Paul Simon Albums Ranked
Paul Frederic SimonĀ (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. Simonās musical career has spanned over six decades. He reached fame and commercial success as half of the duoĀ Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1956 withĀ Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote nearly all of their songs, including US number-one singles āThe Sound of Silenceā, āMrs. Robinsonā, and āBridge over Troubled Waterā.
After Simon & Garfunkel split up in 1970, at the height of their popularity, Simon began a successful solo career. He recorded three acclaimed albums over the following five years. In 1986, following a career slump, he releasedĀ Graceland, an album inspired byĀ South African township music, which sold 14 million copies worldwide and remains his most popular solo work. Simon also wrote and starred in the filmĀ One-Trick PonyĀ (1980) and co-wrote the Broadway musicalĀ The CapemanĀ (1998) with the poetĀ Derek Walcott. On June 3, 2016, Simon released his 13th solo album,Ā Stranger to Stranger, which debuted at number one on theĀ Billboard Album ChartĀ and theĀ UK Albums Chart. In 2011,Ā Rolling StoneĀ named Simon one of the 100 greatest guitarists,Ā and in 2015 he was ranked eighth in their list of theĀ 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. Simon was the first recipient of theĀ Library of CongressāsĀ Gershwin Prize for Popular SongĀ in 2007. Here are all of Paul Simonās albums ranked.
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10. The Rhythm of the Saints (1990)
āThe record certainly doesnāt try and match āGracelandsā in terms of immediate melodies but it surpasses it in terms of depth and beauty . āthe obvious childā āfurther to flyā āspirit voicesā and āshe moves onā are just heaven to listen to ,the use of different vocals on āspirit voicesā is a real shiver up the spine moment . āborn at the right timeā is the only moment where the record produces something that may have worked on āGracelandā and surely late period talking heads would have loved the steadily building ominous groove of ācool,cool riverā .ā
9. Surprise (2006)
āāPaul Simonās new album features the songwriter in a new light that freshens his music and his message. Brian Eno treats each song with the right amount of electronic soundscape poetry to envelope the listenerās soul in a comfortable blanket while Simonās thoughtful wordscape poetry targets the emotional center of the intellect creating a delectable, nutritional blend that feeds both. Simon realizes that his poetry requires an updating to that which carries it to the listener.Ā ā
8. Songs From the Capeman (1997)
āIām certainly a Paul Simon fan, but not blindly so ā like most enthusiasts I have my opinions about the higher and lower points in his career (and no two opinions about these things are ever the same). The Capeman is perhaps Paul Simonās highest achievement; sheer unadulterated brilliance from start to finish. Its lack of acceptance, even among many Simon fans, could be due to the perception of it as overly self-indulgent. I find great artists like Simon are often at their best when they are at their most self-indulgent, if self-indulgence is what this is.ā
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7. Hearts and Bones (1983)
āHearts & Bones is wonderful. There are a couple songs that donāt hit home for me, but then when do all songs hit home, on any album, by anyone. Oh wait, for me, that would be Graceland. If you like Mr. Simonās music, then you will enjoy. If you donāt know his music, which may actually be impossible, try Graceland or the Essential Paul Simon. If you like those, then Hearts & Bones is the natural conclusion to Graceland. Thatās my opinionā¦and I could be wrong.ā
6. One-Trick Pony (1980)
āOne of Paul Simonās best. The movie may have been mediocre, but the soundtrack was a phenom. The title cut was a smooth groove with a great instrumental background. āLate In The Eveningā is a joyously happy piece, and I defy anyone to hear it without tapping feet, fingers, and whatever else moves to a great beat. Ditto āAce In The Holeā. There is rock-solid backing by drummer (and occasional vocalist) Richard Tee and a fantastic jazz guitarist, Eric Gale. The album also has a softer side, with gentle songs like āNobodyā, āThatās Why God Made Moviesā and āLong, Long Dayā. Like the rest of Simonās really fine body of work, it moves from exuberant, happy danceable songs to thought provoking lyrics, and songs wonderfully easy on the ears.ā
5. Paul Simon (1972)
āPaul Simonās first solo album after S&Gās breakup is at the same time a logic continuation and a nice departure from the duoās work. Ā Simon gets away from the Everly Brothersā influence which has been so present in the past few years, and stays mainly rooted in folk music. Ā āMother and Child Reunionā is a reggae tune that can be seen as a major turning point in Simonās work, as it marks its first interest in ethnomusicology, something which became more and more important through his career with albums like Graceland, Rhythms & the Saints and Songs from the Capeman.ā
See more: Simon & Garfunkel Albums Ranked
4. So Beautiful or So What (2011)
āPaul Simon has written another masterpiece, almost on the level of Graceland. The different tracks are far ranging in their musical styles, but each stands alone as a gem. Here is where the āBUTā comes in. I feel there is no excuse for a 38 minute album. Prices of CDs have not descended so much that they became the musical equivalent of the shrinking half-gallon of ice cream, now down to 48 ounces for most major brands. Come on Paul, it took you years for this one. Iām sure there were a few more songs you could have added.ā
3. Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)
āThis albumās best bits are some of Paul Simonās finest moments. The title track with Barry Beckettās great electric piano and Michael Breckerās sax solo is just lovely. āFifty ways to leave your loverā is one of his better up tempo tracks, with some great drumming from Steve Gadd as well. āI do it for your loveā is as great as a Paul Simon ballad can get. And then thereās the song on which heās reunited with Art Garfunkel, a lovely pop song that just needs the duoās harmonies.ā
2. There Goes Rhyminā Simon (1973)
āIāve heard this album called too soft, too fluffy, and too cloying (OK, maybe not those exact adjectives, but Iām paraphrasing, goddammit), among other things, but I donāt understand these claims. Is there softness, fluffiness, and cloying-ness to be found here? I suppose. But itās so tuneful that it shouldnāt matter. Besides, Paul Simon isnāt really a rock ānā roller; heās a melodic songwriter with a gift for words. If āgoing softā means writing ten songs as good as these, then everyone should try going soft! Or you just go ahead and keep writing songs with the same three stupid fucking power chords over and over again, and let people like Paul write good stuff worth listening toāI donāt care.ā
1. Graceland (1986)
āPaul Simonās āGracelandā is one of those very rare accumulations of music which happens only a very few times during a generation. For anyone who loves music, āGracelandā is a must in the collection not only because of the complex yet simple melodies and rhythms and remarkable harmonies; but also because of the [mostly unknown at the time of the making of this remarkable album] social ramifications caused by political infighting occurring in South Africa when the album was made [many of the petty grudges, especially by the ANC, are still being nurtured this day in regard to Simonās work and his failure to pay what they deemed their ādueā homageā¦not everyone in South Africa was Nelson Mandella]. A quarter of a century since the release of this gigantic musical event and itās relevance and social importance is fresh as if it were made this past week; and it will still be fresh and relevant in another quarter-century. Do not allow another day to pass without adding this timeless grand work by Paul Simon to your musical library.ā