#425 Paul Simon, 'Paul Simon' (1972)

Previously #268

Paul Simon’s second solo record and first since the dissolution of Simon & Garfunkel. That last S&G record was practically a Paul Simon record in all but name. This album follows sounds and themes from that record and foreshadows his experimentation with different genres on ‘Graceland,’ for example the reggae sounds of ‘Mother & Child Reunion’ (a song named after a chicken and egg dish that Simon had in a Chinese restaurant – think about it for a second).

His voice on ‘Duncan’ is superb and it feels as if it could have been included on ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’ It would appear that he kept some songs back for himself. One of my all-time favourite lyrics is “My father was a fisherman, my mother was a fisherman’s friend.” ‘Run That Body Down’ experiments with Jazz, ‘Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ with samba. ‘Papa Hobo’ into ‘Hobo’s Blues’ is a great coupling of songs and ‘Congratulations’ is an autobiographical song in the same vein of the song, ‘Graceland.’ It tells the story of Paul and Peg, AKA Peg Harper, his wife at the time, and their rocky marriage. They would eventually divorce three years later. Another appearance in the list by Hal Blaine on drums and Whitney Houstin’s mother, Cissy on backing vocals on ‘Mother and Child Reunion.’

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