Greatest Stories Live is a 1976 greatest hits live album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. It was recorded over three nights at three California venues in November 1975. Certain elements had to be re-recorded in the studio due to technical problems with the live recordings. The original LP release featured three new studio tracks, two of which ("She Is Always Seventeen" and "Love Is Just Another Word") were excluded from the CD release. "A Better Place to Be" was released as a single, and did manage to crack the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The album is notable for its extended version of "30,000 Pounds of Bananas", infamous for Chapin's recounting of his brothers' remarks after hearing the original ending: "Harry...it sucks." The quote became so popular with Harry Chapin fans that concert shirts were sold with the quotation on it.

Greatest Stories Live

Track listing (CD release)

Greatest Stories Live

"She Is Always Seventeen" and "Love Is Just Another Word" appear between "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" and "The Shortest Story" on side 4 of the original 1976 vinyl release.

Greatest Stories Live

Personnel

Harry Chapin - guitar, vocals

Ron Bacchiocchi - synthesizer, percussion, clavinet

Ed Bednarski - clarinet

Stephen Chapin - synthesizer, piano, vocals

Tom Chapin - guitar, banjo, vocals

Christine Faith - vocals

Cheryl Ferrio - vocals

Howie Fields - drums

David Kondziela - vocals

Paul Leka - piano, clavinet

Michael Masters - cello

Tim Moore - piano

Mark Mundy - vocals

Ronald Palmer - guitar, vocals

Don Payne - bass

Kathy Ramos - vocals

Tim Scott - cello

Allan Schwartzberg - drums

Frank Simms - vocals

George Simms - vocals

Ken Smith - percussion

Bob Springer - percussion

John Tropea - guitar

Betsy Wager - vocals

Doug Walker - bass, guitar, vocals

John Wallace - bass, vocals

Sue White - vocals

Christopher von Koschembahr - vocals

Charts and certifications

Charts

Certifications

References

Harry Chapin albums

Albums produced by Paul Leka

1976 live albums

Elektra Records live albums