Paul Simon - One-Trick Pony

This energetic 1980 studio release contains many of the songs featured in the film Simon wrote and starred in. Contains the hit single "Late In The Evening," as well as four previously unreleased bonus tracks, including the non-album track "Soft Parachutes" from the film. Album Description

Far & Away...

...This is the Paul Simon record, that has always stood out from the rest of the pack. "One Trick Pony" appeared quietly in the hot summer of 1980, almost five years after Paul's last recording: "Still Crazy After All These Years", it is not the Paul Simon, that everybody remembers from the early 1970's.

The single: "Late In The Evening" was getting lot's of attention because of one line in the song: "And I stepped outside to smoke myself a "J". That line was pretty daring for the standards of the day, and it gave Paul, a new more hip following, and expanded his audience...ah, the power of words, and Paul was already a master of the form.

With all the buzz about his great new single, Paul's LP and movie recieved a lot less attention than his cool new single did. I never have been able to understand just why this great record did not give Paul's career a big boost up, this record really slipped under the radar. It's too bad for the millions of fan's that have passed this record by, it is really one of Paul's best efforts.

"One Trick Pony" is a nice mixture of jazz, pop and even funk stylings that doesn't hide the fact that Paul, has turned in some really great songs for this. The band has Tony Levin: on bass guitar, Steve Gadd: drums, Eric Gale & Hugh McCraken: guitars and the secret weapon of Richard Tee: piano and vocals.

Paul, has delivered some of his greatest writing for this project: "Nobody", "God Bless The Absentee", "How The Heart Approaches What It Yearns" & "That's Why God Made The Movies". This crack band of players take this music to a whole nother' level, this music can be cool and detached or really funky hot, as required to set the mood. Paul, has never in his long career worked with such a great combination of players that could top these guys in the studio or live. This is as tight as only great jazz and rock veterans can be, this is just amazing music that stands right next to Paul's great words.

The live cuts: "One Trick Pony" & "Ace In The Hole" must be noted as standout recordings on a record that is packed with winners. Richard Tee, has his moments of greatness all over this record, but with: "Ace" he get's his big moment singing with Paul, and it is my favorite part of the record. Richard, is a marvel, a really fantastic talented musician, he adds so much to this music.

This version of the 1980 recording adds four bonus tracks: "Soft Parachutes" "All Because Of You" and "Spiral Highway" & "Stranded In A Limousine". The first three were recorded for the project, but couldn't fit on the record due to space limitations of the LP, "Limousine" has been featured on many of Paul's, "Best Of" & "Greatest Hits" collections.
All four bonus tracks are up to the standards of the rest of this work, and they do not detract from the flow of this great recording, it's good to have them included.

I have enjoyed Paul Simon's music for over 40 years running, this record is my very favorite by him..."One Trick Pony"
4.5 Stars!!!


November 12, 2008

A pony does what now?

I first got this album when I was a kid, I assume, back when it was new. My sister gave it to me, and I had no idea who Paul Simon was. But she and my other siblings knew I had come into rock music much earlier than they had, so she gave it a try. Still greatful about that, cause I loved it!

I can't really offer up any insights about this album. I am Norwegian, and at the time I may have been quite good at english, mastering the language even before scool, unlike most of my contemporaries, I still had no clue what the title reffered to, or what the songs were about. Pretty sure most people in Norway at the time didn't know that this was the soundtrack to a movie, as it sank at the box office or failed to get a theatrical release. Only years later, in my teens, when I started watching all the Woody Allen movies I could come by, was I aware that Paul Simon had even acted!

Now of course, I know about Simon & Garfunkle, Kodachrome, Me and Julio and You Can Call Me Al. Videos with Brazilian drummers, Chevy Chase, great performaces on Saturday Night Live, even greater ones in Central Park. The South African controversy etc.

Still, this album has a special place to me. It's one of the first rock albums I remember belonging to me, and not just one I had smuggled into my room beloning to one of my older siblings. I remember singing along to the songs, and feeling like I was kind of special. Hey, I digged this adult music! Meanwhile my friends listened to songs sung by hand puppets and Smurfs.

So years later, I finally got this on cd. I listened to it all over again, getting that rush you get when music trigger memories. It's just a great now as I remember it being back then. And even though I can't go into it song by song and give deep insights, I still feel I should suggest to anyone reading this, that they get this album, simply because it's so darned good!

Still, I sure would like to finally see that movie... August 5, 2007

Paul's Most Underrated Album Has Just Gotten Better!

Firstly, the product description by Amazon is erroneous as this is a made in Japan disc and not a European one. As is the case with many soundtracks to movies, the soundtracks themselves far outshine the movies that they represent. This is definitely the case here as this entire album exudes a very cool, smooth mood making this an excellent album for nighttime listening. The opening track, "Late In the Evening", actually won a Grammy and "One Trick Pony" is an excellent single on its own behalf with a very cool groove.

This version of the album is a real treat too as not only is the mini-lp replica sleeve packaging rather well designed, but we also get all the lyrics in both English and Japanese. The sound quality is very good too reflecting a good job done in the remastering department. We also get 4 bonus tracks that are new and add immensely to the overall enjoyment of the cd. Granted, the movie wasn't that memorable but that doesn't hold true for the soundtrack. Definitely one of Paul's best works.

Recommended. May 26, 2007

one trick pony

the film was ok simon was good as the lead actor but the film although it was a road movie spent to much time literally on the road. Scene after scene of footage of the band in the tour van. The music however was top class. as an album its great late in the evening, jonah and how the heart approaches are all great songs April 9, 2007

A Lot of Dynamic Energy, Movement and Easy Moments

I really enjoy this album. I like Paul Simon's voice and delivery quite a bit. This medley of integrated melodic Rock and Jazz rhythms on these songs is pretty catchy and has a distinct sound all their own. There is a lot of movement here on some of these songs. "Late In The Evening" rocks and stills blow me away. "One-Trick Pony" and "Ace In The Hole" are just so cool. "How The Heart Approaches What It Yearns" is such tender and melancholic jazz. This is one of my favorite Paul Simon albums and it certainly has transcended the test of time. I always found it amusing that this was a soundtrack to his film but I cannot even remember the film any more. However, the songs still endearingly linger. I suppose it is good to have the extra tracks and this is the Compact Disc currently available but I still enjoy listening to my LP of the original release of the album.
June 27, 2006

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