1989), and Get a Grip (1993), as well as the hit, "Deuces are Wild" from The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience (1993), and two new songs, "Blind Man" and "Walk on Water", which were recorded during a break in the band's Get a Grip Tour. These songs were also included on the band's 2001 compilation album, Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology. Big Ones is the band's second best-selling compilation album, reaching #6 on the Billboard charts, and selling four million copies in the United States alone. The album quickly became a worldwide hit reaching the Top 10 in nine countries before the end of the year.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

This article is about the Aerosmith album. For the Loverboy album, see Big Ones (Loverboy album).

Big Ones
Greatest hits album by Aerosmith
Released	November 1, 1994 (1994-11-01)[1]
Recorded	March – May 1987, April – June 1989, September – November 1992 at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada January – February 1992 at A&M Studios, Los Angeles, California April 1994 at The Power Station, New York City, New York June 1994 at Capri Digital Studios, Capri, Italy[2]
Genre	Hard rock, blues rock
Length	73:25[1]
Label	Geffen
Producer	Bruce Fairbairn, Michael Beinhorn[2]
Aerosmith compilation chronology
Pandora's Toys (1994) Big Ones (1994) Box of Fire (1994)
Singles from Big Ones
"Blind Man" Released: 1994 "Walk on Water" Released: 1995

History

In March 1987, Aerosmith began working at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the album that became Permanent Vacation. The recordings were completed in May,[2] the album was released in August,[12] and reached #11 on the Billboard 200.[13] The album released several singles including "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" (#4 on the Mainstream Rock Charts, #14 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Rag Doll" (#12 Mainstream Rock Charts, #17 Hot 100), and "Angel" (#2 Mainstream Rock, #3 Hot 100).[14]

Then in April 1989, the band went back to Little Mountain Sound Studios to record songs for their next studio album, Pump. The recordings were completed in June 1989,[2] the album was released in September,[15] and reached #5 on the Billboard 200.[13] Several other singles were released from Pump including "Janie's Got a Gun" (#2 Mainstream Rock, #4 Hot 100), "Love in an Elevator" (#1 Mainstream Rock, #5 Hot 100), "The Other Side" (#1 Mainstream Rock, #22 Hot 100) and "What It Takes" (#1 Mainstream Rock, #9 Hot 100).[14] In May a song was recorded during the sessions for Pump called "Deuces Are Wild", however it was not released on the album and was not released until the 1993 compilation album, The Beavis and Butt-head Experience.[2]

In January 1992, the band began recording at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. The recordings at A&M ended in February and in September the band began recording again at Little Mountain Sound Studios.[2] The recordings at Little Mountain ended in November,[2] and Aerosmith's next studio album, Get a Grip was released in April 1993[16] and went to #1 on the Billboard 200.[13] The singles released from Get a Grip included "Amazing" (#3 Mainstream Rock, #9 Top 40 Mainstream, #24 Hot 100), "Cryin'" (#1 Mainstream Rock, #11 Top 40 Mainstream, #12 Hot 100), "Eat the Rich" (#5 Mainstream Rock), "Livin' on the Edge" (#1 Mainstream Rock, #18 Hot 100, #19 Top 40 Mainstream), and "Crazy" (#7 Mainstream Rock, #7 Top 40 Mainstream, #17 Hot 100).[14]

In April 1994 the band went to The Power Station in New York City, New York and started recording the songs "Walk on Water" and "Blind Man". The group then completed the songs in June at Capri Digital Studios, Capri, Italy.[2] "Blind Man" reached #3 on the Mainstream Rock Charts, #23 on the Top 40 Mainstream, and #48 on the Hot 100 in 1994.[14] "Walk on Water" reached #16 on the Mainstream Rock Charts in 1995.[14]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	[17]
Entertainment Weekly	A−[18]

For his review of Big Ones for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album a high rating because he felt that the album captured the "comeback" of Aerosmith. However, he felt that the songs did not match the "rawness" of the band's earlier material, and seemed a little too "mainstream", with rampant over-production and too many power ballads.[1] Robert Christgau did not think the album included enough songs from the album Get a Grip, and did not like that it excluded "My Fist, Your Face." However, he did like the two new tracks, "Walk on Water" and "Blind Man." [17] Tom Sinclair thought well of the album in his review for Entertainment Weekly because it showed that they could mix hard rock and funk-based blues, and that they were more than just the American version of The Rolling Stones. He'd have given the album a higher rating had it not included the song "Angel".[18]

