Queen: Greatest Hits III Album (1999)

The Show Must Go On – Forever

Queen’s Greatest Hits III , was released in the UK on November 8, 1999, on Parlophone Records. This 17-track compilation featured collaborations, solo tracks, and later Queen hits, including “The Show Must Go On” with Elton John and “Under Pressure (Rah Mix)” with David Bowie. Peaking at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart for 23 weeks across four runs, it was issued in standard, limited numbered, and misprint vinyl editions, plus CD and Minidisc. A celebration of Queen’s post-Freddie era, it’s a diverse swan song.

The first two tracks on the album were new previously unreleased versions of classic Queen songs.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: Parlophone Records (UK).

Formats: 2 x Vinyl LP (standard, limited numbered, misprint numbered), CD (limited picture jewel case), Minidisc.

℗ & ©: 1999 Parlophone Records.

Notes: Track 10 on Minidisc incorrectly credits “No More Brothers radio mix” for “Living On My Own.”

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Greatest Hits III was released in the UK in 1999 in multiple formats, all with the same 17-track sequence:

2 x Vinyl LP, Compilation (Catalogue: 7243 5 23452 1 1):

Side A:

Queen + Elton John – The Show Must Go On (4:35)

Queen + David Bowie – Under Pressure (Rah Mix) (4:08)

Freddie Mercury + Montserrat Caballé – Barcelona (4:25)

Queen – Too Much Love Will Kill You (4:18)

Side B:

Queen + George Michael – Somebody To Love (5:07)

Queen – You Don't Fool Me (5:22)

Queen – Heaven For Everyone (4:37)

Queen – Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (4:29)

Side C:

Brian May – Driven By You (4:09)

Freddie Mercury – Living On My Own (3:37)

Queen – Let Me Live (4:45)

Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender (3:26)

Queen – Princes Of The Universe (3:31)

Side D:

Queen + Wyclef Jean – Another One Bites The Dust (4:20)

Queen – No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) (4:11)

Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives (4:22)

Queen – Thank God It's Christmas (4:19) – Bonus Track

Personnel

Main

Queen – producers (2, 4–8, 11, 13, 15–17)

Brian May – producer (9), remixing (2)

Freddie Mercury – producer (3, 12), original recording producer (10)

Roger Taylor – remixing (2)

David Bowie – producer (2)

Wyclef Jean – remixing (14)

Mack – producer (8, 13, 17), original recording producer (10)

George Michael – producer (5)

Additional

Joshua J. Macrae – producer (6–7, 11), recording engineer (11, 15),

additional remixing (2)

Mike Moran – producer (3, 12)

Colin Peter – producer, recording engineer (10)

Serge Ramaekers – producer, recording engineer (10)

Julian Raymond – additional production (10)

David Richards – producer (3–4, 6–7, 9, 12, 16), recording engineer (5)

Justin Shirley-Smith – producer (6–7, 11), recording engineer (1, 11, 15), additional remixing (2)

Carl Ward – producer, recording engineer (10)

Also available:

2 x Vinyl LP

(Same catalogue): Limited Edition, Misprint, Numbered

misprint on sleeve/labels.

2 x Vinyl LP,

(Same catalogue): Limited Edition, Numbered

CD Album

(Catalogue: 7243 5 23452 2 9 / 5 23452 2 / 523 4522):

Limited Edition, Picture Jewel Case

Queen + Elton John – The Show Must Go On (4:35)

Queen + David Bowie – Under Pressure (RAH Mix) (4:08)

Freddie Mercury + Montserrat Caballé – Barcelona (4:25)

Queen – Too Much Love Will Kill You (4:18)

Queen + George Michael – Somebody To Love (5:07)

Queen – You Don't Fool Me (5:22)

Queen – Heaven For Everyone (4:37)

Queen – Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (4:29)

Brian May – Driven By You (4:09)

Freddie Mercury – Living On My Own (3:37)

Queen – Let Me Live (4:45)

Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender (3:26)

Queen – Princes Of The Universe (3:31)

Queen + Wyclef Jean – Another One Bites The Dust (4:20)

Queen – No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) (4:11)

Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives (4:22)

Queen – Thank God It's Christmas (4:19)

Minidisc

(Catalogue: 7243 5 23452 8 1):

Queen + Elton John – The Show Must Go On

Queen + David Bowie – Under Pressure (Rah Mix)

Freddie Mercury + Montserrat Caballé – Barcelona

Queen – Too Much Love Will Kill You

Queen + George Michael – Somebody To Love

Queen – You Don't Fool Me

Queen – Heaven For Everyone

Queen – Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love)

Brian May – Driven By You

Freddie Mercury – Living On My Own

Queen – Let Me Live

Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender

Queen – Princes Of The Universe

Queen + Wyclef Jean – Another One Bites The Dust

Queen – No-one But You (Only The Good Die Young)

Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives

Queen – Thank God It's Christmas

(Note: Track 10 incorrectly lists remix credits for “No More Brothers radio mix.”)

Country Variations

The album was released globally with minor variations:

Album Chart Performance

Greatest Hits III charted across four runs:

UK:

Peak: No. 5.

Total Weeks on Chart: 23.

Run 1: 16 weeks (November 20, 1999 – March 4, 2000).

Run 2: 4 weeks (March 18, 2000 – April 8, 2000).

Run 3: 2 weeks (June 24, 2000 – July 1, 2000).

Run 4: 1 week (November 18, 2000).

Certification: Platinum (300,000 copies sold, BPI).

Legacy and Collectibility

Greatest Hits III is Queen’s collaborative capstone, with “Under Pressure (Rah Mix)” and “Barcelona” fan favorites. Original UK double vinyls (standard) fetch £20–£50 on eBay/Discogs, with limited numbered/misprint editions (£50–£100) and Minidiscs (£15–£40) rarer. CDs (£5–£15) are common. Verify catalogue 7243 5 23452 1 1. Streams on Spotify via reissues preserve the analog legacy. This compilation is a must-have for Queen fans and ‘90s rock collectors.

Do you have Greatest Hits III in your vinyl stack? Which collab reigns supreme? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube