Spinning In Infinity — Peter Sprague Plays Paul Simon

I’ve been a huge fan of Paul Simon’s music ever since I first heard the opening chord sequence of “Scarborough Fair” and the way the vocals start expanding into majestic counterpoint. All the way from there, 20 years later, we arrive at a situation where a man’s contemplating why he’s soft in the middle when the rest of his life is so hard. He sings “I can call you Betty and Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al.”

Paul Simon’s lyrics are something special to behold. I heard him talk about his process and one of the stages involved bouncing a ball against a wall and going over and over the words and phrases until they were just right—never settling for a cheap rhyme or solution. It shows, these are big league stories and big league lyrics.

Next you add the melody and the chord moves which are a steep step up from three chord justice. Yet when he was into the Graceland album and the African influence he embraced three chords as if that’s all that mattered.

Here's a collection of our favorite Simon songs and as I like to do, they have our unique jazz-ified blend to them. We solo, we play new chords, and we sometimes morph the groove from the originals —all with the hope of presenting a fresh new version of these classic songs. 

Thanks for listening…

Peter Sprague

December, 2022

Peter Sprague — guitar

Allison Adams Tucker – vocals

Tripp Sprague — sax and piano

Justin Grinnell — bass

Duncan Moore — drums

Lisa Hightower — vocal on “You Can Call Me Al”

Produced by Peter Sprague

Recorded at SpragueLand Studios, Encinitas, CA / 2022

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Peter Sprague at SpragueLand Studios

Cover art by Peter Sprague

Special thanks to Yuris Zeltins, Andy Powers, D’Addario Strings, and Iron Horse Amps

All songs arranged by Peter Sprague

1) Cecilia

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

2) The 59th St. Bridge Song

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

3) Bridge Over Troubled Water

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

4) Hearts and Bones

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

5) The Sound of Silence

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

6) Scarborough Fair

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

7) She Moves On

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

8) Still Crazy After All These Years

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

9) Train in the Distance

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague

10) You Can Call Me Al

music by Paul Simon
arranged by Peter Sprague