Name: Songs From The Capeman by Paul Simon
Brand: Paul Simon
SKU: 884977674354
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 2 (112 reviews)

ALBUM

During the production of The Rhythm of the Saints, Paul Simon latched upon the idea of turning the story of Salvador Agron -- a '50s Puerto Rican hoodlum nicknamed the Capeman -- into a musical. (Agron was convicted of stabbing two kids to death during a New York street fight; during his prison term, he educated himself and turned into a poet and activist.) Collaborating with poet Derek Walcott on the lyrics and book, Simon worked on the musical for seven years, writing a set of songs that evoked doo wop, '50s rock & roll, and Puerto Rican music. A few months before the Broadway premiere of The Capeman, Simon -- who was not performing in the musical -- released Songs from The Capeman, an album that functioned as a calling card for the play. The record suggests what a complex and ambitious musical The Capeman may be, but it doesn't succeed on its own terms. Simon's songs have the narrative drive of a stage musical, but are littered with idiosyncratic, conversational flourishes, profanities, and self-consciously literate wordplay that keep them insular and nearly impenetrable. Similarly, the music is forced and labored -- it often sounds like he has to push the melodies into unnatural paths -- and it never has the graceful, joyously organic spirit of doo wop and Puerto Rican music, which is what he needed to capture in order for The Capeman to succeed. Instead, the project is a cerebral exercise, not only in writing but also in white liberal guilt, and it's an exhausting one at that.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo

1. Adios Hermanos

by Paul Simon

Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Renee Connell-adams
Myrna Gomila
Ed Vasquez
Karen Bernód
Derrick James
Briz
Kia Jeffries
Dewayne Snype; Performer
Organ: Oriente Lopez; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Oscar Hernandez
Roy Halee
Paul Simon; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production

2. Born in Puerto Rico

by Paul Simon

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Background Vocals: Néstor Sánchez
Ray De La Paz; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Bass: John Beal; Performer
Bongos: Bobby Allende; Performer
Cymbals: Bobby Allende; Performer
Drums: Robby Ameen; Performer
Flute: Oriente Lopez; Performer
French Horn: Stewart Rose; Performer
Guitar: Vincent Nguini; Performer
Oboe: Marcia Butler; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Piano: Oscar Hernandez; Performer
Synthesizer: Oscar Hernandez; Performer
Trumpet: David Rodriguez
Ray Vega; Performer
Viola: Juliet Hafner; Performer
Vocals: Danny Rivera
Paul Simon; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Unknown Contributor Role: Edgardo Miranda
Marc Quiñones
Nelson González; Other
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Producer: Roy Halee
Paul Simon
Oscar Hernandez; Production

3. Satin Summer Nights

by Paul Simon, Marc Anthony

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Primary Artist: Marc Anthony
Paul Simon; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Teana Rodriguez
Karen Bernód
Ed Vasquez
Myrna Gomila
Renee Connell-adams
Paul Simon
Derrick James
Briz
Kia Jeffries
Dewayne Snype
Edgar Stewart; Performer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon
Marc Anthony; Performer
Saxophone: David Mann; Performer
Vocals: Marc Anthony
Paul Simon
Mark Anthony; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Oscar Hernandez
Roy Halee
Paul Simon; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Unknown Contributor Role: Edgardo Miranda; Other

4. Bernadette

by Paul Simon

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Background Vocals: Ray De La Paz
Kevin Harrison
Teana Rodriguez
Myrna Gomila
Paul Simon
Milton Cardona; Performer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Bass: John Beal; Performer
Drums: Robby Ameen; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Guitar: Paul Livant
Vincent Nguini
Paul Simon; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Piano: Horace Ott; Performer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Tenor Saxophone: Bill Holloman; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Unknown Contributor Role: Robby Ameen
Oscar Hernandez; Other
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Producer: Paul Simon
Roy Halee
Oscar Hernandez; Production

5. The Vampires

by Paul Simon

Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Acoustic Bass: Bernie Minoso; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Background Vocals: Milton Cardona
Luis Marrero
Hechter Ubarry
Robert Vargas
David Davila
Angel Ramirez
Hans Giraldo
Angelo Aponte; Performer
Baritone Saxophone: Pablo Calogaro; Performer
Bass Guitar: Bernie Minoso; Performer
Congas: Edwin Montalvo; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Piano: Oscar Hernandez; Performer
Tenor: Mitch Frohman; Performer
Trombone: Luis Lopez; Performer
Trumpet: John Walsh
Ray Vega; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Unknown Contributor Role: Johnny Andrews
Pablo Nunez; Other
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Producer: Roy Halee
Oscar Hernandez
Paul Simon; Production

