Paul Simon
Paul Simon
1972
Album Summary
Paul Simon is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was released in January 1972, nearly two years after he split up with longtime musical partner Art Garfunkel. His first solo album was recorded in England in 1965 but remained unreleased in the U.S. (except for a brief period in 1969) until 1981, when it appeared in the 5-LP Collected Works boxed set. Originally released on Columbia Records, Paul Simon was then issued under the Warner Bros. label and is now back with Columbia through Sony. The album topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Japan and Norway and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums. In 1986 it was certified platinum.
WikipediaPaul Simon a une très belle voix, ça c'est indéniable. Seulement, dès la première piste du morceau, le bon Paulo commet un erreur qui lui coûtera très cher: l'utilisation du synté des îles. Mais laissez moi vous replonger dans le contexte. C'est en 1965 que l'éminent auteur allemand Chris Dusseldord mentionnera pour la première fois le concept de "Insel Synthetik" dans une publication qui fera l'effet d'une bombe dans l'industrie musicale. Ce synthétiseur, à la sonorité extrêmement désagréable, trouvera ensuite très rapidement refuge dans le reggae, qui usera et abusera du Insel Synthetik. On pensait donc le Insel Synthetik disparu, ou tout du moins tenu en vie dans l'intimité de quelques tribues reggae, mais c'est la que Paul Simon fait son apparition. On ne s'attend pas à retrouver ce son désagréable dans un album de folk. On se retrouve désemparé, dérangé, et on espère ne plus jamais revivre cette experience. Pour ce dur rappel, Paul Simon récolte la note de 3/5.
A smorgasbord of different sounds. He was either that amazing of a musician or surrounded himself with amazing musicians, or both. Great stuff
Paul Simon's solo debut is a fantastic mix of styles and songs. We have reggae, folk, jazz, gypsy folk, blues, folk rock and latin to name a few of the styles here. The man is a genius. Best Tracks: Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Run That Body Down, Papa Hobo
Slippery and lithe, every song is brought to life with twarps, boings, the sound of Simon scratching his beard. He starts with heartfelt coffin-side counsel and follows that with his best song ever, in which the sound of a couple fucking in the next room sets the narrator off on a reverie about losing his virginity that starts with his birth, takes in the major points of his life, and finishes by cheekily thanking the Lord for his fingers (yes, I'm reading this salaciously). The motel room he's staying in never features again, but we never leave it. Elsewhere, he finds the perfect balance of high- and lowbrow literary chops on songs about addiction, burnout, political deception, industrial collapse, marriage collapse, and a gloriously silly story about absolutely nothing--just a framework on which to hang witty rhymes and elasticated rhythms.
Interesting mix of material that is still very reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel (like Duncan or Peace like a River) and that which is markedly different (like the opening track Mother and Child Reunion for example). Most of the rest of the tracks are arranged fairly simply but have a different feel than your average Simon and Garfunkel track; jazzier/more soulful & a little more laid back & personal/conversational.
Paul Simon has got to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His melodies and tunes are so well-crafted, and his guitar playing is understated, but really effective. It's interesting to listen to his self-titled album here, because he hasn't quite reached the experimental highs of something like Graceland, but you can hear the ideas being formed and the seeds being planted. All in all a really solid album of great tunes, from a prolific artist.
I was surprised I didn't know any of these songs, but it was a very pleasant sounding, light-footed album. The album employs a variety of genres including folk rock and blues, and opening with an ska-inflected song that immediately puts you in the right mood.
This really does feel like a transitional album. Some of the wonderful folk stylings from Simon's work with Garfunkel but with some hints towards the more diverse output that he would explore further over a decade later on Graceland. It didn't quite reach the heights of that album, but there's some great stuff on here. Run That Body Down was a standout track to me
Best song: Duncan; 2nd best song: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard Least fav song: Everything Put Together Falls Apart
This is one of my very favorite albums and it has one of my very favorite Paul Simon songs: Paranoid Blues.
