Paul Simon - You're the One

The disaster of Songs from the Capeman hit Paul Simon particularly hard, so he decided to quickly record a new album, his first proper collection of songs since 1990's The Rhythm of the Saints -- his first album in ten years, really. Nevertheless, if this album has a relative, it's 1982's Hearts and Bones, since it's a deliberately low-key, insular record, especially when compared to the sweeping worldbeat explorations of Graceland and Rhythm. But where Hearts and Bones was a singer/songwriter album, no two ways about it, You're the One illustrates the influence of its predecessors, but it's not showy about it. The African and South American rhythms are as much a foundation of Simon's music as folk is, and his compositions reflect it, boasting surprisingly tricky rhythms that carry through to his melodies themselves. That, combined with Simon's determination to meet aging head-on, makes You're the One a bit of an acquired taste, especially since its compositions are never overtly accessible and melodic -- they're all tone poems, driven as much by tone and lyric as song itself. This all results in a record that may be a little too deliberately low-key and elliptical for most tastes, especially since it demands full concentration even from serious fans. But this does reward close listening, and even if it doesn't shine as brilliantly as Hearts and Bones (his most underappreciated record), it does share some similarities in that it's an unassumingly intellectual record that feels like it was made without an audience in mind. Which means it's more interesting than successful, but interesting can have its own rewards. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abraham Laboriel Bass Alain Mallet Wurlitzer, Reed Organ Andy Smith Engineer Andy Snitzer Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor) Bakithi Khumalo Bass Bob Ludwig Mastering Brent Spear Technical Support Brian Lee Graphic Design Claudius Mittendorfer Engineer Clifford Carter Celeste, Keyboard Glockenspiel, Glockenspiel Dan Duggan Dulcimer (Hammer) David May Producer Evan Ziporyn Sax (Tenor), Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Soprano) Flip Scipio Technical Support Greg Foley Design Howard Levy Harmonica Jamey Haddad Percussion Jay Elfenbein Vihuela, Vielle Jimmy Corona Technician, Logistics Larry Campbell Pedal Steel Lynn Goldsmith Photography, Art Direction Mark Stewart Trumpet, Banjo, Pedal Steel, Dobro, Guitar (Electric), Cello Nika Aldrich Technical Support Paul Simon Producer, Guitar (Acoustic), Sitar, Vocals, Guitar (Electric), Arranger, Dobro Peter Herbert Bass (Upright) Rob Murphy Engineer Skip La Plante Harp Stanley Silverman Horn Arrangements Steve Gadd Drums Steve Gorn Bamboo Flute Steve Schweidel Engineer Steve Shehan Percussion Ted Reichman Accordion Vincent Nguini Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)