Other Mixes By Rob Conroy
CD
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Single Artist
CD
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Mixed Genre
CD
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Mixed Genre
Cassette
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Single Artist
Take the time to treat your brother neighbors honestly.
| Artist | Song | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Kathy's Song | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | April Come She Will | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Homeward Bound | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Scarborough Fair/Canticle | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Patterns | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Cloudy | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | A Hazy Shade of Winter | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Fakin' It | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Mrs. Robinson | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Save the Life of My Child | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | America | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Overs | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Punky's Dilemma | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Bridge over Troubled Water | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | Keep the Customer Satisfied | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | The Boxer | |
| Simon and Garfunkel | The Only Living Boy in New York | |
| Paul Simon (with Art Garfunkel) | My Little Town | |
Comment:
In a way, this is the pinnacle of my Ambivalent Single-Artist Mix (TM) series. (For the record, to address a question that's often asked in this situation, I think that it's completely natural and understandable to compile a single-artist mix for an artist that one does not worship, as a single-artist mix is a great way to compile all of the songs that one likes or loves by an artist while ignoring all of the tracks that one cannot stand.) I actually did a S & G mix back in '01, but, upon further listening, thought that I included way too much filler by stretching it to 74 minutes. As a result, I compiled this abbreviated version, focusing only on the songs of theirs that I think are certifiably great. That said, there are still Paul Simon-penned lines in a few of them ("Homeward Bound," "Patterns" and "Kathy's Song"--the last of which features some of my *favorite* Simon lyrics, as well--spring to mind) that make me cringe a bit and I'm not all that partial to the horns in "Keep the Customer Satisfied." My problem with Paul Simon during this period (which is the only period of his career that I support at all, although my problems with his solo career are more musical than lyrical) is that I think he's entirely too self-consciously "poetic" for his own good and often steps over the line into pretension (for some quick reference points, check out the oh-so-precocious literary name-drops and overall stilted phrasing in "The Dangling Conversation," or the heavy-handed-yet-overly-simplistic metaphors in "I am a Rock" and "The Sound of Silence"). However, I do think that most of the songs that I've included here are gorgeous, classic and fairly timeless (particularly "America," "The Only Living Boy in New York," "April Come She Will," "For Emily...," "Overs," "Punky's Dilemma" and "Save the Life of My Child") and I've been enjoying this mix immensely this morning. Last track cut: "Leaves That Are Green." (Note: I revised this mix on 5/13/06 to include "A Hazy Shade of Winter," "The Boxer," and "Mrs. Robinson," all songs I had previously left off due to overexposure.)Feedback:
Nicely done, ambivalence notwithstanding. A fit-for-purpose compilation. The closer has become a real favorite-o-mine of late.
I'm a S&G fan so I come from a different point of view. This is a very nice mix.
Wonderful mix, wonderful comments. One of the LP's that seemed to be constantly spinning when I was growing up was S&G's greatest hits, and even as a kid I could smell a waft of cheese from "I Am A Rock" et al. Yeah, I can see the pain of axing "Hazy Shade" and for all its overplay, to me "Mrs. Robinson" remains an infectious toe-tapper. I'd also nominate "Cecilia", but for sentimental reasons.
I might disagree with you about a couple of your cuts (always liked "The Boxer" and "Hazy shade of Winter"), but I understand your comments. Take this little observation for what it's worth: over the years I've replaced almost all of my old LPs with CDS, but as much as I love S&G, I still only own the LPs. At various times I've had an S&G CD in my hand at the record store, ready to buy, but I've never actually carried through with it. One time in Tower I found a mismarked copy of Old Friends but they wouldn't sell it to me for the mismarked price, much as I protested. Once in a while when I've wanted to hear one of thier songs (or when I've included an S&G song in a mix) I've downloaded it, but no CDs. I don't know what significance to attach to this. I mean, I still love their music, but I own more CDs by AC/DC than S&G.
could say i'm getting soft in my old age, but i never lost my taste for S&G. (and you treat his solo work a bit harshly rob - the first LP is a stone classic and 'graceland' was a great pop moment and a great record, even if the wrong light rock people clasped it to their feeble bosoms.) OK, let's stipulate - paul's oh-so-literary and pretentious and pedantic. so what - he could write a great tune. and he had a sense of humor about himself and his work, even if the satire today sometimes seems a bit heavy-handed, i don't care. that's why i nominate 'at the zoo' and, subterranean homesick ripoff though it may be, 'a simple desultory philippic'. also still find 'silent night/7 o'clock news' haunting and can't believe you omitted 'hazy shade.' good stuff tho - i'm puttinjg on 'bookends' now.
I might disagree on specific choices or omissions, but I largely share your feelings about S&G.
Thoughtful job, and I mostly agree with your analysis. Could pick a few solo tracks of Paul's to admire as well.
Anybody heard from Art?
Anybody heard from Art?
Great mix. though you dont have Cecilia on here. Though at least you put America on one of my favorite songs.
Some of the very first music I was exposed to. Love it. 'America' is deathless.
what others have said. nice work.
I find myself thinking along similar lines when it comes to a large portion of Paul Simon's S&G work. A handful of classics, but mostly overrated and overblown. The same goes for his solo work. But when I consider his total body of work and count the great songs he's written in my head, I must admit I do consider him a great songwriter.
I dunno but my favourite S&G track is Keep the Customer Satisfied - I'm a horny man through & through...I also love My Little Town...& the Boxer, and Mrs. Robinson gets me every time. Good stuff.
Rob, gotta tell you about a coincidence: guess what my son (age 17) made: a single artist mix of S&G. He would not say what prompted it, but clearly there is a trend afoot. I had in mind your comment about "pretentious" and therefore couldn't help laughing when it came to "you read your emily dickinson, and i my robert frost"! Again, nice work.
Somehow missed this when it was first posted. While I think your comments are pretty accurate and fair, I find it pretty easy to overlook the dated nature of Paul's lyrics and just enjoy their music whatever its faults. "The Only Living Boy In NY" is one of my favorite songs ever, and "My Little Town" is tremendous. I made a single-artist mix of theirs which I don't think I ever posted, and it looked almost exactly like yours. (Incidentally, I find a few things to enjoy in Paul's solo work as well, or at least the first 3 albums. Graceland makes me cringe, though -- one of those albums that was so overplayed in college that I could never bear to hear it again.)
Well, at least you didn't call Paul Simon a dweeb this time. :-)