This is Simon's second solo album after breaking up with Garfunkel. The first song is surprisingly good reggae???, and Duncan is a really nice chill song with some world music influences. Overall its a really good album. Probably 4 stars, but close to a 5.
Masterpiece. Slightly prefer Graceland. 10/10 1. Peace Like a River 2. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard 3. Mother and Child Reunion
Very much enjoy some Paul Simon. Songs like Me and Julio down by the schoolyard is a classic. And a lot of these other songs were surprisingly nice.
This album was so good! The opener track was amazing and I know I'm definitely going to be listening to it a lot from now on. And as for the rest of the album, wow! Every single track was good but there were a few highlights for me as well as the opener track - Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Peace Like a River and Paranoia Blues. This album is definitely one of the better albums I've heard so far. It makes me want to delve deeper into Paul Simon's discography, and more into the folk rock genre itself. 5/5 stars.
Oh mon dieu, deux en deux jours 5/5. Le meilleur de paul simon solo avec graceland. Tellement unartiste exceptionnelle. Dan sla meme classe aue Dylan, mccartney,lennon, etc. 5/5
A through and through high level album, similar storytelling like Neil Young or Bob Dylan, here with a fun-sounding world music twist
Some of Paul’s best guitar work, melodies, vocal display, and songwriting that would follow him in 40 years of touring. While not the best album of his entire catalog, it is a great album and a great debut to establish his identity beyond Art.
Paul Simon has been making music for 60 years. He hasn’t released a bad album and he’s released several masterpieces. This one just might be my favorite though. Just banger after banger.
5.0 - Damn, this record destroys any ambivalence I had about Paul Simon. Yes, the way he parrots and reinterprets various folk genres into his music can come off as inauthentic cultural appropriation. But, as I’ve said about “Graceland”, this criticism is easily overlooked given the quality of the songs. He draws from deeply personal experiences within the backdrop of New York so they end up feeling genuine emotionally. Standout: “Paranoia Blues.”
Listenable. Totally listenable. Even preferable to Graceland, which I could hear endlessly. The man can compose music & lyrics. Added.
This one's going on regular rotation. Great lyrics, interesting explorations of different genres on each track. Was surprised to see Stephane Grappelli make an appearance.
Här finns allt. Få artister kan blanda lekfullhet och melankoli som Paul Simon, något som blir tydligt från första tonen i Mother and Child Reunion. Vill du ha historieberättande fortsätter albumet med Duncan. Politisk kommentar, gå till Peace Like a River. Old school blues? Paranoid Blues. Alltid med extrem skicklighet och melodiös träffsäkerhet. Precis som Lincoln Duncan tackade Gud för sina fingrar kvällen efter han förlorat sin oskuld, tackar jag Gud för Paul Simons diton. Men mest för vad de gör med gitarren. En behållning med Paul Simons musik är alltid influenserna från andra delar av världen, samtidigt som han förvaltar ett amerikanskt folkarv. jamaicanska influenser i Mother and Child Reunion, sydamerikansk flöjt i Duncan, brasiliansk trumma i Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Bästa låt: Finns en handfull att välja mellan. Men Mother and Child Reunion gör ändå något speciellt med mig.
It's hard to know what to say about this album because there is so much to say. Personally, it's one of my all time favorites. At least once a week, the line comes into my mind, "long after the midnight curfew, they sat starry-eyed" and it always makes life feel right again. Duncan was never my favorite song on the album, but this time it rose to the top, with its beautiful coming of age story. Sigh. I love Paul Simon.
I enjoyed this more than the Simon and Garfunkel albums I've heard; more meaty diversity and texturally superior.
This is a really solid album. Naturally everyone knows the Julio schoolyard but there are some other very good songs I hadn't heard before
Such a classic album. I'm glad I finally got to listen to every single track because I'm so in love with this sound.
