The Paul Simon Songbook – PAUL SIMON***

I Am A Rock/Leaves That Are Green/A Church Is Burning/April Come She Will/The Sound Of Silence/A Most Peculiar Man/He Was My Brother/Kathy’s Song/The Side Of A Hill/A Simple Desultory Philippic/Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall/Patterns

The Paul Simon Songbook is an interesting curiosity featuring early material from this seminal songwriter before his reunion with Art Garfunkel. The definitive versions of most of these songs are the later Simon and Garfunkel re-recordings.

“Bootleg quality curiosity that doesn’t even come close to capturing the emotional intensity or sophistication of the later re-recordings. Worth a listen, nevertheless, but just once.”

“Simon's solo debut is a very personal and down to earth affair, that has is exactly what folk music should be: a man and his guitar, telling a story. Unfortunately it's pretty unequal but when it shines, it's a beautiful way to relax.”

“The songs are performed in a way that sounds dated, with the melodies stilted and syncopated, and the delivery a little flat. Perhaps Simon hadn't found his own voice yet, and his partnership with Artie helped him ease into it. Whatever the case, the songs don't work like they do on the duo's albums that came later. Let's face it, the blending of Paul and Art's voices is incredible, and the filled-out backing tracks give life and depth to the songs that is missing here.”

“There is a purity and an innocent optimism to this early Paul Simon solo album. Accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, a very young and still unknown Paul Simon offers up passionate and tender versions of songs that later became Simon and Garfunkel classics, often with subtle differences in lyrics.”

“The Paul Simon Songbook is not for the casual Simon and Garfunkel fan. It is not well-recorded. The performances are not particularly inspired. It's not the kind of album one can simply sit back and enjoy. What is interesting is that we get a glimpse of Paul Simon, the songwriter, as he really comes of age.”