Customer Reviews

Paul Simon

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This album represented Paul Simon's emancipation from the wearying exposure and constant pressures of fame as part of the Simon and Garfunkel phenomenon. With hints of his new directions rife in the final S&G album, "Bridge Over Troubled Water", this album showcases Simon's unique talents and creative interests with an eclectic, quirky, and yet gorgeously produced solo effort. From the haunting rhythms of "Mother And Child Reunion" to the comically intimate "Duncan", we sense more than a little autobiographical influence in all the songs. Commenting on his failed relationship with Art Garfunkel as well as his troubled first marriage, he gives us "Everything Put Together Falls Apart", a preview into his somewhat fateful notions about the inevitability of life changes and unavoidable heartache in later songs like "Slip Sliding Away".

On the other hand, we hear a more playful side of Simon with "Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard", an upbeat number with intriguing lyrics and overlaced with a wonderfully latinized treatment. He shows his own concerns with a comical "Wear That Body Down", and a later take on trying to deal emotionally with a world gone crazy with "Peace Like A River". This is an album one must listen to appreciate, and the new directions Simon began with this album have now stretched out in a dozen or so albums and compilations. This is a terrific album and a brand new start for a man who had the courage and nerve to walk away from a phenomenally successful situation as half of Simon and Garfunkel to follow his own artistic heart. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

Paul Simon began his exciting and daring seventies career with this, his most pared-down effort. Perhaps the transition comes as a surprise after the lushness of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (though there are some links between this album and that one, including the use of a bass harmonica, Jamaican rhythm, and Incan pipes.) Nevertheless, this album carries with it the thrill of a newly liberated solo artist. It immediately delves into funky territory with the memorable "Mother and Child Reunion," an excellent electric reggae number with fine female backing vocals. It proceeds to "Duncan," a song about lost innocence, and "Everthing Put Together Falls Apart," a mellow and unusual folk number (how many songs begin with the word 'Parafanalia'?). Both songs may possibly be seen as subtle comments on Simon's departure from his former duo, but each works well on its own merits. We then get to some songs that prove once again what an excellent guitar player and singer Simon is. "Run that Body Down" is simple but catchy as all get out, and "Armistice Day" is a superb performance, and a very moving one in its very understatement. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" is another playfully simple classic with excellent lyrics, and it adds a sense of upbeat fun to the proceedings. "Peace Like a River" is a haunting number that anyone who has ever been up late worrying can relate to. "Papa Hobo" is a distinctly American song of sorry resignation, told from the point of view of a down-and-out fellow who somehow makes do. I love it. "Hobo Blues" is an unexpected guitar/fiddle instrumental, beautiful. "Paranoia Blues" continues the theme of worry and slight bitterness, and then we come to "Congradulations," an excellent weary song that is musically brilliant in its syncopation, pauses, and construction. On this melancholy note, we end. The entire experience has been rich in its honesty, cleverness, and tunefulness. Simon would revisit his emotional aches again on other records, but never with the same directness.

When Simon and Garfunkel broke up after Bridge over Troubled Water, I never thought what would emerge from that breakup was the single most creative musical individual of the last thirty years, but this album was certainly an early indication of Simon's ability to constantly reach within himself and renew his talent and his vision. Although Graceland remains his SUMMA creation, this album remains one of my favorites today, a bracing and refreshing jolt after the ballads of Simon and Garfunkel together, which though I loved them, didn't offer this energy. What is magical about Paul Simon's early albums is the way they wrap up non-Manhattan New York and give it to you as a gift of music in their rhythm, themes and diversity, charging his music with an energy that could not have come to life anywhere else.

This is a great album. A little mellow in mood, yet one that yields more and more upon repeated listenings. Definitely not a sleeper. One curious bit is that this album sounds really good when turned up to a decent volume - go and figure? But Paul's always had an affinity for delicate sounding acoustic guitars and nuances, put to good effect on this album. 8 out of 11 songs on this record are great in my opinion, and the others are fine. Not all the songs should be judged on their individual merit here - he's definitely not going for 11 hit singles - but taken in the context of this album, it's a personal gesture from one of the greatest songwriters and acoustic guitar players of all time. I also must add that I feel his vocals really shine on this record - The album is a pure delight.

The album kicks off with a super-solid reggae piece, "Mother and Child Reunion". Most will already know this killer tune, but if you don't, you're in for a beautiful jamming surprise. It picks up where "Why Don't You Write Me" from Bridge Over Troubled Water left off, yet actually goes all the way to Kingston, Jamaica with Leslie Kong's players to get an authentic track. Whoever said this isn't really reggae doesn't know much of what they're talking about. Although "Duncan" gets lots of praise, it's not one of my faves on this album, but is most definitely listenable and enjoyable.

