Goodbye – The Greatest Hits

Background and promotion

On 15 December 2012, Marvin Humes revealed that JLS were to release their fifth album in 2013. "By the time 2013 rolls round it'll be time for our fifth album," he said. "This is usually a greatest hits in boy band territory but we don't know if we're ready for that yet. There will definitely be an album next year. There's a lot of competition for us – not just from other boy bands. So we have to stay ahead of the game and stay relevant coming up with new hits.". On 1 February 2013, it was confirmed that work on the album had begun. On 26 March 2013, Humes confirmed that the band were heading out to Los Angeles to record the album: "We're booked in to go to LA and work with Rodney Jerkins again and are looking at some new people too."

On 23 April 2013, JLS shocked fans by announcing that they would be splitting after six years together. In a statement on their official website, the band said that they would be releasing a greatest hits album and embark their third and final arena tour.

To each and every JLSter, our beloved fans around the world. We wanted to make sure that you heard it from the four of us, that we have decided to bring our time as a band to an end. It has been the most incredible journey over the last 6 years and we have achieved more things than we could have ever dreamed possible. Thanks to all of you guys, your support, your dedication and your love, you have changed our lives forever and we wouldn't be where we are today without you.

We are currently in the studio working on what will be our last album - Goodbye: The Greatest Hits. We will be bringing you a new single later in the year to coincide with the album and the tour. Goodbye: The Greatest Hits Tour will be the last time that we will perform together as a 4 and we want to make sure that this tour is the best ever and that we end on a high! We will always remain brothers and friends and we will always be your boys.

We will continue to work on the JLS Foundation after our split, as we want to raise as much money and awareness as possible for great causes and our partner Cancer Research UK. We also want to continue the legacy that we started 3 years ago with the Foundation and we hope that you always continue to support that. To find out more please go to www.jlsfoundation.co.uk

As always we will continue to support each other and we hope you will enjoy watching us grow individually in our new chapters going forward.We want to look at this final year as a celebration of all that we have achieved together. We hope you can look back and remember all the great moments that you have been responsible for.

All that's left to say is the biggest THANK YOU for following us from day 1 and every day since then. You are truly the best fans in the world and we will always love you.

OJAM x

In an exclusive interview with the Official Charts Company, Aston Merrygold said of the album: "It features a load of hits from day one! 'Beat Again' and 'Everybody in Love', to 'Eyes Wide Shut', to 'Take a Chance on Me'... the list goes on! Well, obviously not 'on', there's about twelve!"

JLS performed "Billion Lights" live on Strictly Come Dancing on 17 November 2013.

Singles

On 26 September, JLS's management tweeted that the band's last ever single would be called "Billion Lights" and also revealed the artwork, "So...We're very excited to finally share this!! The brand new JLS single is called 'Billion Lights'!! :) JLSHQx".

Critical reception

Writing for the Daily Record, John Dingwall gave the album 3 stars out of 5 and wrote: "QUITTING on a high, the X Factor boyband have always been nothing but gentlemen. Hits such as Beat Again, One Shot and new song Billion Years still make you smile. Their blend of R&B electro club tracks didn't satisfy everyone and there was more musical talent to them than the album portrays. Let's hope they'll be back."