5 Greatest Songs From Paul Simon’s Solo Career

The end of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s groundbreaking musical partnership was only the beginning for Simon. As he and Garfunkel broke up, Simon was eager to make it big on his own. He continued where he left off, writing songs with a lot more depth than his early work. Simon provided us with more than a few shocks along the road, even if we can hear the beginnings of his musical upbringing in his early work. And so, it’s only rightful to list down these 5 greatest songs by the one and only, Paul Simon.

“Graceland” – Graceland (1986)

As Simon and Carrie Fisher’s marriage began to fall apart in 1984, he fell into deep despair. This is when he first experienced the uplifting sounds of mbaqanga, a genre of South African street music, on a pirated cassette. Encouraged, Simon traveled to South Africa to record his seventh solo studio album, Graceland, which featured the album’s title tune.

“The Obvious Child” – The Rhythm of the Saints (1990)

Opening side one of Simon’s 1990 album The Rhythm of the Saints with a triumphal marching beat was the song “The Obvious Child,” whose tribal vibe matched the album’s artwork well. The album’s success was propelled by its first single.

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” – Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)

Still, Crazy After All These Years, Paul Simon’s fourth solo studio album, is widely regarded as one of his finest musical achievements since leaving Simon & Garfunkel. The third single, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” was the album’s crowning achievement and a major turning point in both Simon’s solo career and the album’s overall success.

“Still Crazy After All These Years” – Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)

Singing “I met my old lover on the street last night,” Simon sets the scene for the song. Even though he’s not the sort of man “who prefers to socialize,” the renowned storyteller lyrically sings about how the two have a drink together in a pub. Simon achieves the choral apex of the dark ballad when he admits to his long-lost sweetheart that he’s “still crazy after all these years.”

“Slip Slidin’ Away” – Still Crazy After All These Years (1975)

With elegance and superb music, Simon was able to successfully negotiate the rising popularity of adult contemporary. As time passed, “Slip Slidin’ Away,” with its soothing beat and some of Simon’s most emotionally profound lyrics, solidified its place as one of Simon’s finest tunes.