What time is the right time to release a retrospective album?

For Britney Spears, who is releasing her third retrospective album, there are multiple right times, even if you’re only 27 years old… Fall Out Boy and Foo Fighters are also releasing retrospective albums of their greatest hits in the near future.

When asked about the upcoming album, Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl said he put up a lot of resistance initially.  Earlier in their career, a retrospective just didn’t make sense and Grohl refused outright.  Even now, he still believes that releasing a retrospective hits album feels like “an obituary.”  It’s not as though Foo Fighters will be disappearing off the map with this new album, which will also feature two new singles “Wheels” and “Word Forward.”

Fall Out Boy has been together for 6 years and will be releasing their retrospective Believers Never Die on November 17th.  Foo Fighters has been making music for 15 years and has yet to announce their release date.  How soon is too soon for a retrospective?  Sound off in the comments!