The Rhythm of the Saints

Last updated
The Rhythm of the Saints
Rhythm Of The Saints.jpg
Studio album by
Paul Simon
ReleasedOctober 16, 1990
RecordedDecember 1989 – June 1990
Genre Pop, rock, worldbeat
Length44:49
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Paul Simon
Paul Simon chronology
Negotiations and Love Songs
(1988)		The Rhythm of the Saints
(1990)		 Paul Simon's Concert in the Park
(1991)
Singles from The Rhythm of the Saints
  1. "The Obvious Child"
    Released: September 1990
  2. "Proof"
    Released: February 1991
  3. "Born at the Right Time"
    Released: 1991

The Rhythm of the Saints is the eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released on October 16, 1990, on Warner Bros. In much the same way that Simon's previous album, Graceland , released in 1986, drew upon South African music, this album was inspired by Brazilian musical traditions. [1] [2] Like its predecessor, the album was commercially successful and received mostly favorable reviews from critics.

Contents

In 1992, The Rhythm of the Saints earned two nominations for the 34th Grammy Awards – Album of the Year and Producer of the Year. [3] [4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
Entertainment Weekly A+ [9]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
NME 6/10 [12]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [13]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]

The Rhythm of the Saints peaked at No. 4 on the US album chart, while Graceland had peaked at No. 3, ranking them both among Simon's most commercially successful albums. The album was also successful across the Atlantic, reaching No. 1 on the UK album chart. However, with the exception of "The Obvious Child", none of its three singles—including "Proof" and "Born at the Right Time"—charted or received substantial radio play. "The Obvious Child" also failed to reach the US top 40, although it reached No. 15 in the UK, becoming Simon's last major hit there. The album was certified Multi-Platinum.

Central Park concert

Alongside various musicians, Simon performed live versions of many of the songs from the album at a free concert in Central Park, New York City on August 15, 1991, in front of an audience of around 500,000 people. The performance was recorded and later released as the album Paul Simon's Concert in the Park .

Track listing

All tracks composed by Paul Simon, except "The Coast" (music by Simon and Vincent Nguini) and "Spirit Voices" (Portuguese lyrics by Milton Nascimento).

  1. "The Obvious Child" – 4:10
  2. "Can't Run But" – 3:36
  3. "The Coast" – 5:04
  4. "Proof" – 4:39
  5. "Further to Fly" – 5:36
  6. "She Moves On" – 5:03
  7. "Born at the Right Time" – 3:48
  8. "The Cool, Cool River" – 4:33
  9. "Spirit Voices" – 3:56
  10. "The Rhythm of the Saints" – 4:12

Bonus tracks (2004 reissue)

  2. "Born at the Right Time" (acoustic demo) – 3:50
  3. "Thelma" (outtake) – 4:14
  4. "The Coast" (work-in-progress version) – 5:13
  5. "Spirit Voices" (work-in-progress version) – 3:49

Notes:

Personnel

with

Keyboards

Guitars and bass

Drums and percussion

Reed and brass instruments

Vocals

Production

Charts

Related Research Articles

<i>Hearts and Bones</i> 1983 studio album by Paul Simon

Hearts and Bones is the sixth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was released in 1983 by Warner Bros. Records.

<i>There Goes Rhymin Simon</i> 1973 studio album by Paul Simon

There Goes Rhymin' Simon is the third solo studio album by American musician Paul Simon released in May 1973. It contains songs spanning several styles and genres, such as gospel and Dixieland. It received two nominations at the Grammy Awards of 1974, which were for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Album of the Year.

<i>Still Crazy After All These Years</i> 1975 studio album by Paul Simon

Still Crazy After All These Years is the fourth solo studio album by Paul Simon. Recorded and released in 1975, the album produced four U.S. Top 40 hits: "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", "Gone at Last", "My Little Town", and the title track. It won two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1976.

<i>Another Passenger</i> 1976 studio album by Carly Simon

Another Passenger is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on June 5, 1976.

<i>Playing Possum</i> 1975 studio album by Carly Simon

Playing Possum is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 21, 1975.

<i>The Best of Carly Simon</i> 1975 greatest hits album by Carly Simon

The Best of Carly Simon is singer-songwriter Carly Simon's first greatest hits album, released by Elektra Records, on November 24, 1975.

