From the Vaults (1)
Paul Simon and the band doing the blues staple “Baby What You Want Me To Do,” with the great Toots Thielemans on harmonica. Recorded in Cesaria, Israel, on May 7, 1978.
Remembering Michael Brecker
Over the years, Paul Simon has shared the stage and the studio with dozens of exceptional musicians. Steve Gadd and Richard Tee. Ray Phiri, Vincent Nguini and Bakhithi Khumalo. Toots Thielemans and Philip Glass. Few, however, match the virtuosity of Michael Brecker, who died of leukemia in January.
If “Still Crazy After All These Years” is one of those Paul Simon theme songs - specific and universal in the same instant - the sax solo that Brecker innovated is its heart and soul. The New York Times attended a Manhattan memorial concert in Brecker’s honour, where the photo of Paul and Herbie Hancock below was taken (you can read more about it here). Our own tribute is musical - Brecker and Simon together in one of their last of many performances, on “Still Crazy” in 1992.
Welcome to the New Lasers in the Jungle
Rather, welcome to PaulSimonWeb.com, the third iteration of an unofficial Paul Simon website. Longtime readers might remember that this site was first known as “Hey Capeman! The Paul Simon Site,” coming online on New Year’s Day 1999. Since then, it has changed names and web servers. It appears it’s time, once again, for a change.
Over the course of the next few weeks, expect to see some overdue activity as new parts come online (old parts currently not functional should be back sooner or later). In the eight years this website has been active, the Paul Simon footprint on the web has increased exponentially. Great websites are updated regularly - even dozens of concerts are available for download (if you know where to look). This site’s evolution will not merely be cosmetic. It won’t duplicate what’s already being done, but will seek to once again stake out an appropriate corner of the Paul Simon web. But first, its operator has to get the hang of WordPress, a new host and lots and lots of design-related hiccups. Those interested in offering comments or assistance should speak up (use the comments or send an email to hurricane DOT eye AT gmail DOT com). This site always intended to bring Paul’s fans together online, and that has largely occurred, overwhelmingly due to the work of others. Here’s to keeping it up.
In the meantime, update those bookmarks and stay tuned.
Best PS Video Ever
Ah yes, nothing like an 80’s b-side (or was it the a-side…?) with HEBREW subtitles. Enjoy!
“In the Key of C”
“Outrageous” was the first song that hooked me on Surprise. I was chatting about my first impressions with someone who had heard the album before I did; I had just heard it for the first time and had “Father And Daughter,” the album’s last cut, still playing between my ears. I said that I liked it from top to bottom, that it was a mesmerizing listening experience and that Paul Simon had pulled off a lovely blend of innovation and familiarity again, perhaps the hallmark of his career. I also said that I really liked “Outrageous,” that it had a great, out-of-the-blue, hooky guitar line and that it was funny. Never underestimate the power of a quick wit and a clever line to make a point. “Outrageous” carefully navigates a fine line between self-righteousness and self-loathing, presenting a guy who just might be a little too old and a little too vain to be complaining about high school lunches and those who exploit the poor. But he’s not. “It’s outrageous a man like me, stand here and complain. But I’m tired,” Simon sings, appropriately aware of the condescension creeping in on his list of complaints, right before he starts to make fun of his own stupid habits (“nine hundred sit-ups a day, I’m painting my hair the colour of mud, mud OK?”). Here’s the Paul Simon we know and love: sharp, thoughtful, poised and funny. That he can do all that over a layer of his funkiest guitar playing ever and a swooning electronic almost-therminlike groove deserves mad props.
Like the “Everything About it is a Love Song,” “Outrageous” has its share of lovely imagery: “It’s a blessing to wash your face in the summer solstice rain” and “It’s a blessing to rest my head in the circle of your love” strike a basic, beautiful chord – the obscenity of our world can be undone through nature and companionship. And who’s the ultimate companion? Or, as Simon puts it, “who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone? God will.”
Simon’s acknowledgement of God, and with that, his own peculiar presence in the universe (“I’m nothing,” Simon told Nightline. “A speck”), is remarkably humbling, and its accompanied by a musical shift; a song that begins with a manic, crunchy guitar line ends with a slow, riverlike melody. Over it, Simon reveals the depth of his self-awareness: “Take me, I’m an ordinary player in the Key of C, and my will was broken by my pride and my vanity.”
This, perhaps, is not so outrageous after all.
Paul in Performing Songwriter
The current issue of Performing Songwriter features Paul Simon on the cover with an interview inside. Paul discusses his songwriting process, explains how he he and Brian Eno came to create “Another Galaxy” and breaks down the lyrics to “Beautiful.” Paul is also featured in the October issue of Mojo, which I haven’t picked up yet. Enjoy!
“Father And Daughter” Tablature
The last cut on Surprise, Paul Simon’s latest album, “Father And Daughter,” contains a beautiful guitar line that deserves to be tabbed. Here’s my take at the intro Paul plays on his acoustic guitar in a live setting.
Father and Daughter
———————-
-5–7–9–10–9–7–5-
———————-
-6–7–9–11–9–7–6-
———————-
———————-
Pre-chorus (capo IV)
——-0–1–0——-
-1–3———–3–1-
——-0–2–0——-
-2–3———–2–2-
———————
———————
Outro… Paul plays a variation on the intro, plucking two strings at a time. If you can figure it out, email hurricane.eye@gmail.com.
9——————————————-
–12p9—-9——————————–9
——-11—-11p9—-9————–9-11-9–
——————11—11p9—-9-11——9–
—————————-11————–
——————————————– Pre-chorus (no capo)
———————-
-5–7–9–10–9–7–5-
———————-
-6–7–9–11–9–7–6-
———————-
———————-
Pre-chorus (capo IV)
——-0–1–0——-
-1–3———–3–1-
——-0–2–0——-
-2–3———–2–2-
———————
———————
Ziggy Marley - Mother & Child Reunion (Live 2001)
From the 2001 MusiCares salute to Paul Simon. This is the first audio/video I’ve seen from this great concert.
