The Paul Simon Songbook was a proper debut really, and the original versions of some classics like I Am a Rock (an appropriately lonely version) and Kathy's Song (a song to his girlfriend who's on the cover of the album).
I think Paul Simon is a genius but I admit I don't have nearly all of his albums. I am going to start by filling in with the ones you included in your top 7 ("brilliant" albums!).
good job on a tough ranking. It's hard to compare the solo stuff to the S&G stuff, but I mostly agree with you. I'd just put RotS a lot higher personally. It's a personal favorite of mine and it would be in the top 3. Great job tho
My favorites are definitely Sounds of Silence and Self Titled imo. I think I lean more towards self titled just due to how much I’ve listened to it but man,they’re both perfect imo
As you were running down the list, I have to say that I was gunning for Bridge to be at No.1 - so yeah, really nice to see you agree. That album is like a Beatles album, in so far as every track is both great and well known. And the breakup at the pinnacle of their career really sealed their legacy. Much as Abbey Road was The Beatles going splitsville at their artistic peak. Those were heady times (1969/1970). Paul's solo career has been full of ups and downs ... but I think you ranked the debut album too low (Duncan is a much overlooked gem) and on the opposite end I think Graceland is ranked too high - I was not a fan of it when it came out in the 80's mainly because I was listening to very different music what with the Golden Age of British synthpop being in high gear, and so the African rhythms or World Music or whatever it is, didn't really capture my interest then, and even today I find it a hard album to get into or appreciate. I think I just don't like that style of music. And the letdown of One Trick Pony really didn't help Paul's reputation and kind of put me off his music at the time. I have been listening to Hearts and Bones over the past coiple of months, because of your recommendation in an earlier video - so thanks for inspiring me to give it a fresh listen! Keep up with the videos, even though I don't comment often, that's only because I am too lazy to write - but I'm not too lazy to watch!! If you want a suggestion for a future video, I would find it interesting to get your take on what the next Beatles album could have been if they had not broken up - compile a list of 10 tracks (you can only include 10h from any of the solo Beatles work from 1970-1972, and most importantly what the sequence of songs would be on this "lost" Beatles album. i've made a CD of my choices a couple of years ago and still give it a spin every now and then. Plus there's lots of other people's examples on the web. Another idea would be a Top 10 McCartney b-sides list from his singles. I might as well just write it all now because next time I'll be too lazy to do it, haha. Keep up the great work. You deserve way more viewers - think of ways to insert the words Beatles or McCartney in the titles so that they come up when people are randomly browsing - bet you'll get a lot more devoted followers that way, because honestly I think people just haven't stumbled upon your channel yet - it's both very entertaining and informative!
varsityfan2000 Wow, thanks for the comment (or should I say essay). For me the Graceland is how I got into paul simon, i just find the music so joyful and happy which is quite different from his other stuff, not saying its worse but a different style. Thank you for the suggestions as well. They will sure be the next few videos I do. Thanks once again and take care.
Another very interesting video from you! I would rate some of the albums a bit differently. My least favorites are definitely One Trick Pony and Still Crazy. Do give Capeman another chance. It's true that the musical was somewhat ill-conceived, and the occasional foul language is distasteful, but I think most of the music has a lot going for it. Simon is so good at absorbing musical styles. I like the Puerto Rican and doo-wop sounds he uses to put the listener back in the 50s. I also like You're the One better than you do. I 'd put it in the top six, whereas Surprise happens almost throughout to have loud and insistent drum tracks, which I simply can't stand. Paradoxically, though, I really like Rhythm of the Saints, and it would probably also be in the top six. Since I like folk music, Wednesday Morning would go farther up on the list. For me, the best Simon solo albums are Paul Simon and There Goes Rhymin Simon. The only weak track on Paul Simon is the little violin piece, which seems out of place and isn't the kind of music I like. Only one track I don't like on Rhymin as well: St Judy's Comet. For me, BOTW is hard to rate, because while it contains two of the best songs ever written (Bridge and Boxer) and some extremely fine ones (Only Living Boy, Song for the Asking, Keep the Customer Satisfied), it also the trivial (but fun) Cecelia and Why Don't you Write Me. And Frank Lloyd Wright to me is just blah. I think Bookends is more consistently fine. Really worth a listen is Paul Simon's Concert is the Park, as well as the recent (2011) concert album (the name of which escapes me). Would love to hear what you think of both of those. Cheers!
Hi Thanks for commenting, nice to hear your thoughts on these albums. There are a couple of tracks on Capeman I enjoy but overall its a weak album for me. Bridge Over Troubled Water wins for me because of the variety, many styles and moods on the album. i dont tend to review live albums by I recently ordered a vinyl copy of the concert in the park which I'll show in my next update video and say some words about the album. Take Care.