Paul Simon's self-titled album is a wonderful piece of multiple slices of Americana. The flavors of the blues, jazz, and soul-inspired work can be heard throughout musical history. Some of the guitar work is reminiscent of the later Ratatat (I swear I heard it), and the bass reminds one of the darker tones from Pink Floyd's *Dark Side of the Moon* (released one year *later*). While some concepts aren't as fleshed out as they are in later works like *Graceland*, the sheer honesty and raw nature of some of these tracks betray some of the true emotions of Paul.
Paul Simon es un genio y puede hacer algo que suena como a Reggae, cosas folkosas, rockcito pop, blues, lo que sea y suena bien. De este disco en especial me gustó que no trae las que más se oyeron en Universal Stereo y me permitió explorar más de su música. Mi favorita, además de "Mother and Child Reunion" que es la obvia, es "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" rolones que le ganan la 5a estrella.
C’est un cliché, mais quel artisan, je suis jaloux. Le jeu de guitare est particulièrement savoureux sur Peace Like A River.
05/26/2022 The greatest. Truly special and unique in every way. An absolute all-timer.
Excelente álbum, first time listening to full Paul Simon album and wow. Song writing is awesome and the music is just so new yet so familiar. Will keep on the rotation
Freedom from the constraints of a partnership shows here. As expected a collection of well crafted songs, bur suprising in the variety of influences demonstrated - from reggae through latin via folk and blues. One of the best singer/songwriters demonstrating what he can do, with strong hints of the things that were to come.
Very good album. Previously I knew only one song from that album. Very good relaxing. Thanks
研究活動が捗る音楽だった。気に入った。夏の終わり、どこか哀愁漂う空気が秋の訪れをまだ満面の笑みを添えては迎えられない、そんなことが想起される今の時期にぴったりの曲だと思った。
Maudit que c'était bon! Je connaissais juste 1 toune, mais j'en ai ajouté plein à ma playlist. Je pense pas que j'avais déjà écouté un album solo de Simon, ça donne envie d'en écouter d'autres!
A pleasant experience. More interesting stories told through lyrics in Paul Simon songs. I don't recall ever hearing Duncan before, but I certainly had it on repeat today.
Paul Simon is not generally someone I listen to on my own, but I always enjoy his albums. He does every mood well, which provides a real richness to all of his albums 4/5
Nowhere near the absolute peak of joy that is Graceland, but it's solid enough. An otherwise 3 star album elevated to 4 stars on the strength of one song (in this case, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard)
Pretty solid album, lots of good songs, but I can't give 5 cause some songs are bit pouash.
Great happy vibes! Liked his other album better but this was enjoyable. Not as versatile as graceland
Quite chill, I like how it sounds. It has the calmness of Bob Dylan but also its own air of confidence. Solid 4 stars.
More textured and bluesy than I'd expect from Paul Simon. I like the blown out guitars. Tastes like meatloaf.
Production: 16/20 Songwriting: 17/20 Innovation: 14/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 15/20 =67 Bloody lovely album. Who needs Art!
I was a little nervous when he started up with straight up Bob Marley, but it turned around immediately and I ended up liking the album. "Paranoia Blues" stuck out. Also "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" and "Run That Body Down" on second listen. Yeah I like this.
Opening with Caribbean sound is a nice touch. Goes into a more folk sound for other songs. Albums ends with more blues numbers. It's like Paul is flexing his musical muscles and trying out more than what he has done over the last 10 years.
It's good to see Paul Simon's experiments with world music began here. Paul Simon is special to me. I saw his last ever concert in Flushing a few years back. I can still remember dancing around, having spent the day touring Manhattan with my mother. This is like canned joy, like a summer day on the world's greatest city strolling through the different vibrant neighborhoods. His lilting voice and beat poetry are on full display, bright and shiny and catchy as all get out. It's an album for better days, full of hope in rough places. Perfection.
