Paul Simon Performing Live Spotify Playlist

After over 50 years of entertaining audiences around the world, Paul Simon will soon retire from touring. The singer-songwriter this week announced Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour which will be the last tour performed by the 76-year-old legend. The North American and European legs span May to July, culminating with a final performance at London’s Hyde Park on July 15.

Throughout his storied career, first accompanied by Art Garfunkel as a member of Simon & Garfunkel and later as a solo artist, Simon has provided captivating performances with a global array of supporting musicians. This edition of Saturday Stream presents a Spotify Playlist made up of live recordings spanning several decades of performances featuring Paul Simon.

The playlist begins with a Simon & Garfunkel duo performance at Lincoln Center in New York City on January 22, 1967 that features favorites such as “Homeward Bound,” “I Am A Rock” and “The Sound Of Silence.” Next in the set are selections from Simon & Garfunkel’s Live 1969 release that captures the pair performing with their band around the U.S. on such classics as “59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The playlist also features Garfunkel during the reunion performance held with Simon on September 19, 1981 that was issued as The Concert In Central Park. More than half a million people witnessed the pair performing “April Come She Will,” “Kodachrome” and others in New York City’s Central Park.

Simon is first heard performing as solo artists on a July 10, 1973 recording at Nassau Coliseum in New York released as Paul Simon In Concert: Live Rhymin’. Backed by The Jessy Dixon Singers and Urubamba, Paul leads well-known cuts like “American Tune” and “Loves Me Like A Rock.” Simon returned to Central Park on August 15, 1991 for another massively attended concert with a large supporting cast of musicians, including guitarist Vincent Nguini who recently passed away following over 30 years of touring with Simon. That concert saw lively renditions of hits such as “Graceland,” “Cecilia,” “The Boy In The Bubble” and many more.

Paul’s contributions to the 25th anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame concerts held at Madison Square Garden in October 2009 are included in the playlist. He performed “You Can Call Me Al” and “Mrs. Robinson” and accompanied David Crosby and Graham Nash on The Beatles’ “Here Comes The Sun,” which was written by Simon’s friend George Harrison. Paul also performed “The Wander” with his longtime cohort Dion.

The playlist continues with another recording from Simon’s hometown of New York City, this time taking place in 2011 at Webster Hall. Paul and his band work through “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” and “Slip Slidin’ Away” as well as some of his newer tunes. Longtime collaborators Ladysmith Black Mambazo are featured on several songs performed as part of the 2012 Hard Rock Calling Festival in Hyde Park which also featured Jimmy Cliff and the late Hugh Masekela. “Homeless,” “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes,” “Under African Skies” and “Still Crazy After All These Years” are among the songs played in London.

The playlist ends with Paul performing at the 75th birthday concert for Joan Baez held in 2016. Listen to the pair performing “The Boxer” and the rest of the career-spanning set below: