Songs from The Capeman
Studio album by
Paul Simon
ReleasedNovember 18, 1997
Recorded1997
StudioThe Hit Factory, New York City
GenreMusical theatre, pop, worldbeat
Length55:35
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerPaul Simon
Paul Simon chronology
Paul Simon's Concert in the Park
(1991)		 Songs from The Capeman
(1997)		 Greatest Hits: Shining Like a National Guitar
(2000)

Songs from The Capeman is the ninth solo studio album by Paul Simon, released in 1997. His first new studio album of original materials in seven years, it contains Simon's own performances of songs from the Broadway musical he wrote and produced called The Capeman augmented by members of the original cast. The songs retell the story of Salvador Agron, who was known as the "Capeman". A departure musically from his earlier work, the album features doo-wop, rock 'n' roll and Puerto Rican rhythms and a number of songs contain explicit lyrics, a first for Simon. The stage show was a commercial flop, losing $11 million, and the album did not sell well.[1] It peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200, the lowest chart position in Simon's career to date.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[2]
Rolling Stone[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Paul Simon, with lyrics co-written by Derek Walcott.

Side one
  1. "Adios Hermanos" - 4:42
  2. "Born in Puerto Rico" - 5:03
  3. "Satin Summer Nights" - 5:44
  4. "Bernadette" - 3:34
  5. "The Vampires" - 5:14
  6. "Quality" - 4:18
Side two
  1. "Can I Forgive Him" - 6:01
  2. "Sunday Afternoon" - 3:25
  3. "Killer Wants to Go to College" - 1:51
  4. "Time Is an Ocean" - 5:23
  5. "Virgil" - 2:49
  6. "Killer Wants to Go to College II" - 2:09
  7. "Trailways Bus" - 5:14
2004 reissue bonus tracks
  1. "Shoplifting Clothes" - 3:35
  2. "Born in Puerto Rico" (sung by José Feliciano) - 4:59
  3. "Can I Forgive Him" (Original demo) - 1:56

Personnel

  • Paul Simon – lead vocals (1-6, 8, 10, 11, 12), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 4, 8-12), backing vocals (3, 4, 6), hi-string guitar (4, 7)
  • Orinete Lopez – organ (1), flute (2, 7, 9), horn arrangements (9), Fender Rhodes (12)
  • Oscar Hernández – acoustic piano (2, 5, 7, 9), synthesizers (2, 4), celesta (4), glockenspiel (4), vibraphone (4), horn arrangements (5)
  • Horace Ott – acoustic piano (4, 8)
  • Paul Griffin – acoustic piano (6)
  • Michael Ramos – accordion (12)
  • Vincent Nguini – electric guitar (2), guitars (4, 9, 12)
  • Edgardo Miranda – cuatro (2, 3)
  • Nelson González – tres (2)
  • Paul Livant – guitars (4)
  • Wally Richardson – guitars (6)
  • Saturnino Laboy – acoustic guitar (7)
  • Diomedes Matos – acoustic guitar (7)
  • Arlen Roth – guitars (8, 10, 11, 12), acoustic guitar solo (12)
  • Harper Simon – guitars (8, 10, 11), harmonica (8)
  • Steve Cropper – guitars (9)
  • Robby Turner – pedal steel guitar (12)
  • John Beal – bass (2, 4)
  • Bernie Minoso – bass (5)
  • Jay Leonhart – bass (6)
  • Rubén Rodriguez – bass (7, 9)
  • Tony Garnier – bass (8, 10, 11)
  • Bakithi Kumalo – bass (12)
  • Robby Ameen – drums (4, 9), "guitar case" kick drum (4)
  • Richard Crooks – drums (6)
  • Shannon Ford – drums (8, 10, 11, 12)
  • Bobby Allende – bongos (2), cymbals (2), bell tree (4)
  • Marc Quiñones – congas (2), timbales (2), cua (2)
  • Milton Cardona – backing vocals (4, 5), bongos (7), claves (7), maracas (7), congas (9), güiro (9)
  • Eddie Montalvo – congas (5)
  • Pablo Nuñez – bongos (5), cowbell (5)
  • Johnny Andrews – timbales (5)
  • Jimmy Sabater – congas (6), cowbell (6)
  • Errol "Crusher" Bennett – shaker (12)
  • Marcia Butler – oboe (2)
  • David Mann – baritone saxophone (3), tenor saxophone (3)
  • Bill Holloman – tenor saxophone (4, 12)
  • Pablo Galigero – baritone saxophone (5), bass clarinet (9)
  • Mitch Frohman – tenor saxophone (5)
  • Chris Eminizer – tenor saxophone (6)
  • Bob Franceschini – soprano saxophone (9)
  • Luis Lopéz – trombone (5)
  • Ozzie Melendez – trombone (9)
  • David "Piro" Rodriguez – first trumpet solo (2), trumpet (9)
  • Ray Vega – second trumpet solo (2), trumpet (5), trumpet solo (5)
  • John Walsh – trumpet (5)
  • Barry Danielian – flugelhorn (9)
  • Stewart Rose – French horn (2)
  • Julliet Haffner – violin (2), viola (9)
  • Laura Bontrager – cello (7, 9)
  • Krista Bennion Feeney – violin (9)
  • Paul Peabody – violin (9)
  • Stanley Silverman – orchestrations (2, 9), orchestra conductor (7)
  • Karen Bernod – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Reginald "Briz" Brisbon – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Renee Connell-Adams – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Myrna Lynn Gomila – backing vocals (1, 4), harmony vocals (3)
  • Derrick James – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Kia Jeffries – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • DeWayne Snipe – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Ed Vasquez – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Ray De La Paz – backing vocals (2, 4)
  • Nestor Sanchez – backing vocals (2)
  • Danny Rivera – coro vocals (2)
  • Marc Anthony – lead vocals (3, 9)
  • Teana Rodriguez – harmony vocals (3), backing vocals (4)
  • Angelo Aponte – backing vocals (5)
  • David Davilla – backing vocals (5)
  • Hans Giraldo – backing vocals (5)
  • Louie Marrero – backing vocals (5)
  • Angel Ramirez – backing vocals (5)
  • Hechter Ubarry – backing vocals (5)
  • Robert Vargas – backing vocals (5)
  • Frankie Negron – falsetto lead vocals (6)
  • Bobby Bright – backing vocals (6)
  • Sean Pulley – backing vocals (6)
  • Dionte Sutton – backing vocals (6)
  • Trent Sutton – backing vocals (6)
  • Ednita Nazario – lead vocals (7)
  • Ruben Blades – lead vocals (9)
  • Victor Miles Levy, Jr. – interviewer (11)
  • Sara Ramirez – vocals (12)

Charts

Chart performance for Songs From The Capeman
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[4] 45
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[5] 41
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[6] 26
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[7] 32
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[8] 36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 49
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 83
US Billboard 200[11] 42

References

  1. 1 2 Songs from The Capeman at AllMusic
  2. ↑ David Browne. "Songs from The Capeman". Ew.com. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. ↑ DeCurtis, Anthony (14 November 1997). "Songs From The Capeman". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Paul Simon – Songs From The Capeman" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Paul Simon – Songs From The Capeman" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Paul Simon – Songs From The Capeman" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Paul Simon – Songs From The Capeman". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Paul Simon – Songs From The Capeman". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Paul Simon – Songs From The Capeman". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Paul Simon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
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