Track listing

Big Ones

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Walk on Water" (previously unreleased)	Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw	4:56
2.	"Love in an Elevator" (from the album Pump)	Tyler, Perry	5:22
3.	"Rag Doll" (from the album Permanent Vacation)	Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance, Holly Knight	4:25
4.	"What It Takes" (from the album Pump)	Tyler, Perry, Desmond Child	5:11
5.	"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" (from the album Permanent Vacation)	Tyler, Perry, Child	4:25
6.	"Janie's Got a Gun" (from the album Pump)	Tyler, Tom Hamilton	5:31
7.	"Cryin'" (from the album Get a Grip)	Tyler, Perry, Taylor Rhodes	5:09
8.	"Amazing" (from the album Get a Grip)	Tyler, Richard Supa	5:59
9.	"Blind Man" (previously unreleased)	Tyler, Perry, Rhodes	4:01
10.	"Deuces Are Wild" (from the album The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience)	Tyler, Vallance	3:36
11.	"The Other Side" (from the album Pump)	Tyler, Vallance	4:05
12.	"Crazy" (from the album Get a Grip)	Tyler, Perry, Child	5:17
13.	"Eat the Rich" (from the album Get a Grip)	Tyler, Perry, Vallance	4:11
14.	"Angel" (from the album Permanent Vacation)	Tyler, Child	5:08
15.	"Livin' on the Edge" (from the album Get a Grip)	Tyler, Perry, Mark Hudson	6:21
Total length:			1:13:25

European Edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
16.	"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" (Live)	Tyler, Perry, Child	5:11
Total length:			1:18:36

Special Edition Disc Two - all tracks taken from live album A Little South of Sanity

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)"	Tyler, Perry, Glen Ballard	3:20
2.	"Hole in My Soul"	Tyler, Perry, Child	5:41
3.	"Walk on Down"	Perry	5:09
4.	"Dream On"	Tyler	3:40
5.	"Back in the Saddle"	Tyler, Perry	4:42
6.	"Mama Kin"	Tyler	4:06
7.	"Walk This Way"	Tyler, Perry	4:07
8.	"Sweet Emotion"	Tyler, Hamilton	5:57

NB: "Love in an Elevator," "Janie's Got a Gun," and "The Other Side" are presented without their original lead-ins as heard on Pump ("Going Down," "Water Song," and "Dulcimer Stomp," respectively).

Personnel

Per liner notes[2]

Aerosmith Steven Tyler – lead vocals, keyboards, harmonica Tom Hamilton – bass, backing vocals on "Love in an Elevator" Joey Kramer – drums Joe Perry – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, pedal steel guitar Brad Whitford – rhythm and lead guitar, acoustic guitar

Additional musicians Jim Vallance – organ on "Rag Doll" Drew Arnott – mellotron on "Angel" Tom Keenlyside – saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, horn arrangement Ian Putz – baritone saxophone Bob Rogers – trombone Henry Christian – trumpet Bruce Fairbairn – trumpet, background vocals on "Love in an Elevator" Bob Dowd – background vocals on "Love in an Elevator" John Webster – keyboards Richard Supa – keyboards on "Amazing" Don Henley – background vocals on "Amazing" Desmond Child – keyboards on "Crazy" Paul Baron – trumpet Mapuhi T. Tekurio – Polynesian log drums on "Eat the Rich" Melvin Liufau – Polynesian log drums on "Eat the Rich" Wesey Mamea – Polynesian log drums on "Eat the Rich" Liainaiala Tagaloa – Polynesian log drums on "Eat the Rich" Sandy Kanaeholo – Polynesian log drums on "Eat the Rich" Aladd Alatina Teofilo, Jr. – Polynesian log drums on "Eat the Rich"

Production Bruce Fairbairn – producer Michael Beinhorn – producer on "Walk on Water" and "Blind Man" Mike Fraser – engineer, mixing Bob Rock – engineer on tracks from Permanent Vacation Ken Lomas – assistant engineer, second engineer Brandan O'Brien – mixing on Get a Grip tracks and "Deuces Are Wild" Tim Collins – management John Kalodner – artists and repertoire George Marino – mastering David J. Donnelly – mastering supervision Gibran Evans – design FPG International – photography Steve Gardner – photography Norman Seeff – photography

