"Late In the Evening" by Paul Simon

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0293
Date:  08/09/1980
Debut:  46
Peak:  6
Weeks:  16
Genre:  Pop, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Even though he snuck in the #5 "Slip Slidin' Away" from a 1977 hits disc, Simon had not recorded a full new studio album since 1975's "Still Crazy After All These Years." One of the reasons was his foray into film as the writer/star of 1980's "One-Trick Pony." Said to be loosely based on his own experiences, the film features Simon as a one-time popular folk singer who is trying to record a new album while trying to repair relationships with his son and his ex-wife. Critic Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review, but the box office returns were not outstanding and the film seems to have been forgotten. But Simon's album that contained some of the movie's music proved quite popular and this first single from it shuffled right into the Top 10 - and would be the last Simon song to do so.

ReduxReview:  I've never been a big fan of the solo Simon. He definitely has some great and classic tunes, but overall I don't find his music alluring. This song is very rhythmic and almost foreshadows some of the work he did later on with "Graceland." I think it is one of his better solo singles, but still nothing that I'd have pop up when shufflin' my iTunes.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Simon grabbed two Grammy award nominations in 1981. The first was for Best Pop Male Vocal for this song and the second was for the album as Best Album of Original Score Written for Motion Picture or Television Special. Simon also served as host for the awards show.

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