Album qui s'écoute très bien! Pièces variées avec différentes influences. Très bons musiciens, j'ai bien aimé la guitare. Pu capable d'entendre "Me and Julio by the Schoolyard" mais ça c'est personnel (une affaire de barista). Belle ambiance de coffeeshop :)
Ohne auch nur einen Ton reingehört zu haben kann ich schonmal sagen: schönes Cover. Ich mag diese 70er-Fotografie sehr gern (die Farben, das leicht grobkörnige und braunstichige), und die Platzierung der Schrift auch. Gestern das von Yes hat mir ebenfalls gut gefallen. Angehört und erstaunt, dass Paul Simon schon 1972 den Reggae nach New York gebracht hat. Auch sonst tolles Album, absolut zeitlose Produktion. Geht immer, stört nie. 3,7 Punkte.
Leppoisaa musaa. Kuuntelin levyn parilla eri miksauksella (perinteinen ja "360 reality audio") ja varsinkin tuolla 360ra:lla kuulosti todella hyvältä. Olin jo kirjoittamassa tähän, että vähän samaa henkeä kuin Simon & Garfunkelissa, mutta sitten tajusin että niin, tää on varmaan just se Simon! :D
Jokin karismaattinen magneettisuus Paulin äänessä ja biiseissä on ilman dynaamista duoakin. Olisi pitänyt edetä seuraavaan levyyn, mutta parin päivän aikana pyörittelin viitisen kertaa läpi. Hyvä levy.
Not gonna lie, this kinda put me to sleep the first listen, but this was phenomenal with more time and less distractions. 4 because I liked the start more than the end of the album, but still very very good. Saved: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Peace Like a River
Nice happy album, reminds me of the artist Beans on Toast if he was more grounded but just as fun.
Somewhat pensive at times but nicely produced. Low key and intimate, overall a really lovely album. Reminds me of the Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash in parts.
Listening to Paul Simon makes me feel like I'm 7 years old again and riding in the back of my parents' station wagon, just watching out the window. To be clear, this is a very good thing. Even though for me the highs of Simon & Garfunkel may be higher than any of their solo works, solo Simon (and especially this album) is consistently excellent; and for an album that is nearly 50 (!) years old now this still holds up so well sonically and musically; the arrangements are perfect in that each song may seem simple (accessible) but underneath lies a sneaky complexity. Some classic singles in here that most people will know and yet the deep cuts are all quality - not a bad song in the entire batch - 4 stars. (aside: I love the old-school short length of records back then - perfectly digestible lengths)
I think I still like his later albums more but this one was solid. ‘Me and Julio...’ is one of his all-time great songs. ‘Duncan’ is a track I had never heard that I really liked.
Great one, a nice surprise. I found this one totally familiar but don’t think I’ve ever heard it in its totality before
Yeah ok, this was nice - you can hear he's starting to get a taste for incorporating world music into his sound. The "Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard" lyric "Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona" hits differently in 2021. 😞 Fave track - gotta be "Paranoia Blues". Relatable!
L'album commence d'une façon des plus inquiétantes avec un morceau d'inspiration reggae. Le bon goût de Paul Simon reprend ensuite la barre et navigue jusqu'à la fin dans des eaux bien plus saines et propres. D'ailleurs, en parlant d'un célèbre professeur de mathématiques, vous avez peut-être lu la critique de mon odieux complice générateurien elmanganèse. Je voulais simplement préciser que ce qu'il raconte est un tissu de mensonges et qu'il n'en est pas à son premier séjour en hôpital psychiatrique si vous voyez ce que j'insinue.
Really, really dug this one. We all know Paul Simon, for me it's largely from his stint with Mr. Garfunkel. But his style and songwriting stands on its own here. Such a lively variety to the music. Really just an excellent singer/songwriter album. So many tracks on here I'll be returning to. Favorite tracks: Me and Julio, Duncan, Paranoia Blues, Run That Body Down, Armistice Day. Album art: Great portrait cover. The drip is immaculate. U so icy, imma glacier boy type of cover. 4.5/5
Simon is as talented alone as he was with funkel 👍🏼Great musician and writer. “Julio, Mother & Child & Papa hobo are great. One of only a few artists who went out on his own and had the talent to carry himself🤛🏼
Pretty chill, not as good as some of his albums (Graceland comes to mind), but still pretty good. Favourite is Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.