Charts

Album

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart[19]	12
Austrian Albums Chart[8]	4
Canada Albums Chart (RPM)[4]	2
Danish Albums Chart[20]	1
European Albums Chart[21]	4
French Albums Chart[22]	45
German Albums Chart[23]	5
Hungarian Albums Chart[24]	11
Japanese Albums Chart (Billboard)[25]	5
Netherlands Albums Chart[10]	8
New Zealand Albums Chart[6]	4
Norwegian Albums Chart[11]	9
Portuguese Albums Chart[26]	5
Swedish Albums Chart[7]	5
Swiss Albums Chart[9]	6
UK Albums Chart[5]	7
US Billboard 200[3]	6

Chart (2001)	Peak position
US Catalog Albums[3]	9

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Spanish Albums Chart[27]	87

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1994	"Blind Man"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	3
		Billboard Hot 100	48
	"Deuces are Wild"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
1995	"Walk on Water"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	16

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[28]	3× Platinum	180,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[29]	Gold	25,000^*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[30]	Gold	100,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[31]	8× Platinum	800,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[32]	Platinum	40,060[32]
Germany (BVMI)[33]	Gold	250,000^^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[34]	Gold	100,000^^
Netherlands (NVPI)[35]	Gold	50,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[36]	Gold	7,500^^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[37]	Platinum	50,000^*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[38]	Gold	50,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[39]	Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[40]	Platinum	300,000^^
United States (RIAA)[41]	4× Platinum	4,000,000^^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[42]	Platinum	1,000,000^*
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Tracks	Label	Catalog #	Barcode	Edition	Series	Notes
USA	Nov 1, 1994	CD	15	Geffen/MCA	GEFD-24716	720642471623	—	—	[43]
USA	Nov 1, 1994	Cassette	15	Geffen/MCA	GEFC-24716	720642471647	—	—	[44]

See also

• Big Ones You Can Look At
• List of best-selling albums in Argentina

External links

• Big Ones at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
• Big Ones at Yahoo! Music

References

1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Big Ones - Aerosmith > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
2. Big Ones (CD insert). Aerosmith. U.S.A.: Geffen Records. 1994. GEFD-24716.CS1 maint: others (link)
3. "Big Ones - Aerosmith". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
4. "100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes)". RPM. 60 (18). November 21, 1994. ISSN 0033-7064. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-20. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
5. "1994-11-12 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
6. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
7. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
8. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". Austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
9. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
10. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". GfK Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
11. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
12. https://www.allmusic.com/album/permanent-vacation-r180
13. "Aerosmith Album & Song Chart History > Billboard 200". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
14. "Aerosmith - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
15. https://www.allmusic.com/album/pump-r182
16. https://www.allmusic.com/album/get-a-grip-r168816
17. Robert Christgau. "Aerosmith - Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
18. Sinclair, Tom (November 4, 1994). "Big Ones - Aerosmith (Music Review)". Entertainment Weekly.
19. "Aerosmith – Big Ones". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
20. "Hits of the World: Denmark – Albums". Billboard. 106 (52): 55. December 24, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
21. "Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 – Albums". Billboard. 106 (52): 55. December 24, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
22. "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original on 2010-02-18. Search for "AEROSMITH" on the drop-down menu to see results.
23. "Chartverfolgung / AEROSMITH / Longplay". Music Line (in German). Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
24. "Archivum: Top 40 Album". MAHASZ (in Hungarian). Retrieved July 18, 2011.
25. "Hits of the World: Japan – Albums". Billboard. 106 (47): 44. November 19, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
26. "Hits of the World: Portugal – Albums". Billboard. 106 (48): 91. November 19, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
27. "Aerosmith – Big Ones (Album)" (ASP). Spanish Charts. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
28. "Gold & Platinum Certifications". CAPIF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
29. "Austrian album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
30. "Brazilian album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
31. "Canadian album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones". Music Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
32. "Aerosmith" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
33. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Aerosmith; 'Big Ones')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
34. "Certifications". AMPROFON (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
35. "Dutch album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved November 27, 2019. Enter Big Ones in the "Artiest of titel" box.
36. "New Zealand album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
37. "Norwegian album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones". IFPI Norway (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
38. "Spanish album certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 1, 2013. Select Albums under "Chart", enter 2006 in the field "Year". Select 37 in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts".
39. "Guld & Platinum 1987–1998" (PDF). IFPI Sweden (in Swedish). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
40. "British album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 1, 2013. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Big Ones in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
41. "American album certifications – Aerosmith – Big Ones". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 1, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
42. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
43. "Big Ones CD". Zia Records.
44. "Big Ones CASSETTE". Zia Records.