Category Archives: Paul Simon

Bob Dylan and Paul Simon – Covers and Duets – Happy Birthday Paul Simon

Bob Dylan and Paul Simon

Alright! It’s my great honor right now to welcome a man to the stage who needs no introduction at all. One of the great songwriters and performers of the modern day. Ladies and gentlemen — Paul Simon!
-Bob Dylan (July 24, 1999)

Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Simon’s musical career has spanned seven decades with his fame and commercial success beginning as half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel (originally known as Tom & Jerry), formed in 1956 with Art Garfunkel. Simon was responsible for writing nearly all of the pair’s songs including three that reached number one on the U.S. singles charts: “The Sound of Silence”, “Mrs. Robinson”, and “Bridge over Troubled Water”.

Continue reading Bob Dylan and Paul Simon – Covers and Duets – Happy Birthday Paul Simon

July 17: Bob Dylan and Paul Simon 4 songs in Camden, NJ, 1999 (audio)





bob and Paul

1999 Never Ending Tour – 1999.07.17 – Blockbuster-Sony Music Entertainment Centre (The E-Centre) – Camden, NJ

1. The Sound Of Silence
2. That’ll Be The Day
4. The Wanderer
3. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

“Easily for me, the most moving part of his set was when Dylan came out for “Sounds of Silence.” Maybe it was the ghost of another Kennedy tragedy hanging over the proceedings, or maybe it was the arrangement, much slower than the original Simon & Garfunkel single (and pretty much the way Simon’s been doing the song for the last 15 years or so) with Simon playing the melody on electric (finally doing some picking) but a lot of it had to do with Dylan being on stage. Dylan has presence and Simon for all his hand motions during his set just doesn’t — not at this show anyway. Dylan was singing in one of his spookier voices and immediately you knew that he was singing strongly as well.”
– Peter Stone Brown (Boblinks)

From Bjorner.com:
Bob Dylan (vocal & acoustic guitar)
Paul Simon (vocal & electric guitar)
Mark Stewart (electric & acoustic guitar, dobro. Mandolin, cello)
Vincent Nguini (electric guitar)
Chris Botti (trumpet)
Jay Ashby (slide trombone, percussion)
Andy Snitzer (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, synthesizer)
Tony Cedras (keyboards, accordion), Alain Mallet (keyboards)
Bakithi Kumalo (bass)
Jamey Haddad (percussion)
Steve Shehan (percussion)
Steve Gadd (drums).

– Hallgeir

August 14: Legendary producer Bob Johnston died 2015 – R.I.P.

Photo by Al Clayton
Photo by Al Clayton

August 14: Legendary producer Bob Johnston died 2015 – Rest in Peace

“Is it rolling, Bob?”
– Bob Dylan at the beginning of To Be Alone With You (Nashville Skyline)

“Johnston had fire in his eyes. He had that thing that some people call ‘Momentum.’ You could see it in his face and he shared that fire, that spirit. Columbia’s leading folk and country producer, he was born one hundred years too late. He should have been wearing a wide cape, a plumed hat, and riding with his sword held high. Johnston disregarded any warning that might get in his way. … Johnston lived on low country barbecue, and he was all charm.”
– Bob Dylan, Chronicles: Volume One

“I had the best in the world in my hand – there was no place I couldn’t go with him, so that’s where I went. I think Blonde On Blonde is the best record Dylan ever cut… Blonde On Blonde was the first symphony cut in Nashville!”
– Bob Johnston (Uncut magazine)

Donald William ‘Bob’ Johnston (born May 14, 1932, Hillsboro, Texas – died August 14, 2015) was an American record producer, best known for his work with Bob DylanJohnny CashLeonard Cohen, and Simon and Garfunkel.

Great interview from youtube (by Harper Simon):

Continue reading August 14: Legendary producer Bob Johnston died 2015 – R.I.P.

May 14: Legendary producer the late Bob Johnston was born in 1932

Photo by Al Clayton
Photo by Al Clayton

May 14: Legendary producer  the late great Bob Johnston was born in 1932

“Is it rolling, Bob?”
– Bob Dylan at the beginning of To Be Alone With You (Nashville Skyline)

“Johnston had fire in his eyes. He had that thing that some people call ‘Momentum.’ You could see it in his face and he shared that fire, that spirit. Columbia’s leading folk and country producer, he was born one hundred years too late. He should have been wearing a wide cape, a plumed hat, and riding with his sword held high. Johnston disregarded any warning that might get in his way. … Johnston lived on low country barbecue, and he was all charm.”
– Bob Dylan, Chronicles: Volume One

“I had the best in the world in my hand – there was no place I couldn’t go with him, so that’s where I went. I think Blonde On Blonde is the best record Dylan ever cut… Blonde On Blonde was the first symphony cut in Nashville!”
– Bob Johnston (Uncut magazine)

Donald William ‘Bob’ Johnston (born May 14, 1932, Hillsboro, Texas, died August 14, 2015) was an American record producer, best known for his work with Bob DylanJohnny CashLeonard Cohen, and Simon and Garfunkel.

Great interview from youtube (by Harper Simon):

Continue reading May 14: Legendary producer the late Bob Johnston was born in 1932

October 13: Paul Simon was born in 1941 Happy Birthday

Paul Simon

“Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you, following you right on up until you die. ”
― Paul Simon

“It’s actually very difficult to make something both simple and good.”
― Paul Simon

Marc Anthony inducts Paul Simon Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions 2001:

Continue reading October 13: Paul Simon was born in 1941 Happy Birthday