| | |  | Folk | Home » » » Paul Simon | | | | | | | Description: | | Limited Edition European pressing of this album comes house in a miniature LP sleeve. WEA. 2006. | | | Product Details: | | | Audio CD Release Date:
| July 13, 2004 | | Studio:
| Rhino Records | | Number Of Discs:
| 1 | | Format:
| Extra tracks, Original recording remastered | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 19 reviews |
| | | Track Listing: | | | 1. | Mother and Child Reunion | | 2. | Duncan | | 3. | Everything Put Together Falls Apart | | 4. | Run That Body Down | | 5. | Armistice Day | | 6. | Me and Julio Down by the School Yard | | 7. | Peace Like a River | | 8. | Papa Hobo | | 9. | Hobo's Blues | | 10. | Paranoia Blues | | 11. | Congratulations | | 12. | Me and Julio Down by the School Yard [#][*][Demo Version] | | 13. | Duncan [#][*][Demo Version] | | 14. | Paranoia Blues [Unreleased Version][*] | |
| | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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Best solo effort!Aug 20, 2009
Of all Paul Simon's solo discs, this still holds up as strong today as it was the day of it's release thirty some years ago!
The main reason I enjoy this recording is the material is extremely strong but not too commercially schmaltzy as the case of many of his later solo releases.
Paul is the musicians MUSICIAN and the writers WRITER. He's got it all goin' on this disc!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Five star album, 2 stars for the remaster--find the original CD pressingJun 11, 2009
I was excited when I heard that Paul Simon's back catalog was going to be remastered with bonus tracks. Although Rhino has had some dodgy releases in the past as a far as sound quality for the most part they've done a good job. Prepare to be disappointed with the sound here because "Paul Simon" has been remastered with a loud and often shrill sound. The EQ favors the midrange and the vocals are more prominent here-the latter is a good thing. It isn't the worst remaster I've heard AND the bonus tracks certainly make it worthwhile for big fans of Simon but if you have the previous edition and you don't care for the bonus tracks, stick with the original Warner Brothers CD.
Every one of Simon's albums have been unique with each one having its own distinctive sound. For example, "Paul Simon" finds the artist digging into the sounds of other cultures whether it be the flutes on "Duncan" or "Mother and Child Reunion" with its Reggae influence each song here marries Simon's craft to different textures and genres. What's surprising is that he got so much praise for it with "Graceland" and many critics acted surprised when he's been doing this all along.
The production by Simon and Roy Halee sounds crisp on the original CD and is nicely detailed. The remaster although it has the crispness and detail also suffers from too much midrange AND a compressed sound that impacts the depth of the recording.
The remaster has a nice booklet with the lyrics (just as the original CD did)but doesn't have any thoughts by Simon on the making of the album. The remaster comes in a digipak cardboard holder. If you want this album with terrific sound don't buy the remaster. If you're only getting this for the bonus tracks keep your original CD or vinyl.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
(4.5 stars) SIMPLY SIMON ! (Paul's special first solo album is unplugged and underappreciated)Jan 28, 2009
Paul Simon is one of America's greatest songwriters. A national treasure. In his prime, he was overshadowed by the poetry of Bob Dylan and the magic of Lennon-McCartney, and is probably underrated because of it. Even so, his songs hold a special place in the heart and soul of America.
Paul Simon (1972) was the first solo album recorded by Simon after his split with Art Garfunkel two years earlier. Front and center are Paul and his acoustic guitar; almost every one of these lean songs feature excellent acoustic guitar work. Subtle horns, drums, keyboards and backing vocals add to the sound here, too, but unplugged is the rule.
The album includes two of Simon's biggest hit singles as a solo artist; the folk/reggae promise of Mother And Child Reunion and the Latin-flavored juvenile crime comedy/drama Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard (just what did the mama see that was against the law, anyway, Paul?).
Duncan is a 4:39 minute folk song that could be described as an El Condor Pasa (If I Could)/The Boxer hybrid. Paul fingerpicks his acoustic guitar and sings the tale of a fisherman's son while a flute plays in the background. His storytelling skills make this song unique, and it's a real highlight here.
