What Hits!?

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Lore & Background

The creation of What Hits!? stemmed from a specific agreement between EMI and Warner Bros. Records following the band's move to Warner in 1991. While EMI owned rights to the first four albums, both labels agreed to allow one song recorded during each tenure on their respective greatest hits compilations. EMI selected 'Under the Bridge', the band's biggest hit at the time, while Warner Bros. later chose 'Higher Ground' for their 2003 collection. The title itself serves as a joke regarding the band's relative lack of success with EMI; many included tracks were singles that peaked notably low or were never released as singles at all, such as 'The Brothers Cup', 'Backwoods', and 'Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky'. Most material was drawn from Freaky Styley, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, and Mother's Milk. In 2013, following EMI's absorption by Universal Music Group, the album was re-released as part of the Icon compilation series.

In Their Own Story

The narrative behind this release is rooted in the irony of labeling songs 'hits' when many barely charted or never appeared on radio. 'Behind the Sun', for instance, was originally rejected by EMI as a single in 1987 until the label deemed it worthy only after the band's early-1990s popularity surge. The video collection accompanying the album superseded the 1990 Positive Mental Octopus release. A music video for 'Behind the Sun' was created without the band's involvement, reusing footage from the 'Higher Ground' video mixed with new animation. This collection captured a specific era of the group's history, featuring live recordings like 'Fire', 'Stone Cold Bush', 'Special Secret Song Inside', and 'Subway to Venus' taken directly from their 1990 Psychedelic Sexfunk Live from Heaven video. Prior to the official release, EMI issued a rare five-song CD sampler titled What Promo Hits!? exclusively to radio stations.

Reader's Guide

For listeners exploring this compilation, the tracklist is divided by personnel and era. Guitar duties are split between Hillel Slovak (tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17), John Frusciante (tracks 1, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18), and Jack Sherman (tracks 6, 8). Drumming is shared by Jack Irons (tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7), Cliff Martinez (tracks 6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17), and Chad Smith (tracks 1, 9, 10, 11, 18), with Philip 'Fish' Fisher contributing to track 16. The production team is diverse, featuring Michael Beinhorn, George Clinton, Norwood Fisher, Andy Gill, and Rick Rubin. The video component includes specific performances: music videos for 'Behind the Sun', 'Under the Bridge', 'Show Me Your Soul', 'Taste the Pain', 'Higher Ground', 'Knock Me Down', 'Fight Like a Brave', 'Jungle Man', and 'True Men Don't Kill Coyotes'. It also preserves four live videos from the 1990 Psychedelic Sexfunk Live from Heaven release. The sampler What Promo Hits!? included 'Higher Ground', 'If You Want Me to Stay', 'Under the Bridge', 'Taste the Pain', and 'Behind the Sun'.

Did You Know?

• The title 'What Hits!?' is a joke alluding to the low chart performance of many included tracks, some of which were never released as singles.
• 'Show Me Your Soul' appears on this album and is the only full-length Red Hot Chili Peppers release to feature it.
• The music video for 'Behind the Sun' was created without the band's involvement by reusing footage from the 'Higher Ground' video.
• EMI originally refused to release 'Behind the Sun' as a single in 1987, only changing their mind after the band became popular in the early 1990s.
• A rare five-song CD sampler titled What Promo Hits!? was released to radio stations prior to the album but was not for public sale.