Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar
Cover art by Lynn Goldsmith
Greatest hits album by
Paul Simon
ReleasedMay 23, 2000
Recorded1972–1997[1]
GenreFolk rock, soft rock, worldbeat
Length77:20[2]
LabelWarner Music Group
ProducerPaul Simon,
Roy Halee,
Oscar Hernandez,
Phil Ramone,
Russ Titelman,
Muscle Shoals[3]
Paul Simon chronology
Songs from The Capeman
(1997) 		Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar
(2000) 		You're the One
(2000)

Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar is the fifth greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, which was released on May 23, 2000[1] by the Warner Music Group. This is his fifth compilation so far. This album was also directed by Antonio Luis.[3] Although the album was a chart success across Europe, it was not issued in the United States and continues to be an expensive import.[1] The title of the album is taken from the first two lines of the song "Graceland," which is also the first track on the album.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]

This album received generally positive reviews. AllMusic gave it 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars, calling it "by far the best [Paul Simon] collection ever released."[1]

Track listing

# Song Year Single? Time
1 "Graceland" 1986 Yes 4:47
2 "You Can Call Me Al" 1986 Yes 4:41
3 "Mother and Child Reunion" 1972 Yes 2:59
4 "The Cool, Cool River" 1990 No 4:33
5 "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" 1976 Yes 3:07
6 "The Obvious Child" 1990 Yes 4:11
7 "The Boy in the Bubble" 1987 Yes 3:57
8 "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War" 1983 No 3:43
9 "Late in the Evening" 1980 Yes 3:54
10 "Bernadette" 1997 No 3:28
11 "Slip Slidin' Away" 1977 Yes 4:45
12 "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" 1973 Yes 3:22
13 "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" 1987 Yes 5:49
14 "Still Crazy After All These Years" 1976 Yes 3:22
15 "Kodachrome" 1973 Yes 3:28
16 "Loves Me Like a Rock" 1973 Yes 3:14
17 "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" 1972 Yes 2:43
18 "Hearts and Bones" 1983 No 5:38
19 "Trailways Bus" 1997 No 5:15

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[6] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[7] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ruhlmann, William. "Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar". Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  2. ^ "Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar". Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar—Album Credits". Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  4. ^ Allmusic review
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  6. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Paul Simon – Shining Like a National Guitar". Music Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "British album certifications – Paul Simon – Shining Like a National Guitar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 21, 2022.


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