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Greatest Hits, Etc.

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Greatest Hits, Etc.
Greatest hits album by
Paul Simon
ReleasedNovember 1977
Recorded1971–77
GenreFolk rock
Length51:38
LabelColumbia
ProducerPaul Simon, Roy Halee, Phil Ramone
Paul Simon chronology
Still Crazy After All These Years
(1975) 		Greatest Hits, Etc.
(1977) 		One-Trick Pony
(1980)
Singles from Greatest Hits, Etc.
  1. "Slip Slidin' Away[1]"
    Released: September 1977
  2. "Stranded in a Limousine[2]"
    Released: March 1978

Greatest Hits, Etc. is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released in November 1977 by Columbia Records. It was his first compilation, spanning the first six years of his solo career. Its release was prompted by the fact that two years after his last studio album, Simon didn't yet have enough material to release a new full-length album, and his contract with Columbia was finished but a new album was needed to fulfill it. Simon later signed with Warner Bros. Records. The album was initially supposed to be called Blatant Greatest Hits.[3]

The album included two new songs: the smooth ballad "Slip Slidin' Away", a US top 5 hit previously considered for Still Crazy After All These Years, and the upbeat "Stranded in a Limousine", which failed to chart in the US. "Slip Slidin' Away" was not available in any other album until 1988's Negotiations and Love Songs, and "Stranded in a Limousine" was added as a bonus track on the CD reissue of One Trick Pony. Record World said that "Stranded in a Limousine" "has a bit of rhythm and blues added to it, in the form of a good horn arrangement and some strong piano work."[4]

Half of the songs on the album were hit singles (including all of the five top 5 singles Simon achieved in his entire solo career in the US). The rest was filled with the two aforementioned new tracks, some album tracks (particularly the radio favorite "Something So Right"), and live versions of "Duncan" (from the Live Rhymin' recording) and "American Tune". From this diversity came the Etc. on the album title. This collection omits two hits during the period covered by this compilation – the duet with Phoebe Snow, "Gone at Last" and his reunion single with Art Garfunkel, "My Little Town".

The album reached No. 18 in the US and No. 3 in the UK. Originally issued as an LP in 1977 with a gatefold sleeve, it was re-released in 1986 as an LP in a non-gatefold sleeve following the success of the Graceland album. After Paul Simon won Best International Solo Artist at the 1987 Brits Awards, the re-released LP appeared with a 'Brits Award Winner' sticker. The album was also pressed for a short time in CD format by CBS/Columbia Records. The pressing of the CDs was stopped upon the release of Simon's compilation album Negotiations and Love Songs, which was issued on Warner Bros. Records and designed to supersede this album. However, a few cuts, including "Stranded in a Limousine" and "American Tune", were not included on Negotiations. The re-released album re-entered the UK charts for two weeks during January 1987.[5]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Christgau's Record GuideA[7]

Track listing

[edit]

All the songs were written and composed by Paul Simon, and were performed in the studio by Simon accompanied with many of the leading session musicians of the day.[8][better source needed]

Side one

[edit]
  1. "Slip Slidin' Away" – 4:43
  2. "Stranded in a Limousine" – 3:09
  3. "Still Crazy After All These Years" – 3:24
  4. "Have a Good Time" – 3:25
  5. "Duncan" (Live) – 5:03
  6. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" – 2:45
  7. "Something So Right" – 4:34

Side two

[edit]
  1. "Kodachrome" – 3:32
  2. "I Do It for Your Love" – 3:35
  3. "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" – 3:33
  4. "American Tune" (Live) – 4:09
  5. "Mother and Child Reunion" – 2:50
  6. "Loves Me Like a Rock" – 3:28
  7. "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" – 3:28

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Paul Simon - Slip Slidin' Away".
  2. ^ "Paul Simon - Stranded in a Limousine".
  3. ^ Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from November 12, 1977
  4. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 25, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "Greatest hits, etc. | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  6. ^ AllMusic Review
  7. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  8. ^ Discogs listing of credits
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 12, 2012
  11. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Paul Simon – Greatest Hits, Etc" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  12. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  13. ^ "charts.nz - Paul Simon - Greatest Hits, Etc" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  14. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  15. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Paul Simon - Greatest Hits, Etc" (PHP). Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  16. ^ Allmusic – Greatest Hits, Etc. > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  17. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Paul Simon – Greatest Hits". Music Canada.
  18. ^ "British album certifications – Paul Simon – Greatest Hits". British Phonographic Industry.
  19. ^ "American album certifications – Paul Simon – Greatest Hits, Etc". Recording Industry Association of America.
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