Customer Reviews

Concert in the Park

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own almost all of Paul Simon's albums and this 2 CD set is the one I play the MOST. It has quite a few of the older songs that Simon is known for, arranged differently. 'Sound of Silence', the last song in the collection, is presented with only Paul on lead bass and S. African bassist Ray Phiri supporting. After years of hearing the other arrangement with Art G., this one sends chills up my back. 'The Boxer' is sung in a relaxed, laid back manner, but it is still a classic.

Among the other songs, the concert opens with 'The Obvious Child' and its pounding drums; a great opening song. Next up is 'The Boy in the Bubble' a real crowd pleaser. 'She Moves On' features jazzman Michael Brecker on sax. Other great songs are 'Hearts and Bones' and 'Late in the Evening', which will have you tapping your feet. Ladysmith Black Mambazo did not do the 'Born At the Right Time' tour of which this concert is a part. But, 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes', which they helped to make well known, is still a great song, it has a rousing ending with all the drums and percussion pieces.

The band behind Paul is awesome. Aside from Michael Brecker and Ray Phiri there's master drummer Steve Gadd and Richard Tee (now deceased) on keyboard, among others. Paul's voice is better on this album than on many previous ones, and the song order is just right, from up-tempo to slower tunes and back again.

The only criticism I have is that Paul was not more careful about post-production. He should have had more of the crowd noise deleted from the master tape, but he didn't. The noise was left in, and there is a bit too much of it. You can still hear the music very well, though.

This album is full of energy and is well worth the money. The compliation albums that came after this set are not as good as this one, that's why I play this the most.

Equipped with the unwieldy handle of "Paul Simon's Concert In The Park, August 15, 1991", this double CD finds Paul Simon backed by most of the New York session musicians and the native musicians from South Africa and Brazil who had accompanied him on "Graceland" and "The Rhythm Of The Saints".

Clocking in at almost two hours, "Concert In The Park" features excellent live versions of songs like "Graceland", "She Moves On", and "Me And Julio Down By The School Yard". Most of the arrangements stick close to the studio recordings, except for the fact that Simon has toned down the Brazilian percussion that dominated the "Saints" recordings, and re-done "Cecilia" African-style.
Paul Simon sings with style and conviction all the way through, and some of these songs are definitely better than the studio versions...just listen to the exquisite "Born At The Right Time" or the elegant "She Moves On".

The sound is very good, and "Concert" moves seamlessly between S&G-material and latter-day solo stuff. "Still Crazy After All These Years" has never sounded better, and the nine-minute "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes" is a real treat.
Paul Simon fans should enjoy this fine, mellow set, and there is a lot to like for casual listeners as well.
This show was filmed, by the way, and released by Warner Brothers. It's not yet available on DVD, but you can still find a copy of the original video casette.

Where to begin! Let me first say that I am a huge fan of Paul Simon, so I'm probably not the most objective opinion... That said, Paul Simon's Concert In The Park is my favorite CD for a couple reasons: It is a great introduction to Simon for those two people on earth unfamiliar with his work, and, more important, it offers brilliant renditions of both Simon's greatest hits from the Garfunkel years as well as new takes of his lesser known songs. I love the African and South American sounds Simon explores, I love the band that's behind him, but most of all, I loooove the music! Buy this CD--I promise you won't be sorry.

1. It's Paul Simon 2. It is one of the best live albums ever recorded. 3. Ladysmith Black Mombaza 4. Awesome percussion 5. Huge sounding wall-of-sound horn section 6. Wonderful version of "Late in the Evening" 7. Live version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" begs the question, "Art who?" 8. Slamming version of "You Can Call Me Al" 9. Harmony on "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" 10 It's Paul Simon

I own almost all of Paul Simon's albums and this 2 CD set is the one I play the MOST. It has quite a few of the older songs that Simon is known for, arranged differently. 'Sound of Silence', the last song in the collection, is presented with only Paul on lead bass and S. African bassist Ray Phiri supporting. After years of hearing the other arrangement with Art G., this one sends chills up my back. 'The Boxer' is sung in a relaxed, laid back manner, but it is still a classic.

Among the other songs, the concert opens with 'The Obvious Child' and its pounding drums; a great opening song. Next up is 'The Boy in the Bubble' a real crowd pleaser. 'She Moves On' features jazzman Michael Brecker on sax. Other great songs are 'Hearts and Bones' and 'Late in the Evening', which will have you tapping your feet. Ladysmith Black Mambazo did not do the 'Born At the Right Time' tour of which this concert is a part. But, 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes', which they helped to make well known, is still a great song, it has a rousing ending with all the drums and percussion pieces.

The band behind Paul is awesome. Aside from Michael Brecker and Ray Phiri there's master drummer Steve Gadd and Richard Tee (now deceased) on keyboard, among others. Paul's voice is better on this album than on many previous ones, and the song order is just right, from up-tempo to slower tunes and back again.

The only criticism I have is that Paul was not more careful about post-production. He should have had more of the crowd noise deleted from the master tape, but he didn't. The noise was left in, and there is a bit too much of it. You can still hear the music very well, though.

This album is full of energy and is well worth the money. The compliation albums that came after this set are not as good as this one, that's why I play this the most.

I waited years to purchase this album, and now that I own it, I wonder why I waited so long.

The song list is a good overview of Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints, as well as a good sprinkling of classics. Simon's revision of Kodachrome is especially good.

I am glad that Paul Simon has a good live album. Seeing him in concert a couple years ago was a fabulous experience. He is one of the great American artists. Meaningful lyrics, beautiful melodies, and occasionally infectious grooves and instrumentation.

The first time I listened to this album I was very dissapointed. At the time I bought this I was a fairly new Paul Simon fan and was not quite used to his shy voice. When I heard it I thought it took away from the intensity from such songs like "You Can Call Me Al", "Me and Juilo Down by the Schoolyard", "Late in the Evening" Etc. But after repeated listenings I slowly over the course of time began to enjoy it more and more. Then I was playing it more than any other cd I had. I enjoyed the percussion on this album more than anything else. Later on I bought the video to this concert. For anyone who enjoys the simon and garfunkel stuff more I would not recomend this because the Versions of "Bridge over Troubled Water and Ceceila" are totally different. Anyone who enjoyed Graceland or the Rthym of the Saints will love this. Buy this one now. Other Paul Simon titles I recomend are "You're the One", "Graceland", and "Live Rhymin"

I would recommend this CD anyone who like Paul Simon. This is something you need to keep. Paul Simon is alive with this CD.

There's just not enough good things to say about this album. The way he switched up all his classics such as throwing in a jazz piano interpretation of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or the hand drumming on "Me and Julio", to the extended version of "The Coast" "Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes" "Proof" and "Cool Cool River" This recording is going down as one of the all time greatest live recordings in the history of American Music.

I was 16 years old when this concert occured. If I could travel back in time, I would put myself smack dab in the front row of this show. What a seemingly magical concert. The song selection was fantastic at the time. Although I'm partial to Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints era Paul Simon music, every song on this disc is fantastic. I'm sure most true music fans have tried to compile a top 5 or 10 favorite album list, for me, this disc and Rhythm of the Saints are each in my top 10. I'm rambling on, but if you want a great live album and a good overview of some of Paul Simon's music, pick this up. I can only hope that the DVD for this show is released. I have the VHS tape, but I fear what time will do to the quality and longevity of the video.