Still Crazy After All These Years

by Paul Simon

Overview

The third new studio album of Paul Simon's post-Simon & Garfunkel career was a musical and lyrical change of pace from his first two, Paul Simon and There Goes Rhymin' Simon. Where Simon had taken an eclectic approach before, delving into a variety of musical styles and recording all over the world, Still Crazy found him working for the most part with a group of jazz-pop New York session players, though he did do a couple of tracks ("My Little Town" and "Still Crazy After All These Years") with the Muscle Shoals rhythm section that had appeared on Rhymin' Simon and another ("Gone at Last") returned to the gospel style of earlier songs like "Loves Me Like a Rock." Of course, "My Little Town" also marked a return to working with Art Garfunkel, and another Top Ten entry for S&G. But the overall feel of Still Crazy was of a jazzy style subtly augmented with strings and horns. Perhaps more striking, however, was Simon's lyrical approach. Where Rhymin' Simon was the work of a confident family man, Still Crazy came off as a post-divorce album, its songs reeking of smug self-satisfaction and romantic disillusionment. At their best, such sentiments were undercut by humor and made palatable by musical hooks, as on "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," which became the biggest solo hit of Simon's career. But elsewhere, as on "Have a Good Time," the singer's cynicism seemed unearned. Still, as out of sorts as Simon may have been, he was never more in tune with his audience: Still Crazy topped the charts, spawned four Top 40 hits, and won Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Vocal Performance. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	11/29/2013
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0888837610711

Tracks

1. Still Crazy After All These Years
2. My Little Town
3. I'd Do It For Your Love
4. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
5. Night Game
6. Gone At Last
7. Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy
8. Have a Good Time
9. You're Kind
10. Silent Eyes

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paul Simon   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Jessy Dixon Singers   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Phoebe Snow   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Art Garfunkel   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Simon & Garfunkel   Primary Artist,Vocals
Rev. Jessy Dixon & The Chicago Community Choir   Vocals (Background)
Ralph McDonald   Percussion
Gordon Edwards   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Tony Levin   Guitar (Bass),Bass
David Hood   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Ken Asher   Keyboards,Organ,Piano (Electric)
Sivuca   Vocals,Soloist,Accordion
Patti Austin   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Steve Gadd   Drums
Bob James   Woodwind,Keyboards,Piano (Electric)
Kenny Ascher   Keyboards,Piano (Electric)
Jerry Friedman   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Joe Beck   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Toots Thielemans   Harmonica
Eddie Daniels   Saxophone
David Sanborn   Saxophone
John Tropea   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Leon Pendarvis   Piano,Keyboards
Valerie Simpson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Pete Carr   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Hugh McCracken   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Roger Hawkins   Drums
Richard Tee   Piano,Vocals,Keyboards
Michael Brecker   Horn,Saxophone
Dave Mattacks   Drums
Barry Beckett   Piano,Keyboards,Piano (Electric)
Grady Tate   Drums
Phil Woods   Soloist,Saxophone
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Hilary James   Piano (Electric)
Chicago Community Choir   Vocals,Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Mike Brecker   Soloist,Saxophone

Technical Credits

Art Garfunkel   Audio Production,Producer
Phil Ramone   Audio Production,Audio Engineer,Engineer,Producer
Paul Simon   Audio Production,Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Jerry Masters   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Tony Levin   Unknown Contributor Role
Bob James   String Arrangements,Woodwind Arrangement
David Matthews   Horn Arrangements
Burt Szerlip   Engineer
Glenn Berger   Engineer
Hilary James   String Arrangements,Woodwind Arrangement
Ted Hughes   Liner Notes
Edie Baskin   Photography
Dave Matthews   Horn Arrangements
John Berg   Design