| Anthology | ||||
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| Released | April 7, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1985–1995 | |||
| Studio | Q-Productions | |||
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| Length | 1:50:01 | |||
| Language | English, Spanish | |||
| Label | EMI Latin | |||
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| Selena chronology | ||||
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Anthology is the first box set by American singer Selena. It was released posthumously on April 7, 1998, through EMI Latin to commemorate the singer's works. The collection comprises 30 tracks, dispersed across three genre-themed discs: "Pop / English" showcases uptempo pop compositions, "Mariachi" highlights Mexican ballads featuring poignant narratives of heartache, and "Cumbia" presents danceable tropical rhythms. The album encompasses recordings from a 14-year-old Selena on her Alpha (1986) album to the posthumous "Disco Medley" (1997). With a limited number of unaltered tracks, Anthology predominantly features reworked and remastered musical arrangements, while preserving the singer's original vocals. Selena's death in March 1995 prompted an influx of requests from her admirers. The singer's father and manager, Abraham Quintanilla, expressed a desire to maintain his daughter's legacy through her music. However, Selena's family has faced criticism from both fans and the media, who accuse them of capitalizing on her death and commodifying her repertoire.
The album garnered favorable acclaim from music critics, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine describing Anthology as a "comprehensive overview" of Selena's musical career. Erlewine posited that the compilation offers a diverse showcase of the artist's multifaceted talents. Echoing this sentiment, The Orlando Sentinel's critics noted that Anthology effectively demonstrates Selena's adeptness in performing across various genres. Upon its release, Anthology debuted at number one on the United States Billboard Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums chart, selling 10,500 units in its inaugural week. The album also reached number 131 on the Billboard 200 chart and maintained its position atop the Regional Mexican Albums chart for 11 weeks—the longest duration for any album in that year. Anthology ended 1998 as the best-selling Regional Mexican Albums chart in the US, while it placed 12th on the Top Latin Albums year-end chart. Anthology has been certified Diamond (Latin) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting 600,000 units consisting of sales and on-demand streaming.