Paul Simon: The Essential Paul Simon CD Track Listing

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Paul Simon The Essential Paul Simon (2007)
The Essential Paul Simon - Disc 2 of 2\n2007 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.\n\nOriginally Released June 26, 2007\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Released five years after Warner's last Paul Simon comp, the single-disc The Paul Simon Collection: On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Goin', the double-disc The Essential Paul Simon is a full 17 tracks heftier than its predecessor and contains all but one of its 19 songs (MIA is the latter-day "Love," which only hardcore fans will recognize as from You're the One, and they're not quite the market for this set anyway). It's also slimmer than the 1993 box Paul Simon 1964-1993, which spanned three discs but also encompassed his '60s recordings with Art Garfunkel, plus a single the duo recorded as Tom & Jerry, along with selections from his solo debut, The Paul Simon Songbook -- it was ambitious, where this compilation is efficient, picking up after the parting of ways with Garfunkel and running straight through until 2006's Surprise. The sequencing isn't strictly chronological -- some songs are shuffled around for effect, with "Still Crazy After All These Years" closing the first, while "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" is cleverly followed by the zydeco stomp "That Was Your Mother" -- but it roughly divides into having the first disc devoted to the '70s and early '80s, the second devoted to Graceland and beyond. Some might argue that there's too heavy of a Graceland presence here -- a whopping six tracks, over half the album -- but it is his biggest album and functions as a nice transition between his better-known '70s hits and the more esoteric but frequently compelling work that he's done since. And, unlike The Paul Simon Collection, The Essential Paul Simon is designed to introduce fellow travelers to the interesting work he's done since Graceland, as the second disc emphasizes that quite greatly, and it does a good job of it, while also providing a good summary of his best-known (and much of his best) solo work. [The Essential Paul Simon was also released in an edition with a very good bonus DVD containing music videos from Graceland (including "The Boy in the Bubble," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," and the Chevy Chase-starring "You Can Call Me Al"), a version of "Mrs. Robinson" from The Dick Cavett Show, and two performances from Saturday Night Live.] -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nIn celebration of Paul Simon's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress, The Essential Paul Simon brings together all of his hits and favorite tracks in the most expansive, solo career-spanning compilation issued for the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Definitive Collection, June 28, 2007 \nBy Richard S. Ledford "Swing Out Fan" (Provo, Utah)\nMaybe the Essential Paul Simon Collection should hve been titled, The Definitive Paul Simon since it is the most definitive collection of all his single and double C.D. collections. All previous collections either completely omit the songs, Duncan and American Tune (both radio hits) or else substitute them for live versions. In fact, this collection presents these two songs (and all others) in their original, album-length, studio versions. Also included here are the minor hits, Gone At Last (with Phoebe Snow) and Stranded In A Limosine, both largely ignored songs on other P.S. compilations. It is interesting that one of the P.S. "fan favorites." Take Me To The Mardi Gras, was released as a U.K. single, simultaneously with the U.S. single, Kodachrome. Both became top ten hits in their respective countries. It is nice to see all the single A-sides from the seventies included here. \n\nOne caveat is that Paul Simon songs from the early eighties are sparsely represented here. Only one of the three singles from One Trick Pony is represented (Late In The Evening, of course). And strangely, NO singles from the 1983 album, Hearts And Bones were included, despite the fact that Allergies was a moderate, radio hit. Hearts And Bones was originally intended to be a Simon and Garfunkel reunion album but that conception of the album never materialized. However, three key tracks from H & B are included: Train In A Distance (one of my favorite P.S. songs and is still played in malls across America), the title track (another favorite) and The Late Great Johnny Ace (a tribute to rock and roll legends with a coda performed by Philip Glass). There was ample room on disc one to have included another song, perhaps One Trick Pony, Think Too Much (b) or Rene and Georgette Magritte.... \n\nOn the other hand, songs from the albums Graceland and Rhythm Of The Saints are well represented in the collection. And of course, it was the Graceland album that drew attention to the African musical group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo (their Shaka Zulu album is very fine, especially if you like Graceland). \n\nPaul Simon's diverse, musical influences are very apparent in the song selections. These musical styles range from reggae (Mother And Child Reunion),to Gospel ( Loves Me Like A Rock), to Latin-American (Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard and Late In The Evening), to zydeco (That Was Your Mother) to South African (Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes), ro rockabilly (Graceland). Even with all his diversity of musical styles, my preference leans toward his pop ballads, especially from the seventies and early eighties. \n\nWhile the sound quality of this C.D. is not crisp in its detail, it does have a warm, clean and natural sound. This C.D. was released in celebration of Paul Simon's acceptance of the First-ever Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, from the Library of Congress. I highly recommend this collection! \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\ngreat compilation - particularly for a car trip, July 13, 2007 \nBy Louie's Mom "Compulsive Reader" (Dallas) - See all my reviews \nI have a lot of Paul Simon CD's so you could say I didn't really need this two CD set. However, I make a 3 hour car trip a couple of times a year and when I saw this I immediately thought how great it would be to have these two CD's in the changer in the trunk for my next road trip. Its sort of a "greatest hits" but with some songs I've never heard before as well. It covers a long span of years and my only complaint is that it does not include the incredible song "Homeless". \n\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Paul Simon, Phil Ramone, Roy Halee, Russ Titelaman \n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Cissy Houston, Deirde Tuck, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Renelle Stafford, Von Eva Sims (vocals); Hucks Brown, Wallace Wilson, David Spinozza, Los Incas (guitar); Hugh McCraken, Jimmy Johnson , John Tropea, Pete Carr (electric guitar); Charango (flute); Larry Knechtel (piano); Neville Hinds, Ken Asher (organ); Russel George, David Hood, Jackie Jackson (bass guitar); Roger Hawkins, Steve Gadd, Winston Grennan (drums); Airto Moreira, Ralph McDonald, Denzil Laing (percussion); Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, Phoebe Snow (background vocals).\n\nAdditional personnel: Phoebe Snow & The Jessy Dixon Singers.\nRecording information: 1972 - 2006.\n\nAre 36 songs enough to truly encompass the "essential" items in the catalog of a master craftsman like Paul Simon? Probably not, but it's a healthy dose, and a damned fine anthology regardless. Roughly chronological in sequence, THE ESSENTIAL PAUL SIMON focuses exclusively on the folk-rock hero's post-Garfunkel days, and follows his maturation as a songwriter and record-maker. In retrospect, it quickly becomes apparent that the cross-genre concoctions of his celebrated 1986 album, GRACELAND, had been part of his modus operandi all along: see the reggae lilt of "Mother and Child Reunion," the salsa flavor of "Late in the Evening," and the gospel glow of "Loves Me Like a Rock." Whatever the musical mode, every song on this satisfying collection is powered by Simon's rocket-science harmonic know-how and vivid poetic imagery, making this a powerful musical snapshot of an artist constantly in motion.
This folk cd contains 17 tracks and runs 76min 3sec.
Freedb: ee11d111

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