This article needs additional citations for verification .(May 2011) |
One-Trick Pony | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Soundtrack album / Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 12, 1980 [1] | |||
Recorded | 1979–1980 | |||
Studio | A&R Studios, New York except "Ace in the hole" and "One Trick Pony" recorded live at The Agora Club, Cleveland, Ohio | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 38:25 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Producer | Paul Simon, Phil Ramone | |||
Paul Simon chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from One-Trick Pony | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B− [3] |
Rolling Stone | (mixed) [4] |
One-Trick Pony is the fifth solo studio album by Paul Simon released in 1980. It was Simon's first album for Warner Bros. Records, and his first new studio album since 1975's Still Crazy After All These Years. His back catalog from Columbia Records would also move to Warner Bros. as a result of his signing with the label.
Paul Simon's One-Trick Pony was released concurrently with the film of the same name, in which Simon also starred. Despite their similarities, the album and film are musically distinct: each features different versions of the same songs, as well as certain songs that appear exclusively on either the film or the album. The album is best known for the Grammy-nominated track "Late in the Evening" which was a hit for Simon in 1980, peaking at No. 6 in the United States. The title track was also released as a single and became a U.S. Top 40 hit. Both songs were also Top 20 hits on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. Two of the tracks (the title song and "Ace in the Hole") were recorded live at the Agora Theatre and Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio in September 1979, while the rest are studio cuts.
Several session musicians appearing on the album also appeared in the movie as the character Jonah's backing band: guitarist Eric Gale, pianist Richard Tee, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Steve Gadd. Simon toured Europe and America in 1980 with this band in support of the album, with one concert from Philadelphia recorded on video and released on VHS under the title "Paul Simon in Concert", then subsequently on DVD under 2 different titles for the same concert footage ("Live at the Tower Theatre" and "Live from Philadelphia").
In 2004, One-Trick Pony was remastered and re-released by Warner Bros. Records. This reissue contains four bonus tracks, including "Soft Parachutes" and "Spiral Highway" (an early version of "How the Heart Approaches What It Yearns") both of which were featured in the film but were missing from the original album release. Also included in the re-release were the outtake of "All Because of You" (an early version of "Oh, Marion" that would also spawn "God Bless the Absentee") and "Stranded in a Limousine", which originally appeared on the 1977 compilation Greatest Hits, Etc. .
The album yielded two hit singles: "Late in the Evening" (US #6, AC #7) and "One-Trick Pony" (US #40, AC #17).
Billboard said of "One Trick Pony" that "The mellow jazz flavored arrangement features superb guitar, keyboard and percussive support while Simon delivers a convincing vocal performance." [5] Record World said that "Simon sings about the fate of an aging rocker while Eric Gale's lyrical guitar adds emphasis on this superb title cut." [6] Record World also praised the song's hook. [6]
"Oh, Marion" didn't chart but Record World called it a "masterpiece" and said that this "pretty ballad is filled with memorable lyrical passages and instrumental subtleties." [7]
All tracks are written by Paul Simon.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Late in the Evening" | 4:02 |
2. | "That's Why God Made the Movies" | 3:37 |
3. | "One-Trick Pony (Live at the Agora Theatre and Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio, September 1979)" | 3:53 |
4. | "How the Heart Approaches What It Yearns" | 2:49 |
5. | "Oh, Marion" | 4:00 |
Total length: | 18:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | ""Ace in the Hole" (duet with Richard Tee) (Live at the Agora Theatre and Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio, September 1979)" | 5:43 |
7. | "Nobody" | 3:32 |
8. | "Jonah" | 3:30 |
9. | "God Bless the Absentee" | 3:17 |
10. | "Long, Long Day (with Patti Austin)" | 3:57 |
Total length: | 19:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Soft Parachutes" | 1:53 |
12. | "All Because of You" | 4:06 |
13. | "Spiral Highway" | 2:56 |
14. | "Stranded in a Limousine" | 3:10 |
Total length: | 12:05 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [20] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [21] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | "Late in the Evening" | Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male [22] | Nominated |
Hearts and Bones is the sixth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was released in 1983 by Warner Bros. Records.
Next Position Please is the seventh studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick, produced by Todd Rundgren and released in 1983.
Keepin' the Summer Alive is the 24th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released March 24, 1980, on Brother, Caribou and CBS Records. Produced by Bruce Johnston, the album peaked at number 75 in the US, during a chart stay of 6 weeks, and number 54 in the UK. It is the group's last album recorded with Dennis Wilson, who drowned in 1983, although he only appears on one song.
Heaven Tonight is the third studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick. It was produced by Tom Werman and released on April 24, 1978. The album was remastered and released with bonus tracks on Sony's Epic/Legacy imprint in 1998. The album cover features lead singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson on the front, with guitarist Rick Nielsen and drummer Bun E. Carlos on the back.
Ringo is the third studio album by English musician Ringo Starr, released in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached No. 1 on the RPM national albums chart.
Dream Police is the fourth studio album by American rock band Cheap Trick. It was released in 1979, and was their third release in a row produced by Tom Werman. It is the band's most commercially successful studio album, going to No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and being certified platinum within a few months of its release.
