Paul Simon 1964/1993

by

Paul Simon

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For starters, I'll admit this is not for the fanatic Paul Simon fan. They will already own nearly all of this. And even for the casual fan, this box set duplicates all of 1988's Negotiations and Love Songs (except "Train in the Distance" from Hearts and Bones, and "Still Crazy after All These Years" is replaced with a previously unreleased 1991 live version). The box also duplicates most of 1978's Greatest Hits, Etc. (The glaring exception is the inexplicable omission of the otherwise unavailable "Stranded in a Limousine.")

What you are left with is 3 CDs worth of prime Paul Simon. Granted, you only get a dozen Simon and Garfunkel songs. (If you want more, buy the excellent Old Friends box set.) All the solo hits are here. Plenty of album tracks from his entire career. Of special interest is the hilarious spoken word "The Breakup" with Art Garfunkel. The last disc perhaps focuses to heavily on Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints, but all told the music stands as a testament to one of pop music's best songwriters ever--period.

We could argue indefinitely as to what should or shouldn't have made the final cut. More rarities. More live cuts. More alternate takes. This box isn't perfect, but the music on it is. RECOMMENDED

When boxed sets first appeared they set the standard. Clapton Crossroads, Allman Bros. Dreams to name a few.

Then artists felt they had to make an artistic statement with an anthology and go beyond what it was supposed to do-anthologize.

Case in point - Paul Simon's box contains a wealth of his best music, but it just misses in a few areas.

First, the dates. Nothing on this box is from 1964. Oh, Sound of Silence can be argued (they took the Wednesday Morning 3AM track from 1964 and overdubbed it) but the version on this is from 1965. Still, you have Hey Schoolgirl from 1958.

Next 1993. Thelma is an outake from Rhythym Of The Saints from 1991. I'm sorry, an outtake from two years earlier is not a NEW track.

Then Paul feels he still has to edit songs. Loves Me Like A Rock again loses seconds (this time 15) and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover loses over half a minute.

Where is A Church Is Burning from The Paul Simon Songbook? Where are the S&G tracks: Homeward Bound, and I Am A Rock? Where are the S&G outtakes from Hearts & Bones? Where is Stranded In A Limousine?

Then the packaging: no CD sleeves?

Artists should stay out of the compiling of boxed sets. That way boxed sets can do a better job of what they are designed to do - anthologize