Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar

Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar is the fifth greatest hits album by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released on May 23, 2000[1] by the Warner Music Group. Although the album was a chart success across Europe, it was not issued in the United States.[1] The title of the album is taken from the first line of the song "Graceland".

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
Length77:06[2]
LabelWarner Music Group
ProducerPaul Simon, Roy Halee, Oscar Hernández, Phil Ramone, Russ Titelman, Muscle Shoals
Paul Simon chronology
Songs from The Capeman
(1997)
Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar
(2000)
You're the One
(2000)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [3]

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic called it "by far the best [Paul Simon] collection ever released."[1]

Track listing

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# Song Year Time
1 "Graceland" 1986 4:47
2 "You Can Call Me Al" 1986 4:41
3 "Mother and Child Reunion" 1972 2:59
4 "The Cool, Cool River" 1990 4:33
5 "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" 1976 3:07
6 "The Obvious Child" 1990 4:11
7 "The Boy in the Bubble" 1987 3:57
8 "Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War" 1983 3:43
9 "Late in the Evening" 1980 3:54
10 "Bernadette" 1997 3:28
11 "Slip Slidin' Away" 1977 4:45
12 "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" 1973 3:22
13 "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" 1987 5:49
14 "Still Crazy After All These Years" 1976 3:22
15 "Kodachrome" 1973 3:28
16 "Loves Me Like a Rock" 1973 3:14
17 "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" 1972 2:43
18 "Hearts and Bones" 1983 5:38
19 "Trailways Bus" 1997 5:15

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[4] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[5] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ruhlmann, William. "Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar". Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  4. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  5. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Paul Simon – Shining Like a National Guitar". Music Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "British album certifications – Paul Simon – Shining Like a National Guitar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 21, 2022.