The luscious softness of "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" gives the listener the feeling that they are in the same room with Simon noodling. A lovely little ditty. "Run That Body Down" is another great number. Warning against the detriments of drugs and alcohol (I guess) on a poor boy's body. Another great Simon vocal delivery. "Armistice Day" is one of his great unsung songs. A very cool mix of styles that meanders with purpose. Why don't people try to come up with stuff this adventurous and intriguing anymore within the confines of contemporary popular music? I don't know either. I love this tune.

On to "Me and Julio". What a great song! Another upbeat moment on this album, and a verifiable hit. Interesting production, too. Anyway, you probably already know this, but if you don't, see "M&C Reunion" for comments. "Peace Like A River" took a while for me to get hip to, but I love it now. As always, great acoustic sound. Nice vocals again. "Papa Hobo" not being one of my favorites, due to some odd and goofy lyrics that stand out and kinda make you embarrassed, but hell, it's still a real listenable song and is congruous with the mood of the record. "Hobo's Blues" is a pretty cool, albeit odd, tune with the great jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli (sp?). Pretty snazzy workout, and cool chord progression for you guitar players out there.

"Paranoia Blues" is the cut on this record that is the most reminiscent of Bridge for me. Pretty upbeat. A great one, and definitely one of the highpoints of this record. "Congratulations" has always mesmerized me from first listen. I don't know if it's the vocal melody in juxtaposition to the chord progression or the lovely droplets of the Rhodes piano that get to me, but by the time he gets out the first two lines, I'm hooked for good. A truly beautiful and sad song. And in my opinion, a great closer for this record.

Overall, this record has a shy coming of age feel to it, but what really stands out are Paul's vocals and guitar playing - so how can it be anything other than [realy] great!?!!? See other reviews for its context to his departure from S&G, but I just love it for what it is - a nice little album of some great songs from one of the best ever.

"Mother and Child Reunion" is one of my favorite Paul Simon songs. The other songs are equally fine. Simon's solo career starts off with a bang.

This is a great album, my father bought this record when it first came out in the 70's, he loved it and now so do I. Everybody who I played this album for like it also, I played the song Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard for a friend, she loved it bought the album, and now listens to it all the time :o)

Paul Simon was something of a surprise when it was released, and remains perhaps his best album, as it showed a level of musical diversity that probably few people thought him capable of. Musical diversity was not one of the hallmarks of the Simon & Garfunkel sound, and indeed there are none of the huge, stately, epic ballads here that dominated Bridge Over Troubled Water, or any Garfunkel-like vocal theatrics. Paul knew what kind of songs he needed to write for himself, and he wrote those songs. And they're quite interesting songs, too. It's a very loose, lively, intimate, and occasionally funny album. We see Simon goofing up and letting it loose on funny, rambling pieces like Duncan and Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard, while making quite calculated statements on others, such as Everything Put Together Falls Apart. There are also songs here that namecheck reggae (Mother and Child Reunion), blues (Paranoia Blues), and other forms of music than the folk that Simon was pre-dominatenly known for at the time. Quite an interesting record.

Paul Simon's debut album proves what a genius he is. From gentle folk ballads to bouncy soft rockers this is an album you'll want to listen to several times in a row. Whenever any of Paul's solo albums were scheduled to hit the record stores it was an event in my hometown & I'd hurry through my last class to rush out & buy it after school. A must-have for anyone who loves 1970s soft rock and highly recommended.

I am 16 years old, and a huge PS/S+G fan. I own nearly all the their albums, and this one is definately one of my favorites. As his first solo effort, you could not ask for anything better. It steps away from the S+G era, with darker, more "sad" lyrics that were usually not present on S+G recordings, with the main exception of "Sounds of Silence". "Duncan" is a true, lyrical masterpiece and their are of course old favorites such as "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio..." All the songs offer pure Simon lyrics and depth, and even the intstrumental "Hobo's Blues" is a pleasure to listen to. This is just one of the many terrific PS albums and it shows similarities to "Still Crazy After...", yet in my opinion, this is a better overall album than the latter. If you are a diehard PS fan, than you will really appreciate this album, and if you are a first time listener, you WILL get hooked.

Simon's first solo album is direct, honest, funky, simple, and superb. His guitar playing has never been better, and it helps convey his private agonies without any pretentiousness. As ever, Simon is musically inventive and well-produced: listen to the last moments of "Congradulations." It's a wonder.