NEW LP
New sealed copy. 2025 reissue.
Paul Simon's second solo studio album was released in January 1972, nearly two years after his split with Art Garfunkel. Recorded in various locations including San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Paris, and Kingston, Jamaica, the album features a diverse range of musical styles including Latin music, jazz, blues, and reggae. Simon stated he wanted to move beyond the sound he'd become known for in the 1960s, resulting in a more understated production with his guitar and vocals taking center stage.
Notable guest musicians include violinist Stéphane Grappelli on "Hobo's Blues," jazz bassist Ron Carter on "Run That Body Down," and percussionist Airto Moreira on "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard." The album's biggest hit was "Mother and Child Reunion," recorded in Kingston and considered one of the first songs by a non-Jamaican musician to feature reggae elements, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics explore themes ranging from self-discovery and social turbulence to heartbreak, with several songs referencing Simon's troubled marriage to Peggy Harper.
Despite initial doubts about Simon's commercial viability as a solo artist, the album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and earned Platinum certification. Critics praised it widely, with Robert Christgau calling it the "only thing in the universe to make me positively happy in the first two weeks of February 1972." The album topped charts in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Norway, and was ranked number 425 on Rolling Stone's 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
TRACKLIST:
A1 Mother And Child Reunion
A2 Duncan
A3 Everything Put Together Falls Apart
A4 Run That Body Down
A5 Armistice Day
B1 Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
B2 Peace Like A River
B3 Papa Hobo
B4 Hobo's Blues
B5 Paranoia Blues
B6 Congratulations
