Paul Simon Songs From The Capeman CD

This is a collection of songs written by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott for their Broadway Musical, "The Capeman."

When Paul Simon released GRACELAND, it seemed like the apex of an already impressive career. A few years later, he compounded expectations by extending both his reach and his grasp with the Brazilian-tinged RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS. Continuing his tradition of raising the aesthetic bar, Simon explores new vistas yet again with SONGS FROM THE CAPEMAN. The album features his versions of the songs he wrote with poet Derek Walcott for the play THE CAPEMAN.

Based on the exploits of a street gang character of the same name, THE CAPEMAN incorporates several different musical styles into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts (a method to which Simon is no stranger). In the songs that make up the bulk of the storyline, there's street-corner doowop (one of Simon's early loves), L

Includes three previously unreleased bonus tracks.

1997 Remastered W/3 Bonus Tracks.

Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York, New York.

Personnel includes: Paul Simon (vocals, acoustic & hi string guitars); Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony, Ednita Nazario, Frank Negron, Myrna Gomila, Teana Rodriguez, Sara Ramirez (vocals); Arlen Roth (acoustic & electric guitars); Vincent Nguini, Steve Cropper (guitar); Oriente Lopez (flute, Fender Rhodes piano, organ); David Rodriguez, Ray Vega (trumpet); Oscar Hernadez (piano, celeste, synthesizer, vibraphone, glockenspiel); John Beal (bass); Robby Ameen, Richard Crooks (drums); Milton Cardona (congas, bongos, maracas, clave, guira); Marc Quinones (timbales, congas, cua); Bobby Allende (bongos, cymbal, bell tree); Briz, Myrna Gomila, Karen Gernod, Renee Connell-Adams, DeWayne Snype, Kia Jeffries, Ed Vasquez, Derrick James, Danny Rivera (background vocals).

Personnel: Paul Simon (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Teana Rodriguez, Myrna Lynn Gomila (vocals, background vocals); Ednita Nazario, Frankie Negron, Marc Anthony, Rubén Blades, Sara Ramirez (vocals); Mitch Frohman (tenor, tenor saxophone); Saturnino Laboy, Diomedes Matos, Arlen Roth (guitar, acoustic guitar); Vincent Nguini (guitar, electric guitar); Harper Simon (guitar, harmonica); Paul Livant, Wallace Richardson, Steve Cropper (guitar); Edgardo Miranda (cuatro); Nelson Gonzalez (tres); Krista Bennion Feeney, Paul Peabody (violin); Janet Hafner, Juliet Haffner (viola); Laura Bontrager (cello); Oriente Lopez (flute, Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Michael Ramos (accordion); Pablo Calogero (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Marcia Butler (oboe); Bob Franceschini (soprano saxophone); David Andrew Mann, David Mann (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Bill Holloman (tenor saxophone, trumpet); Chris Eminizer (tenor saxophone); David Rodriguez Jr., John Walsh, Ray Vega (trumpet); Barry Danielian (flugelhorn); Stewart Rose (French horn); Luis Antonio Lopez, Luis Lopez , Ozzie Melendez (trombone); Oscar Hernandez (piano, celesta, synthesizer, vibraphone, glockenspiel); Horace Ott, John Beal, Paul Griffin (piano); Bernie Minoso (bass guitar); Robert Ameen, Richard Crooks, Shannon Ford (drums); Milton Cardona (congas, bongos, claves, maracas, background vocals); Jimmy Sabater (congas, cowbells); Marc Quinines, Marc Quiñones (congas, timbales); Johnny Montalvo (congas); Pablo Nunez (bongos, cowbells); Bobby Allende (bongos, cymbals); Crusher Bennett (shaker); Johnny Andrews (timbales); Angelo Aponte, David Davila, Renee Connell-Adams, Ed Vasquez, Hechter Ubarry, Sean Pulley, Derrick James, Briz, DeWayne Snype, Bobby Bright, Dionte Sutton, Hans Giraldo, Trent Sutton, Luis Marrero, Robert Vargas, Edgar Stewart, Kevin Harrison, Karen Bernod, Kia Jeffries, Nestor Sanchez, Angel Ramirez, Jr., Ray de la Paz (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Andy Smith.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Liner Note Author: Paul Simon.

Recording information: The Hit Factory, New York, NY.

Photographers: Sigrid Nama; Nitin Vadukul.

Unknown Contributor RRolling Stone (11/27/97, pp.106-107) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...terrifically satisfying. Simon has found a surprisingly effective musical voice--intermingling doo-wop, traditional Latin styles and art-song sophistication..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/21/97, p.131) - "...it's a complex and subtly exuberant piece of work....For all its Eisenhower-era harmonizing and crime-story characters, SONGS FROM THE CAPEMAN ultimately feels like an old-fangled Paul Simon album, which may be its most endearing quality..."
- Rating: A-