Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Paul Simon - Negotiations and Love Songs 1971-1986 (1988)


GREATEST HITS WEEK (JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2015)

More like a kinda-sorta-greatest hits package, this 16 track disc does include many of Simon's biggest hits, but also some odd deep album cuts. No matter, this was Simon in his solo prime. Chronological order is always appreciated and this one doesn't quite do that, but close enough. No liner notes to speak of other than simple credits. Like many compilations issued in the late '80s, the target audience for this CD were the fans that had all of Simon's albums on vinyl but wanted to use their fancy new CD players.

That said, this is a highly enjoyable album that can be heard top-to-bottom with no skipping because Simon can write and it doesn't hurt that he utilizes great musicians in his recordings. The album cuts aren't hits, but they fit perfectly in the sequencing. I completely missed Simon's 1983 album, Heart And Bones, when it was released so it's nice to finally catch up with those cuts (the title of this compilation is taken from a line on that album). I've marked my favorites with a ✔ but you won't find any ✘ below.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #110
Peak on the Billboard Pop CD chart: #18

Tracks:  16 tracks, 64 minutes.

TitleYearPop
Mother and Child Reunion19724
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard197222
Something So Right1973

St. Judy's Comet1973

Loves Me Like A Rock19732
Kodachrome19732
Have A Good Time1975

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover19751
Still Crazy After All These Years197540
Late in the Evening19806
Slip Slidin' Away19775
Hearts And Bones1983

Train In The Distance1983

Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War1983

Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes1986
You Can Call Me Al198623

Missing Top 40 hits: American Tune (#35, 1974), Gone at Last (#23, 1975), (What A) Wonderful World (#17, 1978), One-Trick Pony (#40, 1980).


 
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
So Beautiful or So What (2011)
Rhythm of the Saints (1990)
Graceland (1986)
The Concert in Central Park (1982)

1 comment:

  1. There is no shortage of Paul Simon hits compilations. Some are longer and some are shorter and some have "Graceland". This one unfortunately does not. Still bought it though along with all of the others as I am a sucker for Simon.

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