In this episode of Classic Rock Album Olympics music historians Gary Wenstrup and Robert Rodriguez dig into Paul Simon’s 1983 album Hearts and Bones.
The album was written and recorded following Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert In The Park in 1981 and their world tour of 1982–1983. Some of the songs intended for Hearts and Bones were performed on the tour. Paul and Art began recording and intended that the finished product would be an all-new Simon & Garfunkel studio album. However, tensions during recording led to the project being released as a Paul Simon solo album.
Hearts and Bones peaked at #35 in the U.S. Commercially, it was Paul Simon’s poorest performing solo album to date. The initial single Allergies only reached #44 and the follow up single Think Too Much (A) did not chart. To our ears, however, the album is innovative, insightful and deeply moving.
The case can be made that Hearts and Bones is an important transition album between Simon’s 1970s solo success and his 1986 smash Graceland. With Hearts and Bones, Simon began experimenting with unusual rhythms, layered production, and a more adventurous studio approach. This laid the foundation for Graceland’s fusion of pop and world music.
Medal Winners
Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War (Listen Here)
Think Too Much (B) (Listen Here)
Hearts and Bones (Listen Here)
Train In The Distance (Listen Here)
Bonus Tracks
Allergies (Listen Here)
Cars Are Cars (Listen Here)
Think Too Much (A) (Listen Here)
Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War (Listen Here)
Song About the Moon (Listen Here)
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