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mog
Oct-28-2016, 19:18 GMT
Canada

Paul and Roy have began re-recording some old obscure songs of his catalogue with new arrangements. Source: American Songwriter article by Paul Zollo.

Bodo
Oct-29-2016, 00:07 GMT
USA - United Staates America

No retiremet ;-)

Old and obscure?
Must be cars are cars.

So far I only know of one Song He ever has rearranged, I do it for your love.
I always thought He believed that he has arranged all Songs to the absolute point of perfection.


What Songs do you think could need some improvement?

I hope He does not touch the classics of their time, like Jonas or Learn how to fall.

Klausi
Oct-29-2016, 10:32 GMT
Germany

Hm, Jonah (great melody) is too sweet imo and Learn how to fall the only weak song on TGRS. American Tune is maybe the strongest song there but Paul put a new live version on Greatest Hits etc. The original version is also too sweet imo, it was recorded with Paul Samwell-Smith in London I think, producer of Cat Stevens at that time.

Paul himself thought, that Paranoia Blues is not what he wanted and the version in the Bonus tracks is better.

And many of the S&G Songs could be improved, their SOS-Album was recorded very fast after the single reached No.1 in the "Folk-Rock-Sound". Paul was not satisfied with Why don`t you wright me. (He also could change some lyrics here f.e. why don`t you like me, he he).

SOS on Wednesday Morning is very good, as is Bleecker Street and the title song and the Paul-Kane-Songs, but I doubt whether he holds the Copyrights on them.

In 1968 the Album went Gold after it flopped totally at the first time. All S&G-Albums were in the Top 100 again. Bookends and the terrible Soundtrack of the Graduate (Besides rereleases) several weeks at No.1 each.

Released at the right time as Graceland. Hearts and Bones at the wrong time.

Joost
Oct-30-2016, 09:52 GMT
Netherlands

http://americansongwriter.com/2016/10/paul-simon-w
orking-backwards/

Klausi
Oct-30-2016, 14:08 GMT
Germany

Aside from the Songs from the Capeman, which could not be understood lyrically without knowing the story (Paul himself said that writing for a Musical is different than writing for an Album), and aside from his efforts before 1963, he wrote and recorded about 160 songs, ca. 3 per year, which is much less than other songwriters had put out.

Elton John stated: "The man is not able to write a bad song".

So instead of touring with the risk to force his still great voice too much, recording (with changes) old songs again is much better than doing nothing.

I am convinced he also will write new material as soon as he has ideas about it.

Retiring from music totally makes no sense after all these years with such a long experience, a trained ear, a great sense for taste and contacts to many other great musicians.

Håkan  
Oct-31-2016, 12:23 GMT
USA - United Staates America

OK, so according to Simon the songs should not be that well known, so I can see these songs being considered:

"Everything Put Together Falls Apart"
"Run That Body Down"
"Congratulations"

"Night Game" (according to the article)
"You're Kind"

"That's Why God Made the Movies"
"How the Heart Approaches What It Yearns" (Paul evidently like this one and might want to give it another shot)
"Nobody"
"Jonah"
"Long, Long Day"

"Think Too Much (B)"
"Train in the Distance"
"Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War"

+ maybe some songs that haven't been released on CD from "The Capeman" :)

Jupira
Oct-31-2016, 16:23 GMT
Brazil

I like all those old songs mentioned just the way they are...
The only song by Paul that sounds a little bit "bubble gum" is "It was a sunny day" but even that I guess it was intentional ...

Bodo
Oct-31-2016, 17:57 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I am really curious what they/he will do with the songs.

I could understand slight improvements to the sound, adding some different instruments, replacing some of the simple 19070s electric piano sound with real instruments (although they add a lot of old charm to these songs)

I hope he does not begin to add sound-samples, backward played songs or sonic sounds or changes the rhythm.

Do you think he will sing the songs again and add new vocals? His voice changed quiet a bit.


There are 2 options
- changing the songs completely, change the rhythm, instruments, speed and sing them now
- just do some minor changes, keep everything but add a new quality to the mix and choosen instruments and musicians.

I would prefer the 2nd.


And I still love the guitar intro to "Learn how to fall" so much. Hope he keeps that. The song was the outro of a newer Jack Nicolson movie.

Håkan
Oct-31-2016, 17:58 GMT
Sweden

Such a project shouldn't at least take another five years. It ought to be out in a year or two.

Matthew
Oct-31-2016, 18:48 GMT
USA - United Staates America

I agree Bodo but I think I would like the first option more. A little bit like what he did with Peace Like a River for SBOSW.

I think it needs to be quite a big change to make it worth doing.

Bodo
Oct-31-2016, 22:58 GMT
USA - United Staates America

Oh, I think he did it well with Peace like a river, thats what I expect. I also would say a lot on that version came from the background band, they sound great.

I just don't wanna hear a "new" version of Jonah, that has the beat of Getting ready for Christmas and sonic sound samples like "Thats me". I do not want him to change the song structure completely.

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