So when I reached my prime
Left my home in the Maritimes
Headed down the turnpike for
New England, sweet New England
Paul gets bluesy with an acoustic bottleneck slide guitar on Paranoia Blues, and jazz violin legend Stephane Grappelli joins Simon for the instrumental duet, Hobo's Blues. Run That Body Down and the resigned Congratulations mirror the tapped-out emotions from Paul's troubled marriage to Peggy Harper (they divorced in 1975).
Congratulations
Oh, seems like you've done it again
And I ain't had such misery
Since I don't know when
Paul Simon isn't the meticulously crafted pop gem that There Goes Rhymin' Simon is or a critically acclaimed world music sensation like Graceland. It is a quiet, thoughtful and well-written collection of songs that showcase the many talents of Paul Simon, plain and simple.
"Holes in my confidence, holes in the knees of my jeans..."
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A Sophisticated and Influential AlbumAug 11, 2008
As a seasoned musician of over 40 years, there are not many "lost gems" out there. This is no doubt one of them. While always considered a pop classic, upon listening with fresh ears, I was shocked at how sophisticated and influential this album has become. Many decidedly modern artists clearly owe a debt of gratitude to this album. Beautifully recorded and produced, much of the production style portends to the now fairly common elements of production as exemplified by the Mitchell Froom/Tchad Blake style of recording. Some of the instrumental tracks in the songs are extremely atmospheric, while others are very intimate and up close. Instead of full band arrangements, the rhythmic elements are often sketched out with few parts, another stylistic strategy that is commonly employed now, but in retrospect was so ahead of its time.
The guitar playing is stunning, the arrangements are unique and have clearly influenced everyone from Richard Thompson (Run That Body Down) to Los Lobos (Peace Like a River). The rhythm section work is perfect, and the writing and variety make this a true "album" as opposed to a collection of tunes. Oh yeah, and Mr Simon's vocals are right up front and dry as a bone, with a "in your living room" feel. This album actually sounds like real musicians playing together in real time; these are performances, not assembled tracks. Without a doubt, listening to this will take you back, but it will also take you forward, with a unhurried pace and sound that many are just catching up to.
If you only know Mr. Simon for his world-influenced hits, this album is quite a departure and will open your eyes to his roots. However if your tastes run to the jazzy and modern styles of folk/pop, you will hear where many of today's artists got some of their sound, from Norah Jones to the aforementioned Thompson and Los Lobos. A timeless classic for sure, but also something for the critical listener and the sophisticated music fan who wants to be challenged in her/his listening. You will not be disappointed.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
I'm Going To Be Up For AwhileAug 04, 2008
Paul Simon has never displayed much feel for rock'n'roll. Which isn't to say that he has to play fast, or heavy; but there is a whole world of textures he's missing -- and worse, his albums sometimes sound slick. But this, his first solo album, avoids slickness by committing to a raw acoustic sound that's always alert and never descends into "mellow." The usual crack outfit of sidemen accompanies him here, but I like the way Simon handles a lot of the guitars himself (showing himself to be an engagingly funky finger-picker). Overall, a remarkably loose album for this perfectionist, though I guess I'd feel pretty liberated myself if I'd just managed to get rid of Art Garfunkle.
Such a wealth of great songs here, some of which are well known -- e.g., "Me and Julio," "Mother and Child Reunion" (written about the death of a family pet, but really an elegy to the '60s), the yearning "Peace Like A River," and the perverse, poker-faced "Duncan." But like all truly great albums, even the slightest numbers here gradually reveal themselves to be major works: on first listen, for example, "Papa Hobo" struck me as a throwaway, but now I am knocked out by its sly beauty, by that crazy bass harmonica...and by the sudden shift to falsetto that, far from being cute shtick, simply communicates Simon's joy in this gorgeous music. The whole album's like that: as if he didn't even know he was being watched.
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