Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Paul Simon Heading To His First Number 1 Album Since 1975’s “Still Crazy After All These Years”

Share

It’s a good thing Paul Simon is still a genius after all these years. He’s on the verge of having his first number 1 album since 1975.

Believe it or not, despite Simon’s incredible impact on our culture and popular music, he didn’t have a numberĀ  1 again after “Still Crazy After All These Years.” Even “Graceland” — one of Simon’s masterpieces– only got to number 3.

But his new “Stranger to Stranger” has sold over 45,000 copies and looks like it will take the top spot Friday. Simon beats a raft of current pop stars including Beyonce and Drake.

Simon’s had plenty of fine albums since “Graceland” including the more recent “Surprise” and “You’re the One.” But “Stranger” has really reaped amazing reviews for its inventive use of percussion and Simon’s as usual trenchant and poetic lyrics.

The collection has to be a nominee for Album of the Year this year. If it’s relegated to Traditional Pop Album something is really wrong with the Grammys. Like David Bowie’s “Blackstar,” it’s a work of art.

“Stranger” will not be the number 1 album including streaming. His older audience has actually purchased his music to keep. But “Stranger” has still done very well on iTunes

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

Read more

In Other News