After forming in 1969, Judas Priest signed with Gull Records in 1974. When the band jumped to CBS Records in early 1977, they had to break their contract with Gull to do so. In the legal fallout that ensued, the band forfeited their rights to all material recorded with Gull.
The album is not a typical "greatest hits" type of collection as the title would imply. It was the first of a handful of releases featuring material Judas Priest had recorded during their time with Gull, and was produced by the label in an effort to capitalize on the band's growing popularity. As the band had forfeited their legal claim to the music, the album was released without their consent.[3][4]
All songs originally from Rocka Rolla (1974), except Diamonds & Rust, which was an outtake from the Sad Wings of Destiny sessions and was included to generate more interest on the compilation.
All songs originally released on Sad Wings of Destiny (1976).
§ – at least on certain releases both on vinyl and CD the track is featured in a different mix from its original 1976 version. An example can be found on the 1989 CD release on Possum Records from Australia.[5]
1987 CD release
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Original album
Length
1.
"Dying to Meet You"
Halford, Downing
Rocka Rolla (1974)
6:11
2.
"Never Satisfied"
Atkins, Downing
Rocka Rolla (1974)
4:46
3.
"Rocka Rolla"
Halford, Downing, Tipton
Rocka Rolla (1974)
3:02
4.
"Diamonds and Rust" (original version of a Joan Baez cover)
Baez
Demo track recorded for Sad Wings of Destiny (1976), later found on many Rocka Rolla reissues
3:13
5.
"Victim of Changes"
Atkins, Halford, Downing, Tipton
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
7:43
6.
"Island of Domination"
Halford, Downing, Tipton
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
4:15
7.
"The Ripper"
Tipton
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
2:46
8.
"Deceiver"
Halford, Downing, Tipton
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
2:44
9.
"Epitaph"
Tipton
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
3:08
10.
"One for the Road"
Halford, Downing
Rocka Rolla (1974)
4:34
2001 CD release
This release contains, according to Judas Priest's website, a "mindless interview" from former drummer John Hinch, who was let go from the band because he was "musically inadequate". They have described it as "not only misleading but full of rubbish and false information".[6] In a 1998 interview with Goldmine Magazine, Tipton commented on the reason the company bothered to release the album:
"We believe that they're abusing the kids with...The Best of Judas Priest and the re-packaging. It's not fair for us to condone them, because it's ripping the kids off. On the "Insight Series" CD, they include bullshit interviews with our first drummer John Hinch, who couldn't even play the drums, believe you me. But it's tracked to look like new songs. We don't get royalties off it, but the kids think we do."[7][better source needed]
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Original album
Length
1.
"Dying to Meet You"
Halford, Downing
Rocka Rolla (1974)
6:11
2.
"Never Satisfied"
Atkins, Downing
Rocka Rolla (1974)
4:46
3.
"Rocka Rolla"
Halford, Downing, Tipton
Rocka Rolla (1974)
3:02
4.
"Diamonds and Rust" (original version of a Joan Baez cover)
Baez
Demo track recorded for Sad Wings of Destiny (1976), later found on many Rocka Rolla reissues
^"JudasPriest.com". Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2018. If for instance anyone out there has bought their "JUDAS PRIEST – THE BEST OF" – Insight Series, then they would find that 50% of the album consists of a mindless interview with John Hinch an ex-drummer with Priest who we had to let go because he was musically inadequate.
