The Paul Simon Thread—What's your favorite?

[Tombstone Mountain]

Here's a song with two basses. Paul plays one of them. Not the one that has the solo - Bakithi Kumalo plays the solo. The solo was recorded and then played backwards for the song. Paul is a great bass player too, so profound is his talent. Paul. Bakithi.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULds5XR5v64

That solo is smoking...and completely necessary!!! Short sweet...virtuostic

[goose]

 

These events have never been a secret: The Only Living Boy in New York, one of Simon & Garfunkel's final songs, was written as Simon waited for Garfunkel to return from shooting.

 

 

Tom, get your plane right on time.

I know your part'll go fine.

Fly down to Mexico.

Da-n-da-da-n-da-n-da-da and here I am,

The only living boy in New York.

 

I get the news I need on the weather report.

I can gather all the news I need on the weather report.

Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile.

Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da here I am

The only living boy in New York

 

Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where,

And we don't know where.

 

Here I am..........

 

Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where,

And we don't know where.

 

Tom, get your plane right on time.

I know you've been eager to fly now.

Hey let your honesty shine, shine, shine now

Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da

Like it shines on me

The only living boy in New York,

The only living boy in New York.

[CygnusGal]

I've always loved this song.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NrqA9MbzKI

[Tombstone Mountain]

^{Wonder if he'll plan any dates in US? Rush needs to get their butt down under —TM}

 

^{Paul Simon down under}

 

^{Written by Mike Hohnen on 19th January, 2013}

http://media.musicfeeds.com.au/files/acc0eb1bbf524faa09f05f669193e5a4-640x393.jpg

^{The great Paul Simon has announced that while in town for this year’s Bluesfest extravaganza, he will be performing a run of headlining shows throughout Australia.}

^{The is welcome news to fans who have been waiting for news on sideshows. It was earlier confirmed that neither Paul Simon nor Robert Plant would be performing other sideshows in Queensland – hence the anticipation.}

^{At the below shows, fans can expect a performance drawing on all areas of his extensive music background, including tracks from his period of making music with Art Garfunkel, as well as those featured on his highly worshiped solo album Graceland.}

^{Simon’s most recent musical offering was 2011′s So Beautiful Or So What.}

^{Fellow Bluesfest performer Rufus Wainwright will be supporting Simon on his tour, with Jimmy Cliff joining the folds for the Hunter Valley performance.}

^{Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, 30th January at 9am.}

^{Wednesday. 27th March}

^{Entertainment Centre, Adelaide}

^{Thursday, 28th March}

^{Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne}

^{Saturday, 30th March}

^{Hope Estate, Hunter Valley}

^{Tuesday, 2nd April}

^{Entertainment Centre, Sydney}

[Tombstone Mountain]

I've always loved this song.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NrqA9MbzKI

I can see why...it's amazing

[CygnusGal]

Nice article, TM. That would be awesome to see Paul. For being as big a fan of his music as I am, surprisingly, I have never seen him live.

 

I love Linda Ronstadt's voice on this song. She's so distinctive. And, another killer bass line from Bakhiti.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66XfqSm-jPo

[Tombstone Mountain]

Just saw on MSNBC that "Sound of Silence" just made the American Song Registry...as did "Dark side of the Moon"

[Steevo]

One of many faves...love this verse...when you know what it's really about.

 

First thing I remember when you came into my life

I said I wanna get that girl, no matter what I do

Well I guess I've been in love before and once or twice have been on the floor

But I've never loved no-one the way that I love you

[Tombstone Mountain]

One of many faves...love this verse...when you know what it's really about.

 

First thing I remember when you came into my life

I said I wanna get that girl, no matter what I do

Well I guess I've been in love before and once or twice have been on the floor

But I've never loved no-one the way that I love you

It was late in the evening brotha man!

[Steevo]

One of many faves...love this verse...when you know what it's really about.

 

First thing I remember when you came into my life

I said I wanna get that girl, no matter what I do

Well I guess I've been in love before and once or twice have been on the floor

But I've never loved no-one the way that I love you

It was late in the evening brotha man!

 

Aye, it sure was :smoke:

[Tombstone Mountain]

One of many faves...love this verse...when you know what it's really about.

 

First thing I remember when you came into my life

I said I wanna get that girl, no matter what I do

Well I guess I've been in love before and once or twice have been on the floor

But I've never loved no-one the way that I love you

I love the part where he "blew that room away"...that's such a great feeling to have

[Tombstone Mountain]

You know some times you just gotta say "coo-coo ka-choo"!

[Steevo]

It was a dry wind,

And it swept across the desert

And it curled into the circle of birth,

And the dead sand,

Falling on the children

The mothers and the fathers

And the automatic earth...

[CygnusGal]

You know some times you just gotta say "coo-coo ka-choo"!

We'd like to learn a little bit about you for our files

We'd like to help you learn to help yourself

[CygnusGal]

I've had The Boxer in my head for about a month now. The lyrics are brilliant.

 

I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told

I have squandered my resistance for a pocket full of mumbles such are promises

All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest

 

When I left my home and family I was no more than a boy

In the company of strangers, in the quiet of a railway station running scared

Laying low seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go

Looking for the places only they would know

 

Seeking only workman's wage, I go looking for a job

But I get no offers, just a come on from the whores on 7th Avenue

I declare there were times I was so lonesome I took some comfort there

La la la la la la la la, la la la la

 

Then I'm laying out my winters clothes and wishing I was gone

Going home, where the New York City winters are not bleeding me

Leading me, going home

 

In a clearing stands a boxer and fighter by his trade

And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down

Or cut him 'til he cried out in his anger and his pain

I am leaving, I am leaving but the fighter still remains

 

Leigh, la-leigh

[Steevo]

^ It really is a masterpiece.

