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.

Title	Year	Pop
Mother and Child Reunion	1972	4	✔
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard	1972	22	✔
Something So Right	1973
St. Judy's Comet	1973
Loves Me Like A Rock	1973	2	✔
Kodachrome	1973	2	✔
Have A Good Time	1975
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover	1975	1	✔
Still Crazy After All These Years	1975	40	✔
Late in the Evening	1980	6	✔
Slip Slidin' Away	1977	5
Hearts And Bones	1983
Train In The Distance	1983
Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War	1983
Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes	1986		✔
You Can Call Me Al	1986	23

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)