Obvious child - Paul Simon

anyone else think this is the best single from both African albums. I actually prefer rhythm of the saints to Graceland but I know I’m in the minority there

 

Same here on both counts.

 

I prefer "Rhythm of the Saints" as well, but "One Trick Pony" is my favorite, so I'm really in the minority.

 

The song Obvious Child is my favorite Paul Simon song(with Run That Body Down being a close 2nd), it kicks a$$

 

Isn't Rhythm of the Saints using Brazilian musicians, not African?

 

Highly addictive single and a cool balance between his pop days and his current random lyric approach. That song got a lot of airplay and, of course, there's nothing like it, before or since. Hard to compare, though, to some of the monster masterpieces from Graceland. It's it's own thing, and gets a lot of play in our house.

 

Ok, I'll keep this going...

I love OTP, but my favourite is Hearts and Bones. I know that I'm in the minority here...

 

I love Hearts and Bones, but my favorite is Songs from The Capeman, so I guess I'm in the minority here.






Juuuust kidding...!

 

That song--and the album as a whole--are masterpieces. The album is, maybe, for me, Simon's greatest work.

L.

 

Yes.

 

Agree with OP... the live version from Paul Simon's Central Park Concert is where it's at. Incredible.

 

I've never cared for the sound of Rhythm of the Saints. Don't really care for the Central Park album for much the same reason. Maybe it's the mix. I much prefer the versions of the songs he covers on the MTV Unplugged.

 

It’s a gem of tune, but a close second to the one below.

 

There's both. And American musicians too.

 

entirely prefer rhythm... to graceland, but i'm sorry to say that that's mostly the production--i love graceland, but some of those digital-flavored drum sounds just make me cringe. admittedly, with it's having been a hit on such a mammoth scale, i'm certainly not questioning the artistic decisions etc, but it could have aged a bit better for me...

that said, rhythm... has always been an album that i listen to as a piece--i've never thought of it in terms of individual tracks, it's almost like one long conversation touching on myriad topics. i've long felt the same way about surprise, another favorite (there's one where I'M likely in the minority)!

but, to throw an opinion out there, "the obvious child" really IS a whopper of an opener.

smitquest

 

Great song and great album opener. I prefer it to You Can Call Me All, but not to Boy In The Bubble. I agree that the Rhythm Of The Saints album is underappreciated. In addition to The Obvious Child there's Proof, Born At The Right Time, Spirit Voices and The Cool Cool River.

 

I am obsessed with this song and the whole album at the moment - can't wait to see him later in the year...

 

Love this tune. I think it's Paul Simon's best-ever.

 

I've always liked it. I like the drums.

 

Agreed (with the OP) on both counts. As far as deep album cuts go, I especially enjoy "Further to Fly."

 

That last song gets my vote as Simon's greatest composition (which is really saying something). It's that stunning.