Highest Hopes: The Best Of Nightwish (compilation, 2005)

[Fugazi]

Highest Hopes: The Best Of Nightwish (compilation, 2005)

The only really new material on this compilation is the re-recorded version of "Sleeping Sun", the last work of Tarja with the band, and the live cover of "High Hopes".

I have yet to figure out the date/venue for the "High Hopes" performance. The album liner gives no clue. The album was mastered in May 2005 by Mika Jussila so that kind of limits the possibilities to Feb-May 2005. I know that Tokyo in March was professionally recorded, so that's one possibility.

 

Track list (with relevant threads when available):

1. Wish I Had An Angel (ONCE, 2004)
2. Stargazers (OB, 1998)
3. The Kinslayer (WM, 2000)
4. Ever Dream (CC, 2002)
5. Elvenpath (AFF, 1997)
6. Bless The Child (CC, 2002)
7. Nemo (ONCE, 2004)
8. Sleeping Sun (2005 re-recording of the 1998 single)
9. Dead To The World (CC, 2002)
10. Over The Hills And Far Away (Gary Moore cover, OTHAFA, 2001)
11. Deep Silent Complete (WM, 2000) (Note 1)
12. Sacrament Of Wilderness (OB, 1998)
13. Walking In The Air (Howard Blake cover, OB, 1998)
14. Wishmaster (WM, 2000)
15. Dead's Boy Poem (WM, 2000)
16. High Hopes (Pink Floyd cover, live recording) (Note 2)

Bonus tracks (Limited Edition DVD)

1. She Is My Sin (live recording from M'Era Luna Festival Germany, August 9 2003) (Note 3)
2. The Kinslayer (live recording from M'Era Luna Festival Germany, August 9 2003) (Note 3)
3. Dead To The World (live recording from M'Era Luna Festival Germany, August 9 2003) (Note 3)

Bonus tracks (Deluxe Sound + Vision CD) (Note 6)

1. The Wayfarer (B-side of "Ever Dream" single, 2002)
2. Come Cover Me (live recording from Tampere Finland, December 29 2000) (Note 4)
3. Dead Boy's Poem (live recording from Tampere Finland, December 29 2000) (Note 4)
4. Once Upon A Troubadour (AFF original release, 1997)
5. A Return To The Sea (AFF original release, 1997)
6. Sleepwalker (heavy version, 2000 single)
7. Nightquest (B-side of "Walking In The Air" single, 1999)
8. Lagoon (B-side of "Bless The Child" single, 2002)

Bonus tracks (Deluxe Sound + Vision DVD)

1. She Is My Sin (live recording from M'Era Luna Festival Germany, August 9 2003) (Note 3)
2. Dead To The World (live recording from M'Era Luna Festival Germany, August 9 2003) (Note 3)
3. The Kinslayer (live recording from M'Era Luna Festival Germany, August 9 2003) (Note 3)
4. Over The Hills And Far Away (official video)
5. Bless The Child (official video)
6. Sleeping Sun (official 1998 video)
7. Walking In The Air (live recording from Tampere Finland, December 29 2000) (Note 4)
8. End Of All Hope (live recording from Summer Breeze Open Air Germany, August 23 2002) (Note 5)
9. 10th Man Down (live recording from Summer Breeze Open Air Germany, August 23 2002) (Note 5)
10. Sleeping Sun (live recording from Summer Breeze Open Air Germany, August 23 2002) (Note 5)

 

Notes:

1. On the Limited Edition of the compilation, "Deep Silent Complete" was replaced by "The Phantom Of The Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover, CC, 2002)
2. Live performance, recording date/venue unknown
3. Previously released on "Starfacts Presents Nightwish" (promotional video CD, 2004)
4. Previously released on "From Wishes To Eternity" (live album, 2001)
5. Previously released on "End Of Innocence" (live album, 2003)
6. Content of this extra CD is very similar to the 2002 single/compilation "Bless The Child"

 

From the band:

In the official biography, Tuomas comments: "I got the feeling that it was a sort of counterstrike to the Drakkar compilation [Tales From The Elvenpath, 2004]. I would have liked to postpone it by a year so it could have been a tenth-anniversary compilation. [...] Still, it's a really good package all in all, very nice covers, good title. I totally endorse it, but it's not exactly what I had in mind. I would have included one more song from Once, for example."