Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones

Hearts and Bones was a commercial disaster, the lowest-charting new studio album of Paul Simon's career. It is also his most personal collection of songs, one of his most ambitious, and one of his best. It retains a personal vision, one largely devoted to the challenges of middle-aged life, among them a renewed commitment to love; the title song was a notable testament to new romance, while "Train in the Distance" reflected on romantic discord. Elsewhere, "The Late Great Johnny Ace" was his meditation on John Lennon's murder and how it related to the mythology of pop music. Musically, Simon moved forward and backward simultaneously, taking off from the jazz fusion style of his last two albums into his old loves of doo wop and rock & roll while also incorporating current sounds with such new collaborators as dance music producer Nile Rodgers and minimalist composer Philip Glass. The result was Simon's most impressive collection in a decade and the most underrated album in his catalog. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Airto Moreira Percussion Al di Meola Guitar Andy Hoffman Engineer Anthony Jackson Contrabass Guitar, Guitar, Bass Arthur Elgort Photography Bernard Edwards Bass Carol Wincenc Flute Dan Nash Engineer Dave Matthews Horn Arrangements David Greenberg Engineer David Nichtern Synclavier Dean Parks Hi String Guitar, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Eric Gale Guitar (Electric), Guitar Eric Korte Engineer Frederick Zlotkin Cello Gene Paul Engineer George Marge Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass) Gordon Edwards Bass Greg Calbi Mastering Greg Phillinganes Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Piano James Dougherty Engineer Jason Corsaro Engineer Jeff Porcaro Drums Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff Art Direction Jeri McManus Design Jesse Levy Cello Jill Jaffe Viola Jimmy Santis Engineer Julie Hooker Production Assistant Ken Deane Engineer Kimberly Boyle Production Assistant Lee Herschberg Engineer Lenny Waronker Producer Marcus Miller Bass Marin Alsop Violin Mark Linett Engineer Mark Rivera Sax (Alto), Saxophone Michael Boddicker Synthesizer Michael Mainieri, Jr. Marimba, Vocals (Background), Vibraphone Michael Riesman Conductor, Synthesizer Mike Mainieri Vocals (Background) Nile Rodgers Programming, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Paul Simon Vocals, Guitar, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic), Composer, Producer, Programming, Guitar (Electric) Paula Greif Art Direction Peter Gordon French Horn, Horn Richard Tee Keyboards, Piano, Vocals, Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes Rob Mounsey Synthesizer, Vocoder Robert Sabino Synthesizer, Piano Roy Halee Engineer, Producer, Mixing Russ Titelman Producer Sid McGinnis Guitar (Electric), Guitar Steve Ferrone Drums Steve Gadd Drums Terry Rosiello Engineer The Harptones Vocals, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) Tom Bates Digital Engineer Tom Coppola Synthesizer, Synclavier Wells Christy Synthesizer, Synclavier