Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar

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.

Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar
Cover art by Lynn Goldsmith
Greatest hits album by
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)

Reception edit

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 edit

# 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 edit

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 edit

  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.