Paul Simon is one of my favourite song writers of all time but I wouldn’t say this is a stand out album. A couple of brilliant songs on there and cool to hear him playing with reggae and blues influences.
This is just one of several excellent Paul Simon solo albums from the early seventies - the singles are clearly 5* songs - the other ones vary a bit. I had not listened to it for many years, and it is interesting to note its influence on artists like Iron and Wine.
Difficult to rate - he's a genius so I could listen to him noodling all day, but a lot of tracks lacked focus. The ones that had it were fantastic (Me and julio, mother and child...) but the rest were so-so.
Ik mag dit album wel. Gisteren lekker op lp geluisterd en dat maakt het nog wat leuker
While I prefer Simon's later work, this sets out his stall as an immensely talented musician, drawing on influences from many genres. Definitely worth a listen.
Paul Simon's music has changed so much through his career. Listening to his discography as a whole would be rewarding, I'm sure.
Was pleasantly surprised. I don't know Simon and Garfunkel, and I'm not a big fan of folk and singer/songwriter, but this is the best folk album that I have ever heard so far. I love the reggae, rock, and other elements blended with folk in this album. I like his voice, and that's probably one of Simon and Garfunkel's defining assets. I also enjoyed the guitars and the other instrumentals. I'm now excited to hear a Simon and Garfunkel album. I'm pretty sure that I'll enjoy it. I wonder how different the duo's sound were, and how much did Simon explore. Anyway, I just learned today that I can actually enjoy a freaking folk album. That's one of the beauties of this project.
Me and Julio, baby. Not as strong as Graceland, but what is? That jacket on the cover looks comfy.
Simon's first without Garfunkel. Another classic. It has some standout tracks, but everything fit together nicely.
I've never really listened to any solo Paul Simon until this list. I knew a few songs here and there.
Good album! Really like the first song, mother & child reunion. Whole album is an illustration of Paul Simon's musical ability and style
A great album from one of the most highly-regarded songwriters of the 20th century. I am more familiar with Paul Simon's work with Art Garfunkel than I am his solo career (although I do love 'Kodachrome' and 'Me And Julio Down By the Schoolyard', the latter of which comes from this album). Because of this, I was very interested to hear what was his first release after S&G broke up sounded like. After giving this one a go, I would say my expectations were met exactly as this was a very good effort by Simon for his first solo venture. Every song on here is solid with no real duds. The album included not only tracks that could be considered throwbacks to his former group but also songs signaling a change in direction for his own career. The record overall reminded me a lot of Paul McCartney's first solo album but WAY more polished ('Run That Body Down' and 'Congratulations' would not have felt out of character from either Paul). This was a strange connection for me to make as I've never found the two similar before. It is also weird that both albums came out within a couple of years of each other during a period of disbandment (I think McCartney released his while the Beatles were still together, but they were holding on by a thread at that point). Anyways, I still found 'Me and Julio' to be the best and most fun track on the record, and while I do think his work with Art is stronger, I really enjoyed listening to this release. I would give it another spin in the future, but it mainly makes me excited to hear some full Simon and Garfunkel albums later on in this list. 4/5.
I have to be honest; I've never gone back prior to " Graceland" and listened specifically to any Paul Simon. His music was played enough on the radio for me. This album contains two of his most popular and best songs, "Mother and Child Reunion" and "Me and Julio Down By the School Yard" Those are almost unique songs on this album as most of the songs are more laid back and subtle: acoustic guitars, a few instruments and sparse arrangements. The songs tell stories some personal, others probably from another of view whose topics cover struggling relationships, infidelity, politics somewhat, drugs and broken dreams. "Peace Like a River " kind of reminds me of R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" sound. Other than the two hits, no other songs really stood apart; not to say, they are bad or this a bad album. The lyrics are great. This a personal album and easy to listen to in a singer-songwriter sort of way. You definitely don't see " Graceland" coming from this album, more, a separation from his Simon & Garfunkel days and music.
