Greatest Hits, Etc. Herndon VA

Greatest Hits, Etc.

Paul Simon

Columbia Records, 1977

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/21/1997

Whenever I need a quick scapegoat to blame some of my musicalquirks on, it's nice that I can still turn to my father - rather,turn on my father.

It was his influence that led to our reviewing Don McLean lastweek, and his influence visits us again in the form of an albumthat has been out of print for over 10 years - Paul Simon's Greatest Hits, Etc. And while I try to avoid best-ofcompilations, this one truly does live up to its name.

In one sense, it may have seemed to be a shot of overkill torelease a best-of album after only three studio releases and a livedisc. But Simon is more than just a typical artist - his past ashalf of the legendary '60s folk group Simon and Garfunkel is proofof that. Simon recorded some solid performances, often hidden inso-so albums like his self-titled debut.

Two new numbers appear on this one, one of which is worth thesearch itself - "Slip Slidin' Away." Featuring background vocals byThe Oak Ridge Boys, Simon has rarely been better. There is a reasonthis track is considered to be one of Simon's best. I can't say thesame for new item number two, "Stranded In A Limousine," a songwhose subject I still don't quite understand.