"One-Trick Pony" by Paul Simon

Song#:  0382
Date:  10/25/1980
Debut:  78
Peak:  40
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Pop, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  After the Top 10 success of "Late in the Evening," Simon released the title track to the "One-Trick Pony" film soundtrack. Some would argue that the soundtrack was far more popular than the film, hitting #12 and going gold. However, after having his previous three albums go Top 5 (including the #1 "Still Crazy After All These Years"), it wasn't exactly a major hit either and it would be another three years before Simon release another proper studio album.

ReduxReview:  Really, besides "Late in the Evening," there is not much in the way of singles on the soundtrack. I think there are better songs than this one on the disc, but nothing that would really click with pop radio. This 70s-oriented, jazz-blues-lite tune doesn't sound like a hit, and its #40 peak suggests it wasn't. I don't connect well with solo Simon and this doesn't change that feeling.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  In the film, Simon's character, Jonah Levin, had a hit in the 60s with a song called "Soft Parachutes." Simon sings the fictitious hit song in the film, but it was left off of the soundtrack. It finally got issued on the 2004 CD reissue of the album.

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