<i>Welcome</i> (Santana album) 1973 studio album by Santana

Welcome is the fifth studio album by Santana, released in 1973. It followed the jazz-fusion formula that the preceding Caravanserai had inaugurated, but with an expanded and different lineup this time. Gregg Rolie had left the band along with Neal Schon to form Journey, and they were replaced by Tom Coster, Richard Kermode and Leon Thomas, along with guest John McLaughlin, who had collaborated with Carlos Santana on Love Devotion Surrender. Welcome also featured John Coltrane's widow, Alice, as a pianist on the album's opening track, "Going Home" and Flora Purim on vocals. This album was far more experimental than the first four albums, and Welcome did not produce any hit singles.

<i>E.S.P.</i> (Bee Gees album) 1987 studio album by the Bee Gees

E.S.P. is the seventeenth studio album by the Bee Gees released in 1987. It was the band's first studio album in six years, and their first release under their new contract with Warner Bros. It marked the first time in twelve years the band had worked with producer Arif Mardin, and was their first album to be recorded digitally. After the band's popularity had waned following the infamous Disco Demolition Night of 1979, the Gibb brothers had spent much of the early 1980s writing and producing songs for other artists, as well as pursuing solo projects, and E.S.P. was very much a comeback to prominence. The album sold well in Europe, reaching No. 5 in the UK, No. 2 in Norway and Austria, and No. 1 in Germany and Switzerland, though it failed to chart higher than No. 96 in the US. The album's first single, "You Win Again", reached No. 1 in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Norway.

<i>Songs from The Capeman</i> 1997 studio album by Paul Simon

Songs from The Capeman is the ninth solo studio album by Paul Simon, released in 1997. His first new studio album of original materials in seven years, it contains Simon's own performances of songs from the Broadway musical he wrote and produced called The Capeman augmented by members of the original cast. The songs retell the story of Salvador Agron, who was known as the "Capeman". A departure musically from his earlier work, the album features doo-wop, rock 'n' roll and Puerto Rican rhythms and a number of songs contain explicit lyrics, a first for Simon. The stage show was a commercial flop, losing $11 million, and the album did not sell well. It peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200, the lowest chart position in Simon's career at the time.

<i>The Paul Simon Anthology</i> 1993 compilation album by Paul Simon

The Paul Simon Anthology is the fourth greatest hits compilation album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, which was released in 1993. It featured one previously unreleased track, "Thelma".

<i>Negotiations and Love Songs</i> 1988 greatest hits album by Paul Simon

Negotiations and Love Songs is a compilation album of songs by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released in 1988 by Warner Bros. Records. It consists of songs released from 1971 to 1986. The title of the compilation is taken from a line in the song "Train in the Distance".

<i>Coming Out</i> (album) 1976 studio album by The Manhattan Transfer

Coming Out is the third album by The Manhattan Transfer, released August 19, 1976, on Atlantic Records.

<i>Extensions</i> (The Manhattan Transfer album) 1979 studio album by the Manhattan Transfer

Extensions is the fifth studio album by the Manhattan Transfer, released on October 31, 1979, by Atlantic Records.

<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Anita Baker album) 1994 studio album by Anita Baker

Rhythm of Love is the fifth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1994. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and was certified double platinum, giving Baker her fourth platinum selling album.

<i>Sweet Passion</i> 1977 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Sweet Passion is the twenty-third studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on May 19, 1977, by Atlantic Records. Following Franklin's Gold-certified 1976 soundtrack album, Sparkle, she paired up with Motown producer Lamont Dozier to produce Sweet Passion. It was, however, a commercial and critical failure.

<i>Born to Love</i> (Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack album) 1983 studio album by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack

Born to Love is a 1983 studio album of duets by American singers Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack. It was released by Bryson's label Capitol Records on July 22, 1983, in the United States. The album yielded the hit single "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love", written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser. The track "Maybe" was written and recorded for the film Romantic Comedy (1983).

<i>West Side Stories</i> 1994 studio album by Jeff Lorber

West Side Stories is the eleventh studio album by the six-time Grammy Award-nominated, one-time Grammy winning composer, keyboardist and pioneer of the smooth jazz genre, Jeff Lorber, released on Verve Forecast in 1994. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Prototype by his band The Jeff Lorber Fusion.

<i>Let Me Tickle Your Fancy</i> 1982 studio album by Jermaine Jackson

Let Me Tickle Your Fancy is the ninth studio album by Jermaine Jackson, released in 1982. It was his final album for Motown Records. It reached No. 46 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and No. 9 on the Top R&B LPs chart. The title track peaked at No. 5 on the soul singles chart.

