The live versions of both "Duncan" and "American Tune" that came out on the *Greatest Hits, Etc* are the definitive versions for me. I think I bought this album when it came out with my very first pay-packet from my first full-time job. Money well spent!
I have purchased this album just for this and for "Slip slidin' away"'s versions. You can't find them anywhere else. And I agree, this is most definitely the best American Tune version ever: key of "D" instead of "C" (like, for instance, the one on "Live Rhymin'"), much much better sounding to my ears. And then those strings in the last section. Beautiful.
Thanks for the info on the key of this version versus the original! I agree, D works so much better for it, in my opinion, than would C. And the strings really make the finish!
“It’s alright, it’s alright. You can’t be forever blessed.” I really wished most people lived by this. Might be the best line he has ever written simply because it is the truest thing on earth. Like sucks sometimes. Life is wonderful some times. Every good has to have a bad. Every great thing has a price to be paid. Every bad has a price to be paid too. The best thing you can do when you have hit a rough patch in life is to look at the times before when life was great. You then say, you can’t be forever blessed. I have had some bad times in my life and this line, and Arthur Ashe’s quote has gotten me through-“If I were to say, 'God, why me?' about the bad things, then I should have said, 'God, why me?' about the good things that happened in my life.”
Fantastic Michael I haven't heard this little Masterpiece since the old SNL broadcast I had it on videotape but it's a great one the chord changes as he sings Statue of Liberty is remarkable.
Not even close, this is the best version of this song. It's one of the reasons it pains me that Greatest Hits, Etc will never be reprinted; the loss of this version is not fair.
I fully agree. I have always regarded this as the warmest and brightest version of "American Tune" among the five or six recorded versions by Paul that I've heard over the years.
Absolutely !!!!! The melancholy strings delicately surrounding the guitar and voice ....along with the silenced audience would be impossible to recapture. What an amazing performance of such a masterpiece of music and lyrics.
He acknowledges Johann Sebastian Bach for the melody. It may be earlier than that - Paul Gerhardt and then back to Bernard of Clairvaux. It is if course the melody used for the Hymn "O Sacred Head Sore Wounded" of which there are several choral versions available.
The original melody is atributed to Hans Leo Hassler, from the song Mein gmuth ist mir verwirret. Only the lyrics from the hymn are from a poem by Bernard of Clairvaux.
![Kodak Black - Catch Fire [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A4ch-olIuZo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Kodak Black - Catch Fire [Official Music Video]](/img/tr.png)
The live versions of both "Duncan" and "American Tune" that came out on the *Greatest Hits, Etc* are the definitive versions for me.
I think I bought this album when it came out with my very first pay-packet from my first full-time job. Money well spent!
My favourite version. Thank you Michael.
A stunning performance of an excellent song.
Just outstanding in every way... Beautiful..
Vocally magnificent 👏🏻🙏🏻👏🏻
Hands down, the best version ... nothing else comes close.
I have purchased this album just for this and for "Slip slidin' away"'s versions. You can't find them anywhere else. And I agree, this is most definitely the best American Tune version ever: key of "D" instead of "C" (like, for instance, the one on "Live Rhymin'"), much much better sounding to my ears. And then those strings in the last section. Beautiful.
Thanks for the info on the key of this version versus the original! I agree, D works so much better for it, in my opinion, than would C. And the strings really make the finish!
Only Paul Simon could write such a beautiful song, timeless.It could bring to mind a personal event or a historical event.A song for the ages.
I’m fortunate to have bought this album in 1976.. I agree it’s the best version of this song , but there are so many gems on this album.
“It’s alright, it’s alright. You can’t be forever blessed.” I really wished most people lived by this. Might be the best line he has ever written simply because it is the truest thing on earth. Like sucks sometimes. Life is wonderful some times. Every good has to have a bad. Every great thing has a price to be paid. Every bad has a price to be paid too. The best thing you can do when you have hit a rough patch in life is to look at the times before when life was great. You then say, you can’t be forever blessed. I have had some bad times in my life and this line, and Arthur Ashe’s quote has gotten me through-“If I were to say, 'God, why me?' about the bad things, then I should have said, 'God, why me?' about the good things that happened in my life.”
Großartig, vielen Dank.
So viel Gefühl.
I like this version.
Fantastic Michael I haven't heard this little Masterpiece since the old SNL broadcast I had it on videotape but it's a great one the chord changes as he sings Statue of Liberty is remarkable.
Great minds think alike ... this version is smooth as silk 👌
Really sharing personal emotions here.A real hero . ❤
Best version!
Awesome! Been looking for a digital version of this since the 1990s. Thank you for sharing!
A great version! Another version I like is the S&G's concert at Central Park.
Agreed, it's the best version. Second best would be the Live Rhymin' version. Truly a song for our times.
Soo good!!!
Not even close, this is the best version of this song. It's one of the reasons it pains me that Greatest Hits, Etc will never be reprinted; the loss of this version is not fair.
I totally agree with you. I've listened to all the versions I could find and this is the best!
Feel fortunate, I have the original pressing.... treat it like gold.
@@Scrubdesignz So do I. Vinyl and CD.
I fully agree. I have always regarded this as the warmest and brightest version of "American Tune" among the five or six recorded versions by Paul that I've heard over the years.
Absolutely !!!!! The melancholy strings delicately surrounding the guitar and voice ....along with the silenced audience would be impossible to recapture. What an amazing performance of such a masterpiece of music and lyrics.
He acknowledges Johann Sebastian Bach for the melody. It may be earlier than that - Paul Gerhardt and then back to Bernard of Clairvaux.
It is if course the melody used for the Hymn "O Sacred Head Sore Wounded" of which there are several choral versions available.
The original melody is atributed to Hans Leo Hassler, from the song Mein gmuth ist mir verwirret. Only the lyrics from the hymn are from a poem by Bernard of Clairvaux.
I have this album on cd.
❤
I know where he's coming from.