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Lucian K. Truscott IV's avatar

Good one. More essays please.

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

Thanks, Lucian - more essays definitely coming up soon!

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Frank Smith's avatar

Was at opening night in Austin, fabulous. Paul lives in Wimberly TX now, about an hour outside Austin.

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Terry Hoffman's avatar

That's a wonderful piece, Robert! As I read, I felt I was right there in Old Massey with you. I wish I had tickets to his show - he will be here in Vancouver in the summer, but I will be spending it in Montreal.

Thanks for filling us in!

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

My pleasure, Terry, and thanks for the kind words.

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Andrew Jazprose Hill's avatar

An excellent review of Simon’s more recent work and beautifully written as always. I thoroughly enjoyed your selections, none of which I had heard previously. Bringing Wynton Marsalis into his repertoire was as genius as his musicianship. Bravo, Robert. Sounds like you had a delightful experience at the concert!

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

Thank you, Andrew. It was a great night, and feel very lucky that it was the third time I had seen Simon live.

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larry smith's avatar

Yep,one of the best lp of the era,Hearts and Bones,by one of America's top songwriters,great place to see Paul as well ,Massey a fine old building,last time I was in there was to see and hear Van Morrison on his Moondance tour,with T.O Crowbar opening for him talk about a strange double bill,anyway nice piece on Mr.Simon..........l.c.smith Gibsons BC

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

Thanks, Larry - appreciate the kind words!

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David Perlmutter's avatar

"Simon’s songs are like texts. They are works to continuously and studiously study in order to crack open their secrets, and to also delight in the turns of phrase and how he can mold words that should not work as lyrics into them."

This becomes even more apparent when it's not Paul Simon himself singing them. The numerous covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" testify to that alone. But even with lesser known songs like "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor" his skill with lyrics is always noticeable.

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

I agree wholeheartedly. Even a trifle like 'Red Rubber Ball,' which Simon co-wrote with Bruce Woodley and the Cyrkle turned into a big hit (Simon & Garfunkel performed it live and a recording of them doing so is on the great 'Old Friends' collection from the late-90s) has those distinctive touches.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Yes. I was reading about the Cyrkle on another Substack fairly recently and I remembered that his touch on the writing of the song was very evident.

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

I read it too! The other song Simon and Woodley wrote and the Cyrkle also recorded, 'I Wish You Would Be Here,' is taking the idea of 'I Am A Rock,' and making the protagonist melancholic and lonely. A really good recording and song!

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