Not really a singer/songwriter fan (it takes me like 10 listens to most music before I start paying any attention to the lyrics), but man, Paul Simon can write a tune.
Meglio di altri cantautori che mi han fatto sentire, ma secondo me è come per i poeti, o te ne innamori o non ti dicono un cazzo, sebbene qualcuno dica che siano i migliori di tutta la storia messa insieme. Però ad un secondo ascolto mi è piaciuto di più!
Easy singer/songwriter vibe. Paul Simon incorporates some world type sounds into his album, ex: "Duncan" uses what sound like pan flutes. I enjoyed it, though I'm not sure this particular sound is my fave.
Very good, clearly staking Simon’s claim as a self-sufficient solo act. Some of the writing suffers his flaw of being a little too precious, particularly as it clashes with the aspirations to a darker, street-level sensibility.
J'avais déjà écouté cet album avec un autre groupe. En plus d'avoir écouté Graceland il y a quelques semaines, mon écoute en était différente cette fois. J'aime de plus en plus Paul Simon. J'ai beaucoup plus aimé cet album cette fois-ci. Sa voix et sa façon de raconter des histoires en ne sacrifiant pas une bonne mélodie en fait sa force. Bien sûr Graceland vieilli un peu plus mal à cause de l'époque de son enregistrement, mais pour moi You Can Call Me All est une des meilleures pièces de Paul Simon. Par contre ce deuxième album solo s'écoute vraiment bien. Pièces préférées: Me and Julio by the school, Mother and child reunion, Duncan et Run That Body Down
J’ai eu beaucoup de plaisir à écouter cet album. Plus que Graceland. Il a une façon très variée et créative d’écrire la partie paroles/vocale.
This album was very pleasant to listen to. Not much to say other than that; very good paul Simon. Me and Julio in the courtyard is great
Never thought I'd like this listening to the entire album experience but boy I was wrong. Loved the voice and the calm this entire album exuded 4stars
Surprised I hadn't heard this one before. Good album, Paul Simon is a great story teller. Me & Julio is still my favorite, enjoyed Paranoia Blues and Run that Body Down.
I like Paul Simon, solo or duo. But this project is making me realize how much exploration I haven't done into artists I enjoy. I'm glad to have been presented this album and enjoyed it all the way through. Duncan and Paranoia Blues are new to me and great, and Me & Julio of course is a particular standout. That said I don't love the entire collection of songs as much as I do albums before (Bridge over Troubled Waters) or after (Graceland).
My grandparents’ music. Few artists have been as influential as Simon and Garfunkel in the 20th Century, and Paul is just as popular if not more in his solo career. I mean who hasn’t heard Me and Julio Down by The Schoolyard? I really enjoy the stripped down instrumentals and bare vocals that are bordering on ASMR, even if this isn’t my typical genre. Paul has talent and he knows it. His voice is so soothing and the nice guitar makes you feel like he’s right next to your bed, serenading you to sleep. I also feel like I can’t really place this album in a certain genre. Every song makes me want to put it in one, then the next song turns that on its head. I can also place a lot of modern bands having been influenced by this album. Listening to Papa Hobo and Armistice Day, I feel like Jack Johnson is a direct descendant of this album. It’s overall fun and soothing to listen to, but none of the songs are being added to my playlist. My favorites: Duncan, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Armistice Day, Congratulations, Paranoia Blues (Unreleased Version)
Great melodies and sound. Some great songs but not quite as fantastic as some of his earlier and later works
This is Paul Simon’s first solo album to get a wide release. In it we can hear his embrace of world music that would come to characterize his solo career. This album is a tight collection of folk and has some of his greatest hits. Overall, it’s a fantastic album and showed that he was a capable musician and singer outside Simon and Garfunkel.
Prefs: Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Everything Put Together Falls Apart, Armistice Day, Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard, Paranoia Blues Moins pref: Peace Like a River