Paul Simon - The Essential Paul Simon

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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abraham Laboriel Bass Ademola Adepoju Pedal Steel Adrian Belew Guitar, Guitar (Synthesizer) Adriana Simon Vocals Airto Moreira Percussion Alan Rubin Trumpet Alex Foster Sax (Alto) Alexander Gafa Guitar Alonzo Johnson Bass Alton Rubin Accordion, Drums Anthony Carrillo Bongos Anthony Jackson Bass, Contrabass Guitar Armand Sabal-Lecco Bass Assane Thaim Percussion Babacar Faye Percussion Barry Beckett Piano (Electric), Keyboards Bill Inglot Mastering Bob Cranshaw Bass (Electric) Bob James & Creations Keyboards Bobby Allende Bongos, Cymbals Bobby Bright Vocals (Background) Bobby Scott Piano Brian Eno Sonic Environment, Electronics C.J. Chenier Accordion Charlotte M'bango Vocals (Background) Chikapa "Ray" Phiri Guitar Chris Eminizer Sax (Tenor) Cissy Houston Vocals Clifford Carter Celeste, Keyboard Glockenspiel Cyro Captista Percussion Dan Duggan Dulcimer (Hammer) Dan Hersch Mastering Danny Rivera Coro David "Piro" Rodríguez Soloist, Trumpet David Hood Bass David Rubin Washboard David Sanborn Saxophone David Spinozza Guitar David W. Bageron Trombone Dean Parks Hi String Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Deidre Tuck Vocals Denzel Laing Percussion Derrick James Vocals (Background) DeWayne Snype Vocals (Background) Dionte Sutton Vocals (Background) Don Elliott Vibraphone Earl Gardner Trumpet Ed Vasquez Vocals (Background) Edgardo Miranda Cuatro Ellen Wakayama Art Direction Elolongue Mbango Catherine Vocals (Background) Eric Gale Guitar (Electric) Felicite Fouda Vocals (Background) Felix Sabal-Lecco Drums Florence Gnimagnon Vocals (Background) Forere Motloheloa Accordion Francisco Aguabella Conga Frankie Negron Falsetto Gabe Pressman Interviewer Gary Heery Photography Giovanni Hidalgo Conga Gordon Edwards Bass Grady Tate Drums Greg Phillinganes Fender Rhodes Greg Ross Design Groupo Cultural OLODUM Drums Hugh McCracken Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Irwin "Marky" Markowitz Trumpet Isaac Mtshali Drums J.J. Cale Guitar Jackie Jackson Bass Jamey Haddad Percussion Jay Elfenbein Vihuela Jay Leonhart Bass Jeff Porcaro Drums Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff Creative Director Jesse Levy Cello Jessy Dixon Singers Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus Jimmy Johnson Guitar (Electric) Jimmy Sabater Conga, Cowbell Joe Osborn Bass John Beal Bass John Schuning Design John Selolwane Guitar John Tropea Guitar (Electric) Johnny Hoyt Saxophone Jon Faddis Trumpet Julia Waters Vocals (Background) Juliet Haffner Viola Karen Bernod Vocals (Background) Ken Asher Organ Kia Jeffries Vocals (Background) Kim Cissel Trombone Kim Wilson Harmonica Larry Knechtel Piano Lenny Waronker Producer Leonard Pickett Sax (Tenor) Lewis Michale Soloff Trumpet Linda Ronstadt Vocals Los Incas Charango, Percussion, Flute Lourdes Delgado Saxophone Makhaya Mahlangu Percussion Marc Quiñones Conga, Timbales, ? Marcia Butler Oboe Marcus Miller Bass Mark Rivera Sax (Alto) Mark Stewart Guitar (Electric), Cello, Banjo Marvin Stamm Trumpet Maxine Willard Waters Vocals (Background) Michael Boddicker Synthesizer Michael Breacker Saxophone, Soloist Michael Brecker Saxophone Michael Mainieri, Jr. Vibraphone, Marimba Milton Nascimento Vocals Mingo Araujo Go Go Bell, Percussion, Conga Morris Goldberg Penny Whistle, Soloist Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Producer Myrna Lynn Gomila Vocals (Background) Naná Vasconcelos Gourd, Conga Nelson Gonzalez Tres, Plenaro Nestor Sanchez Vocals (Background) Neville Hinds Organ Oren Waters Vocals (Background) Oriente Lopez Organ, Flute Oscar Hernandez Synthesizer, Piano, Associate Producer Patti Austin Vocals (Background) Paul Griffin Piano Paul Samwell-Smith Producer Paul Simon Producer, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Nylon String), 6-String Electric Bass, Vocals (Background), Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Pete Carr Guitar (Electric), Guitar Peter Gordon French Horn Phil Ramone Producer Phoebe Snow Vocals, Vocals (Background) Pino Palladino Bass Ralph McDonald Percussion Randy Brecker Trumpet Ray de la Paz Vocals (Background) Ray Vega Trumpet, Soloist Renee Connell-Adams Vocals (Background) Renelie Stafford Vocals Rev. Claude Jeter Falsetto Richard Crooks Drums Richard Davis Bass (Acoustic) Richard Tee Fender Rhodes, Piano Rob Mounsey Synthesizer Robert Ameen Drums Robin Dimaggio Drums Rockin' Dopsie & the Cajun Twisters Performer Roger Hawkins Drums Ronnie Cuber Sax (Baritone), Sax (Bass) Roy Halee Associate Producer, Producer Russ Titelman Producer Russell George Bass Sal Agron Interviewee Sean Pulley Vocals (Background) Sherman Robertson Guitar Sid McGinnis Guitar (Electric) Sidinho Moreira Conga, Percussion, Tambourine, Bottle, Drums (Bass) Steve Gadd Percussion, Drums Steve Shehan Percussion Stewart Rose French Horn Teana Rodriguez Vocals (Background) The Waters Vocals (Background) Tony Cedras Keyboards Tony Levin Bass Trent Sutton Vocals (Background) Valerie Simpson Vocals (Background) Victor Montanez Drums Vincent Nguini Guitar (Electric), Claves, Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Vusi Khumalo Producer Wallace "Red Rat" Wilson Guitar (Rhythm) Wallace Richardson Guitar Winston Grennan Drums Youssou N'Dour Percussion