[Tombstone Mountain]

http://www.noise11.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PaulSimon2013-03-28IMG_9872-200x133.jpg

Paul Simon, Rod Laver Arena, 2013, Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Paul Simon Plays Melbourne SETLIST

 

by Paul Cashmere on March 29, 2013

 

Seeing Paul Simon, one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century, performing other people’s songs shows the reverence he must have for those artists.

 

http://www.noise11.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PaulSimon2013-03-28IMG_9872-200x133.jpg

Paul Simon, Rod Laver Arena, 2013, Photo By Ros O'Gorman

At his Melbourne show he paid homage to George Harrison by performing his classic ‘Here Comes The Sun’ and Bo Diddley ‘Pretty Thing’. Junior Parker and Chet Atkins were also given a nod with ‘Mystery Train’ and ‘Wheels’ woven into a ‘Hearts and Bones’ medley.

Paul Simon is in Australia to headline Bluesfest this weekend and is doing his own shows around the country.

The music of Paul Simon has transcended generations and that was evident with a surprisingly young crowd gathering at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne for a rare look at a legend. Late teens to early 20s were in equal numbers of 30-50 year olds and a select number of 50+. It is no wonder. The music of Paul Simon is ageless and timeless.

I couldn’t help but notice the humour in Frank Sinatra’s version of Simon’s ‘Mrs Robinson’ being played over the speakers as the audience left the venue. It was a black comedy moment that went over the head of most people. Sinatra’s cheesy ‘Scooby dooby doo’ version of the Simon penned classic made for a fitting ending to a great few hours of music history.

Paul was last in Australia with Art Garfunkel in 2009. Prior to that his previous visit was 21 years ago. This current tour is the first time in decades Simon has performed his solo songbook for Australia and he covered a good chunk of solo hits during his 1 hour 45 mins on stage.

The Simon & Garfunkel era was kept to a minimum with just three songs ‘’The Only Living Boy In New York’, ‘The Sound Of Silence’ and ‘The Boxer’ as the final song.

The centerpiece album of this show was his classic 1986 ‘Graceland’.

Here is the setlist for Paul Simon at Rod Laver Arena, March 28, 2013.

 

Gumboots (from Graceland, 1986)

Dazzling Blue (from So Beautiful Or So What, 2011)

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (from Still Crazy After All These Years, 1975)

Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard (from Paul Simon, 1972)

That Was Your Mother (from Graceland, 1986)

Hearts And Bones/Mystery Train/Wheels (from Hearts and Bones, 1983/Junior Parker cover/Chet Atkins cover)

Slip Slidin Away (from Greatest Hits Etc, 1977)

My Little Town (from Still Crazy After All These Years, 1975)

Obvious Child (from The Rhythm of the Saints, 1990)

The Only Living Boy In New York (from Bridge Over Troubled Waters, 1970)

Crazy Love Vol. II (from Graceland, 1986)

So Beautiful Or So What (from So Beautiful Or So What, 2011)

Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (from Graceland, 1986)

Late In The Evening (from One Trick Pony, 1980)

The Sound Of Silence (from Sounds of Silence, 1966)

Kodachrome / Gone At Last (from There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, 1973 / Still Crazy After All These Years, 1975))

Here Comes The Sun (George Harrison cover)

You Can Call Me Al (from Graceland, 1986)

Graceland (from Graceland, 1986)

Pretty Thing (Bo Diddley cover)

The Boxer (from Bridge Over Troubled Waters, 1970)

 

 

What a great setlist—wished I could'a been there—TM

[Tombstone Mountain]

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

Edited May 17, 2013 by Tombstone Mountain

[GeddyRulz]

I’m a huge S&G fan. Have been for years. They strike such a MOOD in me! I’m not so much a fan of solo Paul Simon; I prefer the harmonies with Artie.

 

Just some of my favorites: Bookends, Scarborough Fair, April Come She Will, The Only Living Boy in New York, For Emily Whenever I May Find Her, Kathy’s Song, America, Leaves That Are Green, I Am a Rock…

[AFarewellToHemispheres]

Oooooooh. Tough one, there are so many good Paul Simon lines. I've always liked:

 

She comes back to tell me she's gone, as if I didn't know that as if I didn't know my own bed, as if I'd never noticed the way she brushed her hair from afar again, and I said loosing love is like a window in yours heart, everybody sees you're blown apart...

 

Most of You Can Cal Me Al is awesome, as well as Me and Julio. My favourite Simon and Garfunkel line has to be:

 

I have no need for friendship, friendship causes pain, it's laughter and it's loving I distain...

Edited May 17, 2013 by AFarewellToHemispheres

[Steevo]

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

[Tombstone Mountain]

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

Why is mama gonna take his Kodachrome away?

[Steevo]

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

Why is mama gonna take his Kodachrome away?

 

Intriguing isn't it. Perhaps it was getting in the way of his homework.

[Tombstone Mountain]

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

"when I look back at all the crap I did in High School" Now I got that song stuck in my head

 

Thanks Paul!

 

A GREAT track, love the humour he has with Kodachrome. Probably would make my PS Top Ten infact :hail:

Why is mama gonna take his Kodachrome away?

 

Intriguing isn't it. Perhaps it was getting in the way of his homework.

Do you think it had something to do with the pics he was taking?

[AFarewellToHemispheres]

Paul Simon is on my to see list. He's on of those guys like Tom Petty who I really want to see but I know it's a very slim chance. But still, here's hoping...