- The Rhythm of the Saints
Infobox Album |
Name = The Rhythm of the Saints
Type =Album
Artist =Paul Simon
|200px
Released =October 28 ,1990
Recorded = December 1989 - June 1990
Genre = RockWorld music
Length = 44:34
Label =Warner Bros.
Producer =Paul Simon
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:tnec97r7kr5t link]
*"Rolling Stone " Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulsimon/albums/album/219005/review/5943525/the_rhythm_of_the_saints link]
Last album = "Negotiations and Love Songs "
(1988)
This album = "Rhythm of the Saints"
(1990)
Next album = "Paul Simon's Concert in the Park, August 15, 1991 "
(1991)"The Rhythm of the Saints" is an album released in 1990 by
Paul Simon .Following the success of 1986's "Graceland", on which he worked principally with
South African music ians, Simon broadened his interests in diverse forms of music from around the world. He turned to Latin America for the musicians and rhythms which characterize much of this album, partnering withAfro-Brazilian superstars Grupo CulturalOlodum , masters of theBahia style ofsamba (called Samba-Afro). The group's drumming is featured on the opening song and first single, "The Obvious Child".Brazil ian singer-songwriterMilton Nascimento co-wrote "Spirit Voices" and contributed some vocals. Guest appearances were also made bymandolin - and "guitarra baiana" master Armandinho, another Bahia musician, and byAfro-Cuban drummerFrancisco Aguabella , and Puerto Rican-born drummerGiovanni Hidalgo . Another collaborator wasjazz percussion ist and master of theberimbau ,Naná Vasconcelos ; jazzguitar ist Rafael Rabelo also played on the album, along with many other Brazilian musicians.The musical styles on "The Rhythm of the Saints" are, however, not uniformly Brazilian.
Ringo Starr contributes drums on "Further to Fly"; US saxophonistMichael Brecker and other horn players also contribute as session musicians (for example, on "Proof"), as well as Americanroots rock guitaristJ. J. Cale ,R&B keyboards playerGreg Phillinganes and jazz drummerSteve Gadd .Art rock guitarist and synth playerAdrian Belew , who played on "Graceland", is credited on "Spirit Voices". There are also many backing vocals on "The Rhythm of the Saints", such as "She Moves On", a duet with Charlotte Mbango.The album is characterized by impressionistic lyrics (referencing the
Chernobyl incident in "Can't Run But" and the state of the world in "The Cool, Cool River"), with slowertempo s than "Graceland" and an atmospheric flow. Along with Latin rhythms, the prime influence on the album was West African andCentral Africa n music.Cameroon ian jazz composer Andre Manga plays bass, and "The Rhythm of the Saints" also marks Simon's first collaboration with Cameroonian guitaristVincent Nguini , a member of his band since. Nguini is credited as cowriter on "The Coast", one of the more upbeat songs, which also features the return ofLadysmith Black Mambazo , the South African vocal group who had a key role in the popularity of "Graceland".Malawi an-born guitaristRay Phiri , who also collaborated on "Graceland", plays on much of the album, while famed trumpeter andworldbeat bandleaderHugh Masekela is credited with playingflugelhorn on one song."The Rhythm of the Saints" peaked at #4 on the US album chart, while "Graceland" had peaked at #3, both among Simon's most commercially successful albums. The album was also commercially successful across the Atlantic, reaching #1 on the UK album chart. However, with the exception of "The Obvious Child", none of its singles charted or received substantial radio play ("Proof" and "Born at the Right Time" were released as well). "The Obvious Child" also failed to reach the US
top 40 , although it came in at #15 in the UK. In the end, the album was certified multi-platinum.Track listing
All tracks composed by Paul Simon; except where indicated
#"The Obvious Child"
#"Can't Run But"
#"The Coast" (Simon, Vincent Nguini)
#"Proof"
#"Further to Fly"
#"She Moves On"
#"Born at the Right Time "
#"The Cool, Cool River "
#"Spirit Voices" (Simon,Milton Nascimento )
#"The Rhythm of the Saints"Alternate listing
According to an article published in "Stereophile" magazine, Simon's original track sequence was changed when "the boys in Warners' front office insisted the album's lead single, 'The Obvious Child' be given pride of place." To hear Simon's preferred track order, the current release would have to be re-sequenced as 3-6-4-7-8-1-2-9-5-10 (see below).
