Paul Simon: The Life
Written by Robert Hilburn
Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris
4.5/5
()
About this audiobook
For more than fifty years, Paul Simon has spoken to us in songs about alienation, doubt, resilience, and empathy in ways that have established him as one of the most beloved artists in American pop music history. Songs like “The Sound of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Still Crazy After All These Years,” and “Graceland” have moved beyond the sales charts and into our cultural consciousness. But Simon is a deeply private person who has resisted speaking to us outside of his music. He has said he will not write an autobiography or memoir, and he has refused to talk to previous biographers.
Finally, Simon has opened up—for more than one hundred hours of interviews—to Robert Hilburn, whose biography of Johnny Cash was named by Michiko Kakutani of the New York Times as one of her ten favorite books of 2013. The result is a landmark book that will take its place as the defining biography of one of America’s greatest artists.
It begins in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, where, raised by a bandleader father and schoolteacher mother, Simon grew up with the twin passions of baseball and music. The latter took over at age twelve when he and schoolboy chum Art Garfunkel became infatuated with the alluring harmonies of doo-wop. Together, they became international icons, and then Simon went on to even greater artistic heights on his own. But beneath the surface of his storied five-decade career is a roller coaster of tumultuous personal and professional ups and downs. From his remarkable early success with Garfunkel to their painfully acrimonious split; from his massive early hits as a solo artist to the wrenching commercial failures of One-Trick Pony and Hearts and Bones; from the historic comeback success of Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints to the star-crossed foray into theater with The Capeman and a late-career creative resurgence—his is a musical life unlike any other.
Over the past three years, Hilburn has conducted in-depth interviews with scores of Paul Simon’s friends, family, colleagues, and others—including ex-wives Carrie Fisher and Peggy Harper, who spoke for the first time—and even penetrated the inner circle of Simon’s long-reclusive muse, Kathy Chitty. The result is a deeply human account of the challenges and sacrifices of a life in music at the highest level. In the process, Hilburn documents Simon’s search for artistry and his constant struggle to protect that artistry against distractions—fame, marriage, divorce, drugs, record company interference, rejection, and insecurity—that have derailed so many great pop figures.
Paul Simon is an intimate and inspiring narrative that helps us finally understand Paul Simon the person and the artist. “With train-wreck moments and tender interludes alike, it delivers a sharply detailed Kodachrome of a brilliant musician” (Kirkus Reviews).
Robert Hilburn
Robert Hilburn was the chief pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times for more than three decades. Author of the bestselling biography Johnny Cash: The Life, which Michiko Kakutani of the New York Times selected as one of her top ten books of 2013, Hilburn has reported extensively on most of pop music’s giants, including Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and U2. He lives in Los Angeles.
Related to Paul Simon
Related audiobooks
The Beatles: The Biography Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Why Bob Dylan Matters Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Chronicles: Volume One Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When They Were Boys: The True Story of the Beatles' Rise to the Top Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hotel California Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost - Story of 1970 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never a Dull Moment: 1971—The Year That Rock Exploded Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5America, the Band: An Authorized Biography Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5That Thin, Wild Mercury Sound: Dylan, Nashville, and the Making of Blonde on Blonde Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Janis: Her Life and Music Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stone Free: Jimi Hendrix in London, September 1966–June 1967 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Beatles 100: 100 Pivotal Moments in Beatles History Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTangled Up in Blue - The Lost Bob Dylan Interviews Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Robert Plant: A Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mick Jagger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Skydog: The Duane Allman Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dirty Blvd.: The Life and Music of Lou Reed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brian Jones: The Making of the Rolling Stones Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rhapsody in Black: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Live at the Fillmore East and West: Getting Backstage and Personal With Rock's Greatest Legends Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Me: Elton John Official Autobiography Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Grand Tour: The Life and Music of George Jones Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hope: Entertainer of the Century Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Garner Files: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Artists and Musicians For You
The Woman in Me Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dolly Parton: The Life of a Legendary American Singer, Actor, and Businesswoman Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Scar Tissue Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rememberings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5More Myself: A Journey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin): A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Effin' Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Me: Elton John Official Autobiography Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Leonardo da Vinci Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of Stevie Nicks Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Storyteller: Expanded: ...Because There's More to the Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Love Story: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary: Greenlights: by Matthew McConaughey: Key Takeaways, Summary & Analysis Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith and Redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mercury and Me Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Robin Williams: When the Laughter Stops 1951 - 2014 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Marathon Don't Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Killing the Legends: The Lethal Danger of Celebrity Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Chita: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Born to Run Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Autobiography of Gucci Mane Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Philosophy of Modern Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Paul Simon
73 ratings8 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great bio. I got so very much out of it!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A very good book on Paul Simon, his life and his music.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It was fun to appreciate many songs over again with a better understanding of process.
What an amazing listen fe so far - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An engaging and detailed book about one of the most
important cultural figures of the last 60 years! I learned so much about Paul Simon and find myself reflecting on this book often while listening to his music. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An enjoyable historical account of the his evolving musical skills and contributions, along with substantial insight into the very human aspects of his personal journey.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A musical genius; difficult relationships with Art, with former wives, producers and with his own depressive and obsessive tendencies. Good to read while listening to his music on Spotify!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A thorough, if pedestrian, look at the famed singer and songwriter. Paul comes off as a man obsessed with excellence which meant his music, most of the time. Art ("Artie") Garfunkel comes off as petty and mean-spirited (mocking Paul's height right to the end). The best bits are the descriptions of his writing such famous songs as "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," "American Tune," and the curious wonderful thing that is The Capeman. For fans of S & G.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book had a lot of interesting tidbits of information about Simon's journey from working at music labels as a basically a coffee boy and eventually searching for new artists to all the way to the top. His early time working behind the scenes at the labels gave him enough insight to beat them at their own games, allowing him more artistic freedom than most new talents. That was interesting. I was surprised to learn how in the 60s he was shunned by the NYC coffee shop scene for not starving enough and had to learn his craft in the coffee shops in England. What I didn't like about this book was too much written by an obvious fan and too little perspective from the artist. Yes there are quotes and some antidotes, but overall it is the author's view and he is an obvious big fan. Even Simon's flops like his movie and Broadway productions were described as genius that the public wasn't ready for. According to Hilburn Simon didn't have a single flop musically, rather they were varying degrees of brilliance. Hilburn also paints Garfunkel as a big baby that Simon had to either punish or cuddle like a child. Maybe this is so, but without a word from Garfunkel and with so much adulation for Simon, it becomes hard to believe that whole side of the story.