<i>One Bad Habit</i> 0000 studio album by Michael Franks

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.

<i>Working Girl</i> (Original Soundtrack Album) 1989 soundtrack album by Carly Simon

Working Girl (Original Soundtrack Album) is the soundtrack album to the 1988 Mike Nichols film Working Girl, released by Arista Records, on August 29, 1989.

References

  1. ↑ DeRiso, Nick (October 22, 2015). "When Paul Simon Took a Darkly Intriguing Turn on 'Rhythm of the Saints'". Ultimate Classic Rock . Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  2. 1 2 McAlley, John (November 15, 1990). "The Rhythym[sic] of the Saints". Rolling Stone . New York. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  3. ↑ Hunt, Dennis; Cromelin, Richard (January 9, 1992). "The 34th Annual Grammy Nominations: Grammys Get 'Religion,' Nominate R.E.M. 7 Times". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  4. ↑ Dennis Hunt and Richard Cromelin. "Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards – 1992" . Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  5. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "The Rhythm of the Saints – Paul Simon". AllMusic . Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ Powers, Ann (November 2006). "Paul Simon: The Rhythm of the Saints". Blender . Vol. 5, no. 10. New York.
  7. ↑ McLeese, Don (November 11, 1990). "Spirituality In Rock: Into The Mystic" . Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ Kot, Greg (October 14, 1990). "The Evolution Of Simon's Diverse Solo Career". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ Sandow, Greg (October 26, 1990). "The Rhythm of the Saints". Entertainment Weekly . New York. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  10. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (August 6, 2004). "Paul Simon, The Rhythm of the Saints". The Guardian . London. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ Willman, Chris (October 14, 1990). "Paul Simon, 'The Rhythm of the Saints,' Warner Bros". Los Angeles Times .
  12. ↑ Dalton, Stephen (October 27, 1990). "The Age of Con-Saint". NME . London. p. 38.
  13. ↑ Sutcliffe, Phil (December 1990). "Irresistible". Q . No. 51. London.
  14. ↑ "1996 Records to die for Page 6". 29 February 1996.
  15. ↑ "Ask the Expert: The value of a Paul Simon vinyl jacket".
  16. ↑ "australian-charts.com Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  17. ↑ "Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints – austriancharts.at" . Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  18. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (28 December 1989). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 16 January 2017– via Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints". dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts . Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  21. ↑ "Billboard". books.google.com. 12 October 1991. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  22. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  23. ↑ "Paul Simon". infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  24. ↑ "Album Search: Paul Simon" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  25. ↑ lightmedia.hu. "Kereső - előadó/cím szerint - Archívum - Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták". slagerlistak.hu. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  26. ↑ "Highest position and charting weeks of The Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  27. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  28. ↑ "charts.nz – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand . Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  29. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  30. ↑ "swedishcharts.com Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  31. ↑ "Paul Simon – The Rhythm of the Saints – hitparade.ch" . Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  32. ↑ "The Official Charts Company – Paul Simon – The Rhythm Of The Saints". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  33. ↑ Allmusic – The Rhythm of the Saints > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  34. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 50 Albums 1990". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  35. ↑ "Top 100 Albums of 1990". RPM. December 22, 1990. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1990" (ASP) (in Dutch). Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  37. ↑ Bakker, Machgiel (December 22, 1990). "1990 REVIEW: Music & Media Year -End Awards . European Top 100 Albums 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. pp. 29, 38. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  39. ↑ "RPM 100 Albums (CDs & Cassettes) of 1991". RPM. December 21, 1991. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  40. ↑ "Billboard's list reveals best sellers". Houston Chronicle Archives. Billboard . Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  41. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1990 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of The Saints" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  43. ↑ "Platinum Rhythms" (PDF). Music & Media . July 20, 1991. p. 12. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of The Saints". Music Canada.
  45. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Paul Simon; 'Rhythm of The Saints')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  46. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of The Saints" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 2 May 2022.Enter The Rhythm of The Saints in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  47. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of The Saints". Recorded Music NZ.
  48. 1 2 "South Africa Bound: Protest Swirls Around Paul Simon's Scheduled Shows" (PDF). Billboard. January 18, 1992. p. 26. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  49. ↑ Solo Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1979-1990. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN   8480486392.
  50. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Rhythm of The Saints')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  51. ↑ "British album certifications – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of The Saints". British Phonographic Industry.
  52. ↑ "American album certifications – Paul Simon – The Rhythm of The Saints". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.