I've seen Paul Simon in concert twice. The first time was at Western Springs in Auckland NZ on 18 Feb 1983 as part of the legendary double act, Simon & Garfunkel. This followed on from their reunion in 1981 when they got together to do the magical 'Concert in Central Park'.
The second time I saw him was with Tracy at Jones Beach in Wantagh New York on 30 Jul 1999 as part of a double bill with Bob Dylan.
If things hadn't worked out, his only claim to fame would have been a minor hit in 1957 called 'Hey Schoolgirl' as one half of Tom and Jerry (the other half being Art Garfunkel'.
Things did work out, and despite their ups and downs, disagreements, break-ups and artistic squabbles, Simon & Garfunkel made some powerful, beautiful music together.
When it came to going solo, Art never really made the same impact as his erswhile partner. I have Arts compilation 'The Art Garfunkel Album' released in 1984 which has some lovely tracks, but nothing compared to Paul Simons work.
Paul's second solo album was the eponymous 'Paul Simon' which was well received but some reviewers thought it was a bit 'dark'. Although this was his second, the first one recorded in England in 1965 didn't do much and wasn't released in the U.S. until 1981.
Then came 'There Goes Rhymin' Simon'. Funnily enough I've read some reviewers who likened his style or skill or delivery (pick a review) to people like Nilsson or John Lennon. To me the songs are totally and unquivocally Paul Simon.
I can't imagine a world where any radio station or streaming service didn't have 'Kodachrome' or 'Loves Me Like a Rock' from this album on their playlist. They are 70s anthems that stand up almost 50 years later as songs that are instantly known. They demand to be sung along to at full volume in the car, in the kitchen doing the dishes or walking along with headphones while passing people stare at you !!
Although 'Kodachrome' got to #2 on the Billboard charts it wasn't released as a single in England because Kodachrome was a trademark of Kodak and the BBC wouldn't play it on the radio. Good old Auntie Beeb !!
One song on the album sounds pretty prophetic for the times we are living in. Talking about 'American Tune', Stephen Holden in a Rolling Stone article from 1973 said "Simon sees the country as a nation of “battered” souls, but still “home,” and the American Dream either “shattered” or “driven to its knees.” - and sees “the Statue of Liberty sailin’ away to sea.”
Even as recently as 2016 he was still making musical political points. On his album 'Stranger to Stranger' he does a song called 'Wristband'. It starts with a story of a musician who goes outside the concert during a break then can't get back in past security because he doesn't have a wristband. it becomes a song about the underprivileged ... "whose anger is a shorthand / For you'll never get a wristband."
Everybody knows Paul Simon songs. Everybody has a favourite or favourites. Whether it's from his phenominal harmonies with Art to his solo work or his 'world music' phases like 'Gracelands' with Ladysmith Black Mambazo or 'Rhythm of the Saints' where he explored South American themes, Paul Simon is part of the landscape.
(One!!) of my all-time happy listening songs has to be 'Late in the Evening' from his 'One Trick Pony' album. Just to add to the pleasure is that Tony Levin was playing that driving bass on that track. Tony Levin is a musical hero - see him in action dancing and skipping on the Peter Gabriel concert video 'Secret World Live'. (see my Peter Gabriel post)
In conclusion - Paul Simon. Just because.
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