Paul Simon - Live at the Tower Theatre

Paul Simon "Live At The Tower Theatre", may be the finest solo Paul Simon concert ever filmed. This is bare bones Simon, with a four piece band, that starred with him in the movie "One Trick Pony". It is actually nice to hear the songs, without the different world music arrangements and caribbean orchestras, that plagued his live shows during the nineties. The band is made up of ex Stuff members Steve Gadd[drums],The late Richard Tee[keyboards and vocals], The late Eric Gale[guitar], and Tony Levin[bass]. These guys crank, and may well have been Paul Simons best band ever assembled. The rockin "Ace In The Hole", is one of several cuts from the much overlooked album 'One Trick Pony", and features Richard Tee sharing vocals with Simon, while pounding his gospel tinged keyboards. Other favorites include, "Late In The Evening", "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover", "Me And Julio", and "One Trick Pony", to name a few. The sound and picture quality is very good, considering that the show was recorded in 1980. The only negative, is that the concert is a tad short at 55 minutes, but this is all quality, and Paul Simon never sounded better in concert. Paul Simon along with top session men, Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Richard Tee and Tony Levin, is not to be missed, if you are a fan of vintage Paul Simon.

As a (relatively) young Paul Simon fan, I have only been to see him live since the Graceland world tour. What's a joy with this DVD is to see a first-rate band play Paul Simon's songs in fairly much their original arrangement, to an intimate audience of fans. Each song is exquisitely performed, sometimes a little too polite in the first half but always focusing on the singer and the song. Richard Tee (on keys) in particular is a joy to watch. Although Paul Simon looks nervous in the first half, he relaxes towards the middle and chats to the audience between songs. There have beens some qualms about picture quality and while they may be valid, the performance is of such quality that the concert is fantastic to watch anyway. Much more enjoyable than the DVD of the "You're The One" tour some 20 years later which was filmed for DVD but which I found musically to be very stylised and far too slick. By contrast, this was just five excellent musicians playing terrific songs to an appreciative audience. Buy !!

it's a joy to watch this live show.one of the highlights of this album is definitely: "Late in the evening".I play/watch that one a dozen times straight.Great band, it's awesome to see artists enjoy themselves so tremendously on stage. Truly a Top notch band Paul has there.

thank you!

Best band ever to back him, sound quality is first rate, and good takes on a number of songs you already love. What's not to like?

Enjoyed it thoroughly.

I was very pleased with the service provided by this seller.Paul's choice of songs was not what I had grown to expect from him,and he appeared to be uncomfortable on stage.However,the performance overall was enjoyable.

a nice performance by Paul; the sound is good for that era and it's Paul Simon so what's not to like?

If you've got a multi-region player and you want an excellent Paul Simon DVD this is the one to buy.OK it is short (only 53 mins not 84 as on the DVD case) but the quality of the music makes it an essential purchase.The songs are the best from Paul Simons solo albums (at that time), so you get Me And Julio.., American Tune, Still Crazy..., Fifty Ways..., Late in the Evening plus The Boxer and The Sound of Silence as encores. Paul Simon is as always the complete professional and he is helped by having his best ever backing band.Essentially this is the group Stuff (Gadd, Tee, Gale etc) with a top notch brass section. They are absolutely the best in the business. Late In The Evening is a special highlight for me as I still remember seeing Paul Simon at Hammersmith Odeon in 1980 - this tune, which at the time I had never heard, just knocked me out.Marvellous stuff!

1980年、アメリカ・ツアーのライブです。この年、アルバム「ワン・トリック・ポニー」が発売され、10月には映画も公開されました。映画｢ワン・トリック・ポニー」で総指揮をとった彼としては、自信を持って挑んだライブだと思います。生き生きとした彼の姿が、印象的です。ソロ活動初期の「僕とフリオと校庭で」をオープニングに、中盤にはジョナ・バンドをバックに「ワン・トリック・ポニー」「ジョナ」「追憶の夜」を歌います。アンコールの「サウンド・オブ・サイレンス」は、ギターで弾き語り。これは、翌年のS&Gセントラル・パーク・コンサートでも再現されます。生き生きとしたポールのライブを楽しむことができるDVDです。

こんなに感動した音楽映像は久し振り。「still crazy after all these years」「boxer」「Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard」など、Ｓ＆Ｇ時代とソロキャリアの中から代表的ナンバーを次々と演奏してくれるので、その度に観客が大喝采、その気持ちがよくわかる。スティーブガッド、リチャードティー、トニーレビン、エリックゲイルを核としたバックバンドも最高で、既に故人となったゲイル、ティーも含め彼等の全盛期の最高の演奏を聞くことができます。アンコールでポールが弾き語りする「sound of silence」にもジーンとさせられる。一度観終えてはまた繰り返し頭から再生してしまうという、ファンにとっては麻薬のような一品です。こんな映像を見ることができて本当に嬉しい！

昔むかし、レーザーディスクが出始めた頃、本タイトルは「新作」ソフトとして発売されていました。当時は動くポールを見られることに大変興奮したものです。今やDVDで、しかもこの程度の値段で買えるなんて！内容については他の皆さんがレビューされているので譲りますが、当時NHKのヤング・ミュージック・ショーでも放送されていたライブです。改めて見ると、「50 ways to leave your lover」でのスティーブ・ガッドはスティックを２本ずつ持っているという私の思い込みは間違っていたことが判明。ポールの弾くギブソンのサイドギターが意外と重要なことや、いろいろ細かいことを再発見しました。なお、おまけのディスコグラフィやスチル写真は本当に「オマケ」程度でした。

1980年、アメリカ・ツアーのライブです。この年、アルバム「ワン・トリック・ポニー」が発売され、10月には映画も公開されました。映画｢ワン・トリック・ポニー」で総指揮をとった彼としては、自信を持って挑んだライブだと思います。生き生きとした彼の姿が、印象的です。ソロ活動初期の「僕とフリオと校庭で」をオープニングに、中盤にはジョナ・バンドをバックに「ワン・トリック・ポニー」「ジョナ」「追憶の夜」を歌います。アンコールの「サウンド・オブ・サイレンス」は、ギターで弾き語り。これは、翌年のS&Gセントラル・パーク・コンサートでも再現されます。生き生きとしたポールのライブを楽しむことができるDVDです。