Paul Simon - Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar

The various compilations of Paul Simon's work that have been released with his input over the years have been an unsatisfying bunch, leaving out key tracks in favor of the artist's own favorites, so that none of them could be recommended unreservedly. The international release Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar is by far the best such collection ever released, selecting 19 songs from Simon's studio recordings originally released over a 25-year period between 1972 and 1997. All ten of Simon's British chart singles are included, though American fans picking up import copies will note the omission of a number of U.S. singles, notably the Top 40 hits "American Tune" (which, confusingly, is discussed in Peter Doggett's liner notes as if it were present), "Gone at Last," and "One-Trick Pony." That leaves room for plenty of album tracks, and Simon shows consistency in his choices, again picking, for example, "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War" and "Hearts and Bones" from Hearts and Bones, just as he did for 1993's The Paul Simon Anthology, rather than, say, "Train in the Distance" (which Doggett talks up) or the exquisite "Song About the Moon." But that's just a way of saying that Simon has too many great songs to fit onto a single disc, and, of course, it is the fate of underrated albums like Hearts and Bones and Songs from "The Capeman" to be underrepresented on greatest hits albums. The real strength of this one lies in its sequencing. Simon has experimented with many different styles of writing and music, which would seem to make it difficult to fit the light jazz of "Still Crazy After All These Years" with the South African and Brazilian music he employed later on. But this compilation reveals the similarities between, for example, "You Can Call Me Al" from 1986's Graceland and "Mother and Child Reunion" from 1972's Paul Simon, which follows it, just as the distinctive march-drum pattern of "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" segues well into the massive drums of "The Obvious Child." It's impossible to listen to this album and not marvel at Simon's accomplishment as a musician over a quarter century, and that's as strong a recommendation for a compilation as anybody should need. Unfortunately, though it was a chart success across Europe, Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar was not issued in the U.S., remaining a pricey import, and with the release only a few months later of a new Simon album, You're the One, it seemed unlikely it would get stateside release. (Note that, as is typical on Simon compilations, several tracks have been trimmed slightly to fit so many songs on one CD.) ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Ademola Adepoju Pedal Steel Adrian Belew Guitar (Synthesizer) Airto Moreira Percussion Alan Rubin Trumpet Alex Foster Sax (Alto) Alves DeSouza ? Andy Smith Executive Engineer Anthony Jackson Contrabass Guitar, Bass Antonio Luis Director Antonio Luis Alves de Souza Director Arlen Roth Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Asante Drums Assane Thaim Percussion Babacar Faye Percussion Bakithi Khumalo Bass Barry Beckett Piano (Electric), Keyboards Bill Holloman Trumpet, Sax (Tenor) Bob James String Arrangements, Woodwind Arrangement Bobby Allende Bell Tree Briz Vocals (Background) Charles Doherty Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto) Chikapa "Ray" Phiri Guitar Cissy Houston Vocals (Background) Clifton Anderson Trombone Clyde Mitchell Trumpet Crusher Bennett Shaker Dave Bargeron Trombone Dave Grusin Horn Arrangements David Hood Bass David Spinozza Guitar Dean Parks Hi String Guitar Deidre Tuck Vocals (Background) Denzel Laing Percussion Earl Gardner Trumpet Eleanor Swan ? Eric Gale Guitar (Electric) Errol Ince Trumpet Forere Motloheloa Accordion George Kalinsky Photography Georges Delerue Orchestration Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer Groupo Cultural OLODUM Drums Horace Ott Piano Hugh McCracken Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Husks Brown Guitar Hux Brown Guitar Isaac Mtshali Drums Jackie Jackson Bass Jimmy Johnson Guitar (Electric) John Beal Bass John Tropea Guitar (Electric) Jon Faddis Trumpet Jonathan Design Joseph Shabalala ? Keith Blake Digital Mastering Ken Asher Organ, Piano Kevin Harrison Vocals (Background) Kim Cissel Trombone Kim Wilson Harmonica Ladysmith Black Mambazo Vocals Larry Knechtel Piano Leonard Pickett Sax (Tenor) Lew Soloff Trumpet Lynn Goldsmith Cover Photo Makhaya Mahlangu Percussion Michael Brecker Sax (Soprano), Saxophone, Synthesizer, EWI Michael Mainieri III Vibe Master, Marimba Michael Mainieri, Jr. Vibraphone, Marimba Michael Ramos Accordion Michelle Hunter Project Coordinator Milton Cardona Vocals (Background) Mingo Araujo Triangle, Conga Morris Goldberg Penny Whistle Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Producer Myrna Lynn Gomila Vocals (Background) Naná Vasconcelos Guitar (Electric), Berimbau, Gourd Neville Hinds Organ Onward Brass Band Musician, Overdubs, Horn Oriente Lopez Fender Rhodes Oscar Hernandez Vibe Master, Producer, Synthesizer, Associate Producer, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Celeste Patti Austin Vocals (Background) Paul Goldberg Penny Whistle Paul Livant Guitar Paul Simon Vocals, Bass (Electric), Vocals (Background), Producer, Hi String Guitar, Guitar (Bass), 6-String Electric Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), 6-String Bass Pete Carr Guitar (Electric), Guitar Peter Doggett Liner Notes Phil Ramone Producer Phoebe Snow Vocals (Background) Ralph MacDonald Percussion Ray de la Paz Vocals (Background) Renelie Stafford Vocals (Background) Rev. Claude Jeter Falsetto Richard Tee Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer, Piano Rob Mounsey Synthesizer Robby Turner Pedal Steel Robert Ameen Drums Robert Sabino Piano Roger Hawkins Drums Ronald E. Brecker Trumpet Ronnie Cuber Sax (Baritone), Sax (Bass) Roy Halee Associate Producer, Producer Russ Titelman Producer Russell George Bass Sara Ramirez Vocals Shannon Ford Drums Steve Gadd Drums Stuart Batsford Project Coordinator Susie Alzogaral Project Coordinator Teana Rodriguez Vocals (Background) The Dixie Hummingbirds Vocals (Background) The Everly Brothers Vocals The Harptones Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement The Oak Ridge Boys Vocals, Vocals (Background) Tony Levin Bass Uakti Percussion Valerie Simpson Vocals (Background) Vincent Nguini Guitar, Bass Von Eva Sims Vocals (Background) Wallace "Red Rat" Wilson Guitar (Rhythm) Wells Christy Synclavier Winston Grennan Drums Yo Yo De La Nelson Chakeire Youssou N'Dour Percussion