''Greatest Hits'' is
Linda Ronstadt's first major
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
, released at the end of 1976 for the holiday shopping season. It includes material from both her
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...
and
Asylum Records output, and goes back to 1967 for
The Stone Poneys
Stone Poneys (also The Stone Poneys, Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys, and The Stone Poneys With Linda Ronstadt) were a folk rock trio formed in Los Angeles, consisting of Linda Ronstadt on vocals, Bobby Kimmel on rhythm guitar and vocals, an ...
' hit "
Different Drum."
It remains the biggest-selling album of Ronstadt's career, being certified seven times
Platinum (over 7 million US copies shipped) by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
in America alone, with 1.87 million units consumed after 1991 when
SoundScan started tracking sales. It peaked at No. 6 on the main ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' album chart and also reached No. 2 on ''Billboards Top Country Albums chart, where it remained for over three years.
The album was criticized by the ''
Rolling Stone Record Guide
''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...
'' for being "premature," as Ronstadt continued to have record-breaking mainstream successes for many years following this release. By the time this collection came out, however, Ronstadt had already been recording hit records (as a solo artist and with the
Stone Poneys) for a decade, and there were many examples of other artists releasing greatest hits albums much sooner, such as
Elvis Presley.
In terms of being released while the performer was still in the midst of their career, this collection is unusual for a major artist in that it compiled works from two unrelated labels thanks to, as the sleeve states, a "special arrangement" between Asylum and Capitol; this overlap mirrors the situation in which Ronstadt briefly alternated releasing albums between Capitol and Asylum in 1973–74 in order to fulfil her contract with Capitol.
Track listing
Original release
CD reissue
The CD reissue of the album was compiled with Ronstadt's second
greatest hits collection and released by
Rhino records in 2007 as ''Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2''.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Personnel
From the Liner Notes on the Original Vinyl Album.
*Peter Asher: Cabasa, Cowbell, Trombone and Shaker, Hand Claps, Wood Block, and Percussion.
*Ed Black: Guitar, Steel Guitar
*Michael Botts: Drums
*Mike Bowden: Bass
*Richard Bowden: Electric Guitar
*John Boylan: Keyboards
*Richard Burden: Guitar
*John Connor: Harmonica
*Dan Dugmore: Steel Guitar
*Kenny Edwards: Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocal
*Chris Ethridge: Bass
*Jim Fadden: Harmonica
*Don Francisco: Backing Vocals
*Andrew Gold: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocal, Drums, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Tambourine, Piano, Arp, Congas, Hand Claps
*Jim Gordon: Saxophone
*Gib Guilbeau: Fiddle
*Ginger Holliday: Backing Vocal
*Mary Holliday: Backing Vocal
*Andy Johnson: Electric Guitar
*Mac Johnson: Trumpet
*David Kemper: Drums
*Clyde King: Backing Vocals
*Sneaky Pete Kleinow: Steel Guitar
*Danny Kortchmar: Electric Guitar
*Russ Kunkel: Drums
*Bernie Leadon: Acoustic Guitar
*Daryl Leonard: Trumpet
*David Lindley: Fiddle
*Gail Martin: Trombone
*Shirley Matthews: Backing Vocals
*Marty McCall: Backing Vocals
*Mickey McGee: Drums
*Weldon Myrick: Steel Guitar
*Spooner Oldham: Piano
*Herb Pedersen: Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocal, Banjo
*Norbert Putnam: Bass, Harpsichord
*Don Randi: Harpsichord
*Lyle Ritz: Concertmaster
*Linda Ronstadt: Vocals, Tambourine, Hand Claps, Backing Vocals
*John David Souther: Guitar
*Buddy Spicher: Fiddle
*Dennis St. John: Drums
*Nino Tempo: Saxophone
*Al Viola: Acoustic Guitar
*Waddy: Electric Guitar
*Pete Wade: Guitar
*Bob Warford: Acoustic Guitar
Producers
*Peter Asher: 1, 4, 5, 8,10,11,12
*John Boylan: 9
*John David Souther: 2,3
*Elliot F. Mazer: 6
*Nikolas Venet: 7
See also
*
List of best-selling albums in the United States
References
{{Authority control
1976 greatest hits albums
Linda Ronstadt compilation albums
Asylum Records compilation albums