Greatest Hits (James Taylor album)

Greatest Hits is singer-songwriter James Taylor's eighth album. Released on November 1, 1976. To this day, it is the best-selling album of his career.

The album featured newly recorded versions of "Carolina in My Mind" and "Something in the Way She Moves", and a previously unavailable live version of "Steamroller".

Although the album did not rise higher than #23 on the Billboard albums chart, Greatest Hits has sold over 11,000,000 copies certifying it as a platinum album eleven times over, and a diamond album once (for 10 million copies).

Track listing

All songs written by James Taylor, except as noted.

1. "Something in the Way She Moves" (1976 version) – 3:14
2. "Carolina in My Mind" (1976 version) – 4:00
3. "Fire and Rain" – 3:26
4. "Sweet Baby James" – 2:55
5. "Country Road" – 3:26
6. "You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) – 4:33
7. "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – 2:39
8. "Walking Man" – 3:36
9. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" (Holland, Dozier, Holland) – 3:39
10. "Mexico" – 3:01
11. "Shower the People" – 4:01
12. "Steamroller" (Live) – 5:19

Personnel

• James Taylor - acoustic guitar, vocals
• Kenny Ascher - electric piano (track 8)
• Byron Berline - fiddle (track 2)
• Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone (track 7)
• David Crosby - harmony vocals (track 10)
• Nick DeCaro - hornorgan, voiceorgan (track 11)
• Craig Doerge - piano (track 7)
• Dan Dugmore - steel guitar (tracks 1, 2)
• Victor Feldman - orchestra bells, vibes (track 11)
• Andrew Gold - harmonium, backing vocals (track 2)
• Milt Holland - percussion (track 10)
• Jim Keltner - drums (track 9)
• Carole King - piano, backing vocals (tracks 3–6)
• Danny Kortchmar - electric guitar (tracks 7, 9–10, 12); credited as Danny Kootch - acoustic guitar, congas (track 6)
• Russ Kunkel - drums (tracks 2, 5–7, 9–12); congas (tracks 6–7); cabasa (track 6); tambourine (track 9); shaker (track 10)
• Gayle Levant - harp (track 10)
• John London - bass guitar (track 4)
• Rick Marotta - drums (track 8)
• Ralph MacDonald - percussion (track 8)
• Clarence McDonald - piano (tracks 2, 9, 12); Fender Rhodes (tracks 9, 11); voiceorgan (track 11)
• Randy Meisner - bass guitar (track 5)
• Joni Mitchell - backing vocals (track 6)
• Andy Muson - bass guitar (track 8)
• Graham Nash - harmony vocals (track 10)
• Gene Orloff - strings (concert master) (track 8)
• Herb Pedersen - backing vocals (track 1)
• Red Rhodes - steel guitar (track 4)
• David Sanborn - saxophone (track 9)
• Carly Simon - harmony vocals (tracks 9, 11)
• Leland Sklar (credited as "Lee" Sklar) - bass guitat (tracks 1–2, 6–7, 9–12)
• David Spinozza - electric guitar; acoustic guitar (track 8)
• Bobby "Wild Wild" West - double bass (track 3)

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States