Paul Simon

Simon and Garfunkel are no more. After a collection of memorable albums together, (Wednesday Morning 3 A.M., 1964, Sounds of Silence, 1966, Parsley Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme, 1966, The Graduate, 1968, Bookends, 1968, Bridge Over Troubled Water, 1970.) Art Garfunkel has taken to movie acting and Paul Simon is once again alone.

While the Bridge album has been riding high (still among the ten top-selling albums) Simon has been listening to the blues and this has become the greatest single influence in his new solo album. The instances range from hard-driving bass figures characteristic of the country blues from the southwest states to more sophisticated and restrained urban types. All, characteristically, understated.

Also included is a song with Latin style flutes and percussion like that used in El Condor Pasa. And everywhere we find the suggestive narrative poetry of Paul Simon, backed up with his affinitive guitar.

The songs were recorded in various countries with various musicians. There are some unusually effective combinations, like harmonium with bass harmonica. The musicianship is excellent on all tracks, (you expect that with Paul Simon)— like Jerry Hahn's beautiful electric guitar break in Run That Body Down — controlled, and sensitive which gives the songs an immedicy that is breathtaking.

Garfunkel's absence is noticeable only when you compare this album with the others. By that I mean that the songs here are so good that one voice suffices. Regardless, the album is a tremendous success. I hope there are more to come.

Philip Alley.