6. Quality

by Paul Simon

Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Background Vocals: Myrna Gomila
Trent Sutton
Teana Rodriguez
Paul Simon
Bobby Bright
Dionte Sutton
Sean Pulley; Performer
Bass: Jay Leonhart; Performer
Drums: Richard Crooks; Performer
Guitar: Wallace Richardson; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Piano: Paul Griffith; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Chris Eminizer; Performer
Vocals: Frank Negron
Paul Simon; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Unknown Contributor Role: Jimmy Sabater; Other
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Producer: Paul Simon
Roy Halee
Oscar Hernandez; Production

7. Can I Forgive Him

by Paul Simon

Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Oscar Hernandez
Roy Halee
Paul Simon; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production

8. Sunday Afternoon

by Ednita Nazario

Acoustic Guitar: Saturnino Laboy
Diomedes Matos; Performer
Baritone Guitar: Saturnino Laboy
Diomedes Matos; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Bass: Rubén Rodríguez; Performer
Cello: Laura Bontrager; Performer
Flute: Oriente Lopez; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Piano: Oscar Hernandez; Performer
Vocals: Ednita Nazario; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Unknown Contributor Role: Milton Cardona; Other
Primary Artist: Ednita Nazario; Main Performer
Producer: Paul Simon
Roy Halee
Oscar Hernandez; Production

9. Killer Wants to Go to College

by Paul Simon

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Bass: Tony Garnier; Performer
Drums: Shannon Ford; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Guitar: Arlen Roth
Harper Simon; Performer
Harmonica: Harper Simon; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Piano: Horace Ott; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Producer: Paul Simon
Roy Halee
Oscar Hernandez; Production

10. Time Is an Ocean

by Marc Anthony, Rubén Blades

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Bass: Rubén Rodríguez; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Bass Clarinet: Pablo Calogaro; Performer
Cello: Laura Bontrager; Performer
Drums: Robby Ameen; Performer
Flute: Oriente Lopez; Performer
Guitar: Steve Cropper
Vincent Nguini; Performer
Horn: Oriente Lopez; Performer
Horn Section: Oriente Lopez; Performer
Performer: Marc Anthony
Rubén Blades; Performer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Piano: Oscar Hernandez; Performer
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Soprano Saxophone: Bobby Franceschini; Performer
Trombone: Ozzie Meléndez; Performer
Trumpet: David Rodriguez; Performer
Viola: Juliet Hafner; Performer
Violin: Krista Feeney
Paul Peabody; Performer
Vocals: Rubén Blades
Marc Anthony
Mark Anthony; Performer
Unknown Contributor Role: Milton Cardona
Barry Danielian; Other
Primary Artist: Marc Anthony
Rubén Blades; Main Performer
Producer: Paul Simon
Roy Halee
Oscar Hernandez; Production

11. Virgil

by Paul Simon

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Bass: Tony Garnier; Performer
Drums: Shannon Ford; Performer
Guitar: Harper Simon
Arlen Roth; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Roy Halee
Paul Simon
Oscar Hernandez; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production

12. Killer Wants to Go to College II

by Paul Simon

Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Bass: Tony Garnier; Performer
Drums: Shannon Ford; Performer
Guitar: Harper Simon
Arlen Roth; Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Roy Halee
Paul Simon
Oscar Hernandez; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production

13. Trailways Bus

by Paul Simon

Accordion: Mike Ramos; Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Baritone Guitar: Paul Simon; Performer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Bass: Bakithi Kumalo; Performer
Drums: Shannon Ford; Performer
Guitar: Vincent Nguini; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Shaker: Crusher Bennett; Performer
Trumpet: Bill Holloman; Performer
Vocals: Sara Ramirez
Paul Simon; Performer
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production
Unknown Contributor Role: Oriente Lopez
Robby Turner; Other
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Producer: Paul Simon
Oscar Hernandez
Roy Halee; Production

14. Shoplifting Clothes (Bonus Track)

by Paul Simon

Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Performer: Paul Simon; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Paul Simon
Oscar Hernandez
Roy Halee; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production

15. Born in Puerto Rico (Demo with Jose Feliciano) (Bonus Track)

by Paul Simon With José Feliciano

Featured Artist: José Feliciano; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Paul Simon; Main Performer
Performer: Paul Simon With José Feliciano
José Feliciano
Paul Simon
Paul Simon W/jose Felciano; Performer
Vocals: Paul Simon; Performer
Composer: Paul Simon
Derek Walcott; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Simon; Composer
Author: Derek Walcott; Production
Mixing Engineer: Andy Smith; Production
Producer: Oscar Hernandez
Roy Halee
Paul Simon; Production
Recording: Andy Smith; Production