Paul Simon is a songwriter that needs no introduction. Whether it be the long standing partnership with his curly-haired pal Art Garfunkel or his outstanding solo career, Simon has written songs that stand the test of time. He’s not just a folk artist; the tracks on Over The Bridge Of Time: A Paul Simon Retrospective (1964-2011) span a career of over 50 years and are the true diamonds of his talent as a creator of popular music.
If you’ve been in solitary confinement or hiding under a rock for decades, this retrospective of Simon’s career is a good sampler to learn about the multi Grammy Award-winning artist’s ability. ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ is featured, as are three other tracks from the stellar album Bridge Over Troubled Water that was released 43 years ago. Combine that with other classics like ‘The Boxer’ and ‘The Sound Of Silence’ and you know you are in the midst of greatness.
Simon’s solo albums prior to the 1986 Graceland were some of his best. Hits from his self-titled 1972 release feature here, such as ‘Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ and ‘Mother And Child Reunion’. It is hard to believe that so much water has passed under the bridge since these songs were released.
‘Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes’, with Ladysmith Black Mambazo adding vocals, and ‘You Can Call Me Al’ (both from his Graceland album) are excellent examples of Simon dipping his toes into the palette of world music.
The last four tracks are from Mr. Simon’s most recent recordings. Although they are definitively Simon in nature, they do not reach the heights of his earlier work. That being said, ‘That’s Where I Belong’ and ‘Everything About It Is A Love Song’ are still fabulous pieces of music that most artists would love to claim as their own.
Watch ‘You Can Call Me Al’ here:
