Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years

Songs Of Love, Loss, And Inspiration

According to Paul Simon, this album is all about his first marriage. "Still Crazy After All These Years", "I Do It For Your Love" (the saddest song), "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", and "Have A Good Time" are my favorite songs on this album. On "50 Ways", I love Steve Gadd's drumming. He's so brilliant. Richard Tee was also brilliant in his piano playing on "Gone At Last". Phoebe Snow was definitely the right person to be chosen to sing with Paul on this song instead of Bette Midler. I don't think that the songs "Night Game", "Silent Eyes", and "My Little Town", which Art Garfunkel and Paul sang together, have anything to do with love, or the loss of it. ("My Little Town" also appears on Art's solo album, "Breakaway".) All in all, every song was great. Paul deserved to win two Grammys for this album. He's got what it takes to be a brilliant singer-songwriter. June 18, 2008

Not insanely great, but still worth having in your collection

Some memorable songs (and one or two not worth the effort). Still Paul Simon's albums rarely disappoint and this one's no exception. Even though I have an LP version, the content was enough to make the CD a must have. May 26, 2008

Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon

Feeling like I need to hear some of my old favorites! Loving this one! January 19, 2008

Just a little "slip, slide"

The players in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section said they had a ball when Simon came to Sheffield and recorded songs like Kodachrome and Loves Me Like A Rock. Instead of doing the next album in Sheffield, Simon carted the boys off to New York to work. Simon wasn't nearly as relaxed as he had been on "There Goes..." and it caused the Rhythm Section to feel constrained thus the album wasn't nearly as freewheeling. I still like several of the songs but I'll take the rhymin Simon over the serious Simon anyday! January 3, 2008

Paul Simon at a solo peak

Every album Paul Simon produced in the early to mid 70's is worth buying and this is no exception. There are some great songs: the title track, "My Little Town" with Art Garfunkel, "50 Ways To Leave Your Love", "Gone At last" and "Have a Good Time". The other tracks certainly aren't weak, but for me these are the best.

The musicians on the album are all first-rate. The drummer is mainly Steve Gadd (including his famous intro to 50 Ways) with Grady Tate on one track. Theres variously Michael Brecker, Phil Woods, David Sanborn and Eddie Daniels playing Saxophone (all top Jazz players). Phil Woods plays the storming solo Saxophone outro to "Have a Good Time".

The highlight for me (as a Pianist) is the late Richard Tee's superb uptempo Gospel Piano playing on "Gone at Last". It won't be to everybodies taste but its easily my favourite track on the album. If you like that style of playing investigate albums by the group Stuff of which Richard Tee and Steve Gadd were both members - as indeed was Gordon Edwards who plays bass on "Gone at Last".

After this album Simon never reached these heights again until the release of Graceland 11 years later. This is a laid-back masterpiece and should be in your collection.
November 27, 2007

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