One on One is Cheap Trick's sixth studio album, and seventh release in general. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, it was released in 1982 via Epic Records and was the first Cheap Trick album to feature their new bassist Jon Brant.
One-Trick Pony is a 1980 feature film written by and starring Paul Simon and directed by Robert M. Young. It also stars Blair Brown, Rip Torn, Joan Hackett, Mare Winningham, Michael Pearlman, Lou Reed in his feature film debut, and Allen Garfield. Receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film bombed at the box office.
Bad Attitude is the fourth studio album by American singer Meat Loaf, released in November 1984. Recorded in Britain, it features two songs by Jim Steinman, both previously recorded, and a duet with Roger Daltrey. According to Meat Loaf's autobiography, he approached Steinman about writing the entire album, but waiting for new songs wound up taking so long that Meat Loaf recorded two previously released Steinman songs and moved on with other writers. The album concentrates more on the hard rock side of Meat Loaf, was a minor success around the globe and released a few hit singles, the most successful being "Modern Girl".
Busted is the eleventh studio album released by Cheap Trick, which was released in 1990 and peaked at number 44 on the US album charts. After the success of "The Flame" from the previous album Lap of Luxury, the band recorded Busted with a similar format, especially on the single "Can't Stop Fallin' into Love." The single peaked at number 12 on the US charts. The album failed to be as successful as the label had hoped, and about a year after the release of Busted, Epic Records dropped the band.
Greatest Hits, Etc. is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released in November 1977 by Columbia Records. It was his first compilation, spanning the first six years of his solo career. Its release was prompted by the fact that two years after his last studio album, Simon didn't yet have enough material to release a new full-length album, and his contract with Columbia was finished but a new album was needed to fulfill it. Simon later signed with Warner Bros. Records. The album was initially supposed to be called Blatant Greatest Hits.
Welcome to the Cruise is the debut album by British singer-songwriter Judie Tzuke, released in 1979. The album peaked at No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold in 1981 by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
R.I.D.E. is the third and final studio album by American country music group Trick Pony, released on August 23, 2005 via Asylum-Curb Records. The album's name is an abbreviation for "Rebellious Individuals Delivering Entertainment". After the underwhelming success of their previous album On a Mission (2002) and many management changes, the group officially left Warner Bros. Nashville in late 2003 and bought out their masters. Almost immediately, they were signed to Curb Records before being moved to the Asylum-Curb division.
"Slip Slidin' Away" is a 1977 song written and recorded by Paul Simon which appears on his compilation album Greatest Hits, Etc. It was one of two new songs to appear on the album, the other being "Stranded in a Limousine". Backing vocals on the song are provided by The Oak Ridge Boys. The song was originally recorded and considered for Simon's 1975 album Still Crazy After All These Years, but Simon decided not to include the song on the finished album. A demo version appears on the 2004 re-issue of the album. The song was also included on Negotiations and Love Songs (1988).
Angel Clare is the debut solo studio album by Art Garfunkel, released on September 11, 1973. It is his highest-charting solo album in the United States, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, and includes his only US Top 10 hit as a solo artist, "All I Know". It also contained two other Top 40 hits, "Traveling Boy" and "I Shall Sing". It was produced by long-time Simon & Garfunkel producer Roy Halee, alongside Art Garfunkel.
"Late in the Evening" is a song by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the lead single from his fifth studio album, One-Trick Pony (1980), released on Warner Bros. Records.
One Bad Habit is a vocal album by Michael Franks, released in 1980 by Warner Bros. Records. It was Franks' sixth studio album and the first to receive significant radio play in the United States.
"Kiss Me Red" is a song written by the songwriting duo of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and first released in 1984 for the soundtrack of the short-lived TV series Dreams, where it was performed on the show by the fictional title band. The song was notably covered by Cheap Trick in 1986 on their ninth album The Doctor, and by ELO Part II in 1990 for their album Electric Light Orchestra Part Two.
"Way of the World" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1980 as a single from their fourth studio album Dream Police (1979). The song was written by Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander and produced by Tom Werman. In February 1980 it was released as a 7" vinyl single in the UK only, backed by "Oh, Candy," from the first Cheap Trick album, and peaked at #73. It attempted to capitalize on the success of the mid-1979 single "I Want You to Want Me" and the live album Cheap Trick at Budokan which both entered the top 30.
The Who Hits 50! is a compilation of singles by the English rock band the Who, released in 2014 by Polydor Records. The two-disc set contains every single released by the band in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of: "A Legal Matter" and "La-La-La-Lies" from 1966; and "Long Live Rock" and the remake of "I'm One" from 1979. At the same time it also contains every single by the band released in the United States throughout their career, with the exceptions of: "The Real Me" from 1974; the reissue of "Substitute" from 1976; and "Long Live Rock" from 1979. A condensed single-disc standard edition appeared as well, both versions in conjunction with the band's 50th anniversary and associated tour of the same name. The album is notable for containing singles generally not included on other compilation albums, such as the band's Rolling Stones cover "The Last Time" done as an act of solidarity while Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were facing jail time, along with other lesser-known singles "Dogs" and "Call Me Lightning".
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)