Paul Simon - Paul Simon

If any musical justification were needed for the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel, it could be found on this striking collection, Paul Simon's post-split debut. From the opening cut, "Mother and Child Reunion" (a Top Ten hit), Simon, who had snuck several subtle musical explorations into the generally conservative S&G sound, broke free, heralding the rise of reggae with an exuberant track recorded in Jamaica for a song about death. From there, it was off to Paris for a track in South American style and a rambling story of a fisherman's son, "Duncan" (which made the singles chart). But most of the album had a low-key feel, with Simon on acoustic guitar backed by only a few trusted associates (among them Joe Osborn, Larry Knechtel, David Spinozza, Mike Manieri, Ron Carter, and Hal Blaine, along with such guests as Stefan Grossman, Airto Moreira, and Stephane Grappelli), singing a group of informal, intimate, funny, and closely observed songs (among them the lively Top 40 hit "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"). It was miles removed from the big, stately ballad style of Bridge Over Troubled Water and signaled that Simon was a versatile songwriter as well as an expressive singer with a much broader range of musical interests than he had previously demonstrated. You didn't miss Art Garfunkel on Paul Simon, not only because Simon didn't write Garfunkel-like showcases for himself, but because the songs he did write showed off his own, more varied musical strengths. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Airto Moreira Percussion Bernard Estardy Engineer Charlie McCoy Bass Harmonica, Harmonica Cissy Houston Vocals, Vocals (Background) David Spinozza Guitar Deidre Tuck Vocals Deirdre Tuck Corley Vocals (Background), Vocals Densil Lang Percussion Denzel Laing Percussion Fred Lipsius Horn George Horn Mastering Hal Blaine Drums Hux Brown Guitar Jackie Jackson Bass Jerry Hahn Guitar (Electric), Guitar Joe Osborn Bass Joe Osborne Bass John Berg Design John Schroer Horn Larry Knechtel Keyboards, Organ, Harmonica, Piano (Electric), Piano, Harmonium Leslie Kong Contractor Los Incas Percussion, Group, Charango, Flute Michael Manieri Vocals (Background) Mike Mainieri Vibraphone, Vocals (Background) Neville Hinds Organ P.A. Harper Photography Paul Simon Percussion, Vocals, Producer, Composer, Guitar Phil Ramone Engineer Renelie Stafford Vocals (Background), Vocals Ron Carter Bass Ron Coro Design Ronelle Stafford Vocals Roy Halee Remixing, Producer, Engineer Rudy Hill Engineer Russell George Bass Stefan Grossman Guitar, Bottleneck Guitar Stéphane Grappelli Violin Steve Turre Horn Victor Montanez Drums Von Eva Sims Vocals, Vocals (Background) Wallace "Red Rat" Wilson Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm) Winston Grennan Drums