The 30 Best Paul Simon Songs, from The Sound of Silence to Graceland

What is Paul Simon's most famous song?

"Bridge over Troubled Water" and "The Sound of Silence", both Simon and Garfunkel number ones, are Paul Simon's most famous songs. As a solo artist, his biggest hit was "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", a number one in 1976, and "You Can Call Me Al" and "Graceland" are his best-known later songs.

Simon and Garfunkel songs

1. "The Sound of Silence", 1965: their first number one, after the label added electric instruments to an acoustic recording.
2. "Mrs. Robinson", 1968: the number one from The Graduate that won Record of the Year.
3. "Bridge over Troubled Water", 1970: a gospel-tinged number one sung by Art Garfunkel.
4. "The Boxer", 1969: a story song about struggle, famous for its huge drum sound.
5. "Homeward Bound", 1966: a song about longing for home, written on a train platform in England.
6. "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", 1966: their arrangement of an English folk ballad, also heard in The Graduate.
7. "Cecilia", 1970: a joyful, percussive number four hit.
8. "America", 1968: a road-trip song about searching for the country and yourself.
9. "I Am a Rock", 1966: a top three hit about shutting out the world.
10. "A Hazy Shade of Winter", 1966: an urgent song about time passing.
11. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)", 1966: a cheerful ode to slowing down.
12. "The Only Living Boy in New York", 1970: a wistful song written while Garfunkel was away filming.
13. "Kathy's Song", 1965: a tender love song for Simon's girlfriend in England.
14. "My Little Town", 1975: their reunion single.

Paul Simon solo songs of the 70s

15. "Mother and Child Reunion", 1972: a number four hit recorded in Jamaica with reggae musicians.
16. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", 1972: a playful, Latin-tinged number 22 hit.
17. "Duncan", 1972: a folk story song with Andean pan flutes.
18. "Kodachrome", 1973: a bouncy number two hit named after the camera film.
19. "Loves Me Like a Rock", 1973: a number two gospel song with the Dixie Hummingbirds.
20. "American Tune", 1973: a moving reflection on America, its melody drawn from a Bach chorale.
21. "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", 1975: his only solo number one, built on Steve Gadd's famous drum pattern.
22. "Still Crazy After All These Years", 1975: the title track of his Grammy-winning album.
23. "Slip Slidin' Away", 1977: a gentle number five hit.

Paul Simon solo songs of the 80s and later

24. "Late in the Evening", 1980: a number six hit with a bright horn section.
25. "You Can Call Me Al", 1986: the Graceland single with the famous Chevy Chase video.
26. "Graceland", 1986: a song about a journey to Elvis Presley's home that won Record of the Year.
27. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes", 1986: a joyful song with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
28. "The Boy in the Bubble", 1986: the accordion-driven opener of Graceland.
29. "The Obvious Child", 1990: a single built on the drums of the Brazilian group Olodum.
30. "Father and Daughter", 2002: an Oscar-nominated song written for his daughter.

Who is Paul Simon?

Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in Queens, New York, where he met Art Garfunkel in elementary school. As teenagers they had a small hit as Tom and Jerry before becoming Simon and Garfunkel in the 60s, with Simon writing the songs and the two blending their voices in close harmony. After the duo split in 1970, Simon built a long solo career that won three Grammys for Album of the Year, for Still Crazy After All These Years and Graceland as a solo artist and for Bridge over Troubled Water with Garfunkel.

The story behind The Sound of Silence

Simon and Garfunkel first recorded "The Sound of Silence" as an acoustic folk song in 1964, and the album it appeared on flopped. Without telling them, producer Tom Wilson added electric guitar, bass and drums to the recording, and in early 1966 the new version reached number one. Simon, who was in England at the time, learned of the hit from a music magazine, and the duo reunited to become stars.

The story behind Mrs. Robinson

Director Mike Nichols used Simon and Garfunkel songs throughout his 1967 film The Graduate and asked Simon for a new song. Simon had an unfinished tune he was calling "Mrs. Roosevelt", and it became "Mrs. Robinson", named after the film's famous character. The full version came out in 1968, reached number one and won Record of the Year, the first rock song to do so.

The Concert in Central Park

On September 19, 1981, Simon and Garfunkel reunited for a free concert in New York's Central Park in front of an estimated half a million people. The show mixed their 60s classics with Simon's solo hits, and the live album and film that followed became a best-seller, reminding a new generation how beautifully their voices fit together.

Paul Simon albums to start with

• Bookends (1968): Simon and Garfunkel's most ambitious album, with "America" and "Mrs. Robinson".
• Bridge over Troubled Water (1970): their final studio album and biggest seller.
• There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973): his warmest solo album, with "Kodachrome" and "American Tune".
• Still Crazy After All These Years (1975): a Grammy-winning album of grown-up songs.
• Graceland (1986): his masterpiece.

Graceland

In the mid-80s Simon became fascinated by South African township music and traveled to Johannesburg to record with local musicians, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The resulting album, Graceland, released in 1986, won the Grammy for Album of the Year and introduced millions of listeners to South African music, though his decision to record there during the cultural boycott of apartheid was controversial. It is widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made.

Paul Simon songs for a wedding

"Bridge over Troubled Water" is a classic for a ceremony, "Kathy's Song" and "Something So Right" are tender first dances, and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and "Late in the Evening" fill the dance floor. For more ideas, see our old love songs.

Paul Simon songs for a father and daughter or a memorial

"Father and Daughter" is one of the loveliest father-daughter songs ever written and a moving choice for a wedding dance; see our father-daughter dance songs for more. For a memorial, "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Slip Slidin' Away" and "American Tune" are often chosen for their comfort.

Paul Simon songs for a road trip

"America", with its bus ride across the country, is the ultimate road-trip song, and "Homeward Bound", "Graceland", "Kodachrome" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" keep a long drive moving. For more, see our road trip songs.

A song as personal as Paul Simon's

Paul Simon's best songs turn ordinary moments into poetry. A personalized song can do the same for someone you love: their name, your shared memories and the small details that make your story yours. It makes a moving wedding, anniversary or Father's Day gift.

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