Paul Simon - Negotiations and Love Songs 1971-1986

Paul Simon replaced his earlier compilation, Greatest Hits, Etc. (1977), with this one, allowing Hits to go out of print. Fans may well wish that he had simply put together a Greatest Hits, Etc., Vol. 2 instead, however, since this is a case of a 16-track album covering 15 years replacing a 14-track album covering five years while containing nine of the same songs. All the major hits have been retained (though "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Loves Me Like a Rock" each have been shortened by 15 seconds), along with some of Simon's odd album track choices, such as "Have a Good Time." From the post-1977 period, you have the 1980 Top Ten hit "Late in the Evening," three selections from the underrated Hearts and Bones, and two from Graceland. (The original double-LP version of Negotiations and Love Songs contained a third, the Grammy Record of the Year-winning title song, but the in-print CD and cassette versions do not.) The result is more sampler than compilation. An artist of Simon's caliber is difficult to condense, and most of the tracks here are worthy, but as a single-album career retrospective, this could have been better. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adrian Belew Synthesizer Airto Moreira Percussion Alan Rubin Trumpet Alex Foster Sax (Alto) Alexander Gafa Guitar Anthony Jackson Contrabass Guitar, Bass Assane Thaim Percussion Babacar Faye Percussion Bakithi Khumalo Bass Barry Beckett Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Vibraphone Bob Cranshaw Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Electric) Bob James Keyboards Bobby James Keyboards, Piano (Electric), String Arrangements Bobby Scott Piano Chikapa "Ray" Phiri Guitar, Arranger Cissy Houston Vocals Dave Bargeron Trombone Dave Grusin Horn Arrangements David Hood Bass David Matthews Horn Arrangements David Spinozza Guitar Dean Parks Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Hi String Guitar Deidre Tuck Vocals Deirdre Tuck Corley Vocals Denzel Laing Percussion Don Elliott Vocals (Background), Vibraphone Earl Gardner Trumpet Eric Gale Guitar (Electric) Grady Tate Drums Greg Calbi Mastering Hugh McCracken Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Hux Brown Guitar Isaac Mtshali Drums Jackie Jackson Bass Jeff Porcaro Drums Jesse Levy Cello Jimmy Johnson Guitar (Electric) Joe Beck Guitar (Electric) John Tropea Guitar (Electric) Jon Faddis Trumpet Ken Asher Organ Kim Cissel Trombone Ladysmith Black Mambazo Vocals Larry Knechtel Piano Leonard Pickett Sax (Tenor) Lew Soloff Trumpet Marcus Miller Bass Mark Rivera Sax (Alto) Michael Brecker Saxophone Michael Mainieri, Jr. Vibraphone, Vocals (Background), Marimba Morris Goldberg Penny Whistle Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Producer Neville Hinds Organ Patti Austin Vocals (Background) Paul Simon Bass, Vocals, Arranger, Guitar, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic), Producer, Bass (Electric) Pete Carr Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Peter Gordon French Horn Phil Ramone Producer Phil Woods Saxophone, Guitar (Electric) Phoebe Snow Vocals (Background) Quincy Jones String Arrangements Ralph MacDonald Percussion Ray Phiri Guitar Renelie Stafford Vocals Richard Davis Bass, Bass (Acoustic) Richard Tee Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Piano Rob Mounsey Synthesizer Robert Mapplethorpe Cover Art Robert Sabino Piano Roger Hawkins Percussion, Drums Ronald E. Brecker Trumpet Ronnie Cuber Sax (Baritone), Sax (Bass) Roy Halee Producer, Assembly Russ Titelman Producer Russell George Bass Steve Gadd Drums The Dixie Hummingbirds Vocals The Harptones Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement The Oak Ridge Boys Vocals (Background), Vocals Tony Levin Bass Valerie Simpson Vocals (Background) Von Eva Sims Vocals Wallace "Red Rat" Wilson Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar Wells Christy Synclavier Winston Grennan Drums Youssou N'Dour Percussion