Paul Simon debut album 1972

[sedohr]

I just listened to this album the other night. Why can't nobody make albums like that anymore ? It's filled with honesty, yet it's so knowledgeable and clever. Sentimental but more cool than corny. The standard is so high. The song writings for instance, although sometimes very simple have still something unique about them. And the lyrics, it's like reading a collection of short stories by some great american poet i.e.William Saroyan.

And the sound! The sound is a key factor hear. It feels as if one was in the same room as the performers. The acoustic guitar is the main instrument on the album and it is so well recorded (and played of course). And then often some strange or unlikely instruments drop in like pan flutes, bass harmonicas and raw percussions (played by Airto Moreira, still sounds very homey instead of fancy).

I read on the wikipedia that Phil Ramone was the main engineer on that album. I know he also engineered that famous bossa nova record Getz/Gilberto. So big time producers don't just come out of nowhere, some of them work their way to the top!

Anyway, I love this album even if I'm listening to it on CD, I have the vinyl somewhere but my turntable isn't connected , and now I wanna do an album and keep it simple.

Does anyone know anything about the gear used on the recordings ? The guitar and vocal mics, the room, the guitars..(I know some of the songs where recorded outside the States, for instance, Mother and Child Reunion which was (obviously) recorded in Jamaica, and the pan flutes and Stephane Grappelli in Paris)

Kalli

[thenewyear]

Peace Like a River is amazing, as is Congratulations and probably loads of other stuff off that album I can't remember right now.

It's definitely one of his best solo LPs along side Still Crazy... and Graceland.

Don't know anything about the recording unfortunately...

Great Rhodes playing and sound on Congratulations.

[sedohr]

Speaking of Rhodes, the Rhodes on some Simon's later albums played by Richard Tee is the finest ever and taught me most of what I needed to know about playing the Rhodes.

But yeah, nice Rhodes on these tracks, gotta love it!thumbsup

Kalli

[ghetto3jon]

i'm looking at that LP right now, framed on my wall. i love it, and would also be interested to hear if anyone knows about what went into it (technically).

and while browsing in a record store, grabbing that LP and holding it in front of your face always gets a laugh. well, in my circle of friends anyway...

[sedohr]

Doesn't look half as cool on CD, so much smaller..

[thenewyear]

Hah! I have a friend who has the inner sleeve framed and on their wall.

[sedohr]

Isn't Paul a legendary Martin player ? So this album is probably a fine example of the Martin sound ?

[thenewyear]

I'm not sure what guitars he plays.

I read a quote from him somewhere where he says that Peace Like a River is probably as slick as he ever got from a purely guitar playing perspective. Apparently some months after this album was recorded he was in a car accident, injured his left hand and never regained the same level of dexterity.

The guitar playing is really good.

[sedohr]

Wow, I didn't know about the accident thing.

BTW, cool avatar !!!!

Kalli