Customer Reviews

Paul Simon: Concert In The Park: August 15th, 1991 [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What an amazing concert. Paul Simon and a 17-piece backup band supported by a 10-piece Brazilian percussion unit for all of the "Rhythm of the Saints" stuff. This is from 1991, so the content is primarily derived from "Rhythm of the Saints" and "Graceland" plus a smattering of the greatest of his earlier songs, and it's live and energetic and beautiful and for crying out loud there's seriously something like 750,000 people there. A crowd that big is usually reserved for, you know, the Pope or somebody. It's a stirring spectacle.
Fortunately, except for the occasional wide shot, the footage focuses mostly on the band, rather than on the most exuberant of Simon enthusiasts mugging for the cameras. Simon himself is not exactly Mick Jagger as far as stage presence goes, but his voice carries charisma in ways that wild stage theatrics couldn't, and the rest of the band is hopping anyway so it doesn't matter. Simon's weakness is his occasional tendency to drift towards lite, keyboard-based adult rock and that happens here a bit, but not nearly often enough to really complain about. The emotional climaxes of this show are a massive percussive jam session at the end of "Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes" and stripped-down, powerfully moving renditions of "America" and "The Boxer," which draw wild cheers from the Central Park crowd at every passing reference to New York. While there is also a CD of this concert available (a very good one, I should add), audio alone cannot capture the raw excitement of the accordion opening to "The Boy in the Bubble." This is a concert for the ages.

This concert, from 1991--not 1981--is my favorite of all the videos, CDs, etc, I have of Paul's music. Paul obviously pulled together a group of people who knew what they were doing. Everything--from the band--with Michael Brecker on sax and ewi, Steve Gadd on drums, S. African bassist Ray Phiri, vocalists Julia, Maxine and Oren Waters, Chris Botti on trumpet--was perfect. The camera work was perfect. The sound was perfect. The lighting effects were perfect.

The song order, from uptempo to slower tunes and back again was just right. Paul's voice is the best I've ever heard--either before this time or since. And, he took great care in making sure he looked good as well, a big plus, since the camera is obviously on him more than anyone else. Paul is full of energy on this video, he doesn't just stand in front of the mic, which is nice to see. The band is really tight and there is a great rapport between everyone. It is quite a sight to see Central Park and all the skyscrapers right before sunset and then after dark. The music along with the great camera shots of the audience and the buildings made me feel I was right there in the Park enjoying the show.

The only critism I have of this is that the crowd was too noisy and was so at many inappropriate times. But, people sometimes don't have sense to know better.

If you are a fan of Paul Simon and have never bought this, GET IT! If you are looking for a great evening of music, this video will fill about 3 hours and is worth every penny!

"Paul Simon's Concert in the park" is the best Simon's video. His 17 piece-band and the 750,000 people give a exceptional environment. The songs are a mix of rhythms (brazilian, african, rock and pop) extracting the best things of each one, and projecting them better still. New versions of all songs (Sound of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Still Crazy After all These Year, Cool, Cool River, Graceland, etc, etc). More than two hours of continuous enjoyment. There are not mediocre moments, it is an excellent video.

I THINK THIS VIDEO IS GREAT. IT COVERS 30 YEARS OF MUSIC, FROM THE NEW (1991) CD 'RYTHYMS OF THE SAINTS' TO GRACELAND TO HEARTS AND BONES, TO EARLY S&G STUFF. HE DOES A LOT FROM HEARTS AND BONES, AND MOST OF THE MUSICIANS FROM THE GRACELAND ALBUM PLAY WITH HIM STILL, SO HE DID A LOT OF GRACELAND STUFF.

This video is the best Simon's video. His 17 piece-band and the 750,000 people give a exceptional environment. The songs are a mix of rhythms (brazilian, african, rock and pop) extracting the best things of each one, and projecting them better still. New versions of all songs (Sound of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Still Crazy After all These Year, Cool, Cool River, Graceland, etc, etc). More than two hours of continuous enjoyment. There are not mediocre moments, it is an excellent video.

Man, I've been waiting for a DVD of Concert In The Park to be released since DVDs first hit the market...I can't understand why it hasn't happened. There are some Paul Simon shows out there on DVD that are much more obscure than Concert In The Park. Not to mention the fact that this show from August 15th, 1991, is THE best filmed concert of Simon's career. I bought the VHS tape the day it was released (and still have it in great condition...lucky me, seeing what it goes for now!) It really makes no sense that this show hasn't (yet) been released on DVD. Maybe we'll get a 20th Anniversary Edition (In three-and-a-half years) with extra footage...I watched this show the day it was broadcast live on HBO, the evening before the first day of 6th grade...preceding the concert was a documentary-type program, chronicling Simon's career and giving a look into the making of what was, at the time, his latest album, The Rhythm Of The Saints. I am 27 now, and a musician because of this show. A week after the live broadcast, I was taking drum lessons. This concert MUST be put out on DVD. One of the best shows EVER.

We bought this video for my 78 year old father a few years ago, at his request. He absolutely loves it. Every time we go to visit, my wife and I have to watch it. I guess it's time we bought a copy for ourselves. It is great music, and very entertaining. Wish I could have been at the concert.

Hard to figure how this hasn't made it's way to DVD or better yet Blu-ray. A huge band of fantastic players easily handle the entire Paul Simon catalogue. The live version of "Diamonds" is worth the purchase price alone.

It is 20 years since this video has been released. Since 20 years fans can only buy a VHS tape.
In 2001 we started to ask for a DVD
In 2005 it was obscure that nothing exists
In 2010 Paul Simon said this was the higlight of his career.
2011 - how many people do still have a VHS player? 1 out of 10.000 ?
Still nothing, no DVD, no Blue Ray. Ok, just let the DVD pass and go on to release a Blue-Ray, but PLEASE, do something!
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(this gets only 1 star because no one is buying a VHS tape, and crazy sellers here are selling it for 190 USD!)
DO NOT BUY

I had seen this before so knew paying 15 times the flea market price was the deal of the century. Finding a good copy of this fantastic video is getting harder to find. This VHS has all the African drummers and South American flavor the CD is missing. With out prejudice- the "drummers on meth" section is amazing. I love those guys.