Surprise (Paul Simon album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Surprise
Type = Album
Artist = Paul Simon


Released = May 9 2006
Recorded = 2005 - 2006
Genre = Rock
Length = 45:16
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = Paul Simon
Reviews =
*"Allmusic" Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:r8he4j178wae link]
*"Being There" Rating|3.5|5 [http://beingtheremag.com/reviewalbum.php?id=444&issue=19 link]
*"Cluas" Rating-10|8 [http://www.cluas.com/music/albums/paul-simon-surprise.htm link]
*"Enjoy the Music" Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/music/0606/rock/Paul_Simon_Surprise.htm link]
*"Music Box Magazine" Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/reviews-2007/paulsimon-surprise.html link]
*"Pitchfork Media" Rating-10|5.1 [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22382/Paul_Simon_Surprise link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/10193415/surprise link]

Last album = "You're the One"
2000
This album = "Surprise"
2006
Next album = "The Essential Paul Simon"
2007

"Surprise" is an album released in 2006 by Paul Simon.

Recorded in collaboration with producer Brian Eno, this is Paul Simon's first studio album since "You're the One" in 2000. Eno is not credited as producer but as provider of "sonic landscape."

Track listing

# "How Can You Live in the Northeast" – 3:42
# "Everything About It Is a Love Song" – 3:57
# "Outrageous" – 3:24 (Paul Simon, Brian Eno)
# "Sure Don't Feel like Love" – 3:57
# "Wartime Prayers" – 4:49
# "Beautiful" – 3:07
# "I Don't Believe" – 4:09
# "Another Galaxy" – 5:22 (Simon, Eno)
# "Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean" – 3:55 (Simon, Eno)
# "That's Me" – 4:43
# "Father and Daughter" – 4:11

All compositions by Paul Simon, except as indicated.

Personnel

*Paul Simon - Vocals, Guitar
*Adrian Simon - Vocals
*Jesse Dixon Singers - Vocals
*Vincent Nguini - Acoustic guitar
*Bill Frisell - Electric guitar
*Herbie Hancock - Piano
*Gil Goldstein - harmonium, keyboards
*Alex Al - Bass
*Abraham Laboriel - Bass
*Pino Palladino - Bass
*Leo Abrahams - Fretless bass
*Robin DiMaggio - Drums
*Steve Gadd - Drums
*Jamey Haddad - Percussion
*Brian Eno - Electronics, Sound landscape
*Andy Smith - Recording & programming
*Tchad Blake - Mixing

The Surprise Tour

Paul Simon toured in support of this release from June to November, 2006. Below is a typical setlist from "The Surprise Tour."

"Main Set:"Gumboots/The Boy in the Bubble;Outrageous;Slip Slidin' Away;You're the One;Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard;How Can You Live in the Northeast;Mrs. Robinson;Loves Me Like a Rock;That Was Your Mother;Duncan;Graceland;Father and Daughter;Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes;Still Crazy After All These Years;Cecilia.

"First Encore:"You Can Call Me Al;The Only Living Boy in New York;The Boxer [joined by support Jerry Douglas on guitar] .

"Second Encore:"Wartime Prayers;Bridge Over Troubled Water.

"Note: The set listed above is in the order performed at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland, July 12, 2006."

External links

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5408009 A Psychic Meltdown, Joined in Progress] - brief analysis of "Everything About It Is a Love Song" by Tom Moon for NPR's "Song of the Day".