Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

1353.0. "Paul Simon" by VEEJAY::ECTOR (Is it 1989 yet ??) Thu Oct 20 1988 17:16

    
    
    
    
    Well, just 'cause CBS screwed up the initial Simon & Garfunkel's
    Greatest Hits disc, doesn't mean that one of these guys can't get
    it right. Warner Bros has just (Oct 18th) issued a 2 record or 1
    cd of Paul Simon's best, titled "Negotiations and Love Songs 1971
    - 1986." It contains:
    Mother & Child Reunion
    Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard
    Something So Right
    St. Judy's Comet
    Loves Me Like A Rock
    Kodachrome
    Have A Good Time
    50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
    Still Crazy After All These Years
    Late In The Evening
    Slip Slidin' Away
    Hearts & Bones
    Train In The Distance
    Rene & Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After The War
    Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
    You Can Call Me Al
    
    It's about everything that either a fan or even a non-fan would
    want from Paul. My regret is that the duet with Artie of "My Little
    Town" isn't on here. The early CBS tracks are a bit hissy in the
    beginning & end, cut the clarity of sound can't be beat. Now, I'm
    one of those non-fans and really think Simon is overrated as a
    singer/songwriter but I can't take this collection and say I don't
    like something about every song here. From the crazy stuff of "50
    Ways," "You can call me Al," "Me & Julio" to the seriousness of
    "Late in the evening" & "Slip Slidin' Away" there's not a tune that
    I wouldn't have included. It's good to hear Simon this way, if you're
    not a fan, since it's the best cross-section of a guy who, to
    outsiders, is really hard to understand.
    
    Again, like most WB cd's it's a bit pricey at $17.99, but I feel
    it's worth every cent. This cd & "Graceland" along with a few "old"
    singles completes my personal Simon collection. The liner notes
    for the disc are very complete, giving all players & background singers
    due credit. No lyrics, tho', but Simon is a singer of such clarity
    that you don't really need the lyric sheets to understand what he's
    saying. Recommended !!
    
    				The Cruiser
    
    

    I've just purchased this CD, and can't disagree with any of the
    comments made in the previous note. 
    
    I also have the Garfunkel album which is, I suppose, a "best of"
    and, on the whole, is very pleasant.
    
    CBS issued two 'hits' albums - GREATEST HITS and COLLECTION. I bought
    the collection one because it had more tracks and included the majority of
    the G.H. tracks. I was very disappointed with the quality of the
    transfer and the selction of songs. I managed to exchange it for
    the "BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER" album which is excellent.
    
    CD certainly brings out the clarity of Simon and Garfunkel singing.
    
    Ian Kirkpatrick.
    
    

    After I wrote the 1353.1 note I happened to look at the L.P. version
    of the Simon "Negotiotons etc.".
    
    I now have a major beef about the CD version. For absolutely no
    reason the CD loses the "Graceland" track. This bitch of a problem
    is obviously not confined to the Paul Simon album, but when this
    happens I really feel short-changed.
    
    I.K.

    From Paul Simon, I always enjoyed 'American Tune' best.  Too bad
    it's not there.

    Re. -1, I'll second that!  Also, I can't understand why they've left
    off 'Take Me To The Mardi Gras'and maybe even 'The Boy In The Bubble'
    also.  I think I'd rather have seen these included in preference
    of 'St. Judy's Comet' and 'Rene And Georgette...'.
    
    Still, I have his earlier "Greatest Hits, Etc....." :-)  :-)  :-)