![]() ![]() The song became instantly recognizable for Eric Gale’s guitar riff, Gadd’s drum groove and Dave Grusin’s horn arrangements, besides Simon’s clear vocal delivery. The song “Slip Slidin’ Away” was considered for the album but released later in a compilation.ĥ) “Late In The Evening” – One Trick Pony (1980) The song began, “I met my old lover on the street last night, she seemed so glad to see me, I just smiled, and we talked about some old times, and we drank ourselves some beers, still crazy after all these years.” There has been speculation whether he sang it for former wife Harper, former girlfriend Kathy Chitty or even Garfunkel, who he invited on the song “My Little Town.” Jazz saxophone maestro Michael Brecker did a cameo. Helped by a marvelous melody backed by Fender Rhodes piano, “Still Crazy” remains a sing-along favorite after all these years. Simon wrote it following his divorce from his first wife Peggy Harper, using lines like “I’d like to help you in your struggle to be free, there must be 50 ways to leave your lover.” A highlight was the drumming by the great Steve Gadd, one of the guests along with bassist Tony Levin and Hammond organ player Kenny Ascher.Ĥ) “Still Crazy After All These Years” – Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) ![]() One of his most successful singles, charting at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song took a humorous look at the end of a relationship. But at many live shows, he changed it to “everything looks better in black and white”, joking that he himself wasn’t sure what he meant.ģ) “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” – Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) As the song was about color photography, Simon wrote the lines “Everything looks worse in black and white” in the original recording. As such, lines like, “I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph, so mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away” became a favorite for photography enthusiasts. The lead single from Simon’s third studio album, this song was named after Kodak’s once-popular colour reversal film brand. Interestingly, Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy was one of the back-up vocalists.Ģ) “Kodachrome” – There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973) The tremolo guitar intro by Lynford ‘Hux’ Brown synchronized with the tight rhythms. ![]() Simon used reggae star Jimmy Cliff’s band to play alongside. The title was inspired by an entrée he saw at a Chinese restaurant, but the lyrics became relevant when used to describe the bond between mothers and their children. One of the earliest reggae songs recorded by a white artiste, Simon wrote this after the death of his pet dog. One can hear such diversions in five of the 10 songs we’ve chosen as representative of his solo career.ġ) “Mother And Child Reunion” – Paul Simon (1972) He’s also written songs for the Broadway play The Capeman, released as a separate album, and the stage adaptation of the film The Graduate.Ī highlight of Simon’s music was his use of styles from different parts of the world, from reggae and South African music to Latin American rhythms and Indian flavors. The singer-songwriter had reunited with Garfunkel briefly, performing at the Central Park, New York, in 1981, and subsequently releasing a hugely successful live album and video recording before falling apart again. But there have been some outstanding albums, with Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) and Graceland (1986) taking the lead. One may argue that he hasn’t been very prolific on that front, releasing only 13 in the past 50 years, of which the last one In The Blue Light essentially comprised rearranged versions of lesser-known songs put out earlier. Simon, who turned 80 last week, has also released some much-admired solo albums. The very mention of his name instantly brings up memories of songs like “Sound Of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Mrs Robinson,” “El Condor Pasa” and “The Boxer,” released as part of Simon & Garfunkel, his association with singer Art Garfunkel. When it comes to sheer songwriting skills, Paul Simon has always been in the top league. ![]()
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