This time it was a Demo Disco on EMIdisc.
This disc contains two demos. The first one:

Bad news feeling – by Paul Simon

And the second one: We’ve got a groovy thing goin’  by Simon & Garfunkel

The fact that ‘ We’ve got a groovy thing goin’  was recorded on April 15, 1965, dates this disc back to early 1965

   

 

In Japan The Paul Simon Songbook was released in 1969. The album was, because of the Simon & Garfunkel success in this country, re-titled: ‘ Simon before Garfunkel. Recorded in 1964′. Garfunkel was (and is) not to be heard. Not only the Japanse put this warning on their cover, also CBS France put stickers on the CBS EP 6211: Simon sans Garfunkel (which means translated: Simon without Garfunkel)

What makes this Japanese release so special, is that it is a MONO version. Not so special want tends to say. But if you listen close to it, it has less echo compared to the stereo editon (lp) and to the cd. And there’s a slight change in the vocal. ‘ I am a rock’  for instance sounds more ‘ direct’ (lesser higher-notes). The single released in 1965 (CBS 1797) also has this difference.

‘ Simon before Garfunkel. Recorded in 1964′  (CBS SONY SONY 60054 ; SX68 Sound Series ; MONAURAL)

From the start,  for Paul Simon making music was his life. When he and Art Garfunkel got together in the early 1950′s they started writing songs together and making demo’s. When they got their contract with Big Records, they requested that a record was to be released within 60 days from signing.  It worked, Big Records released ‘ Hey Schoolgirl’  late 1957. Paul continued writing songs and making demo’s, without Art, under various of names like Harrison Gregory, True Taylor, Jerry Landis. But also with others, like The Mystics, Carole King, The Passions, Johnny Restivo. But also made demos for other writers as well, names like Schwartz (‘ Baby Talk’ ), Ouida Mintz, Burt Bacharach. Hoping that maybe he would be the artist they would use in the end? Often singers like Jan & Dean or Bobby Vee got a deal for the songs Paul had demoed.  

A lot of the sessiondates I have published at www.bookends.nl.

This blog is intended to give you an idea of the result of Paul Simon’s work in the studio. Vinyl that was released by bigger and smaller record labels, like:

Big Records
Warwick Records
Amy Records
Madison Records

Jason Scott Records
Chance Records

We will try to cover it all, with information about the recordings, the covers, the musicians, etc.

And if you additional information to share…don’ t hesistate to do so! Write me at rob.aws@home.nl or through a comment in this Blog.

These two carry Paul Simon’s ‘ Homeward Bound’  and ‘ Richard Cory’. But more interesting it’s Paul Simon solo with acoustic guitar in ca. 1965!