#"The Coast"
#"She Moves On"
#"Proof"
#"Born at the Right Time"
#"The Cool, Cool River"
#"The Obvious Child"
#"Can't Run But"
#"Spirit Voices"
#"Further To Fly"
#"The Rhythm of the Saints"2004 reissue
In
2004 , the album was remastered by Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot. It was reissued with the same track order as the original release, along with four previously unreleased bonus tracks:
#"Born at the Right Time" [acoustic demo]
#"Thelma" [outtake]
#"The Coast" [work-in-progress version]
#"Spirit Voices" [work-in-progress version]Central Park concert
Simon and his fellow musicians performed live versions of many of the songs from the album at a concert in
Central Park ,New York City in 1991, which was recorded and later released.Personnel
Paul Simon - vocals, guitar
*Clifton Chenier - accordion
*Ladysmith Black Mambazo - background vocals
*Milton Nascimento - vocals
*Naná Vasconcelos - percussion, conga, triangle, berimbau, gourd
*Adrian Belew - synthesizer
*J.J. Cale - guitar
*Ringo Starr - drums
*Michael Brecker - saxophone
*Hugh Masekela - flugelhorn
*Giovanni Hidalgo - conga
*Kim Wilson - harmonica, olodum
*Clifton Anderson - trombone
*Francisco Aguabella - conga
*Artur Andres - percussion
*Mingo Araujo - percussion, castanets, conga, cymbals, drums, triangle, shaker, African bells, go go bell, casinette
*Isaak Asante - percussion
*Martin Atangana - electric guitar
*Dave Bargeron - euphonium, horn
*Karen Bernod - background vocals
*Jude Bethel - tenor saxophone
*Jacques Bolognesi - trombone
*Randy Brecker - piccolo trumpet
*Briz - background vocals
*Anthony Carrillo - bongos
*Elolongue Mbango Catherine - background vocals
*Don Chacal - bongos, conga, bata, gourd
*C.J. Chenier - accordion
*Wilson DasNeves - percussion, cowbell
*Djana'd - background vocals
*Charles Doherty - tenor & alto saxophone
*Steve Gadd - drums
*Florence Gnimagnon - background vocals
*Myrna Lynn Gomila - background vocals
*Gordinho - sordu
*Grupo Cultural - drums
*Alain Hatot - saxophone
*Errol Ince - trumpet
*Kia Jeffries - background vocals
*Remi Kabaka - percussion
*Bakithi Khumalo - bass
*Armand Sabal-Lecco - bass
*Charlotte M'bango - background vocals
*Andre Manga - bass
*Mazzola - percussion, chicote
*Jimmy McDonald - accordion
*Clyde Mitchell - trumpet
*Madeleine Yayodele Nelson - chekere, bass
*Vincent Nguini - bass, guitar, clavinet
*Greg Phillinganes - synthesizer
*Ray Phiri - guitar
*Raphael Rabello - guitar
*Decio Ramos - drums
*Felix Sabal-Lecco - drums
*Paul Santos - percussion
*Paulo Sérgio Santos - chicote
*George Seba - electric guitar
*Phillipe Slominski - trumpet
*Pedro Sorongo - percussion, scraper
*Justin Tchounou - synthesizer
*Antonio Luis Alves de Souza - director
*Remy Kabocka - drums
*Beloba - percussion
*Marçalzinho - percussion
*Armandinho - guitar
*Canegal - percussion
*Asante - drums
*Sidinho Moreira - bongos, conga, drums, bottle, water bowl
*Yo Yo De La Nelson - chakeire
*Jorge Ferreira da Silva - percussion
*Kofi Electrik - guitar
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