Paul Simon is one of the most celebrated songwriters of his generation. With Art Garfunkel and as a solo artist, Simon has penned many songs that have become standards; \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water\u201d is perhaps his most well-known song, but Simon has many other popular compositions. Even in the years long after splitting with Garfunkel, his success has continued: between 1991 and 2016 alone he sold more than seven million albums in the U.S. alone.<\/p>\n
Paul Simon is rarely considered a rocker; the subtlety and nuance of his artistry places him more in the singer-songwriter, pop or folk categories (and then there\u2019s his foray into so-called \u201cworld music,\u201d 1986\u2019s mega-successful Graceland<\/i> LP). But rock artists have long appreciated his songwriting prowess, and many have recast Simon\u2019s songs into a harder-edged style. On the 60th<\/sup> anniversary of Paul Simon\u2019s solo debut album (1965\u2019s The Paul Simon Songbook<\/i>), here are five rock covers of his songs.<\/p>\n (Note: Wings performed a superb version of Simon\u2019s \u201cRichard Cory\u201d on their American tour, with lead vocals by Denny Laine and documented on Wings Over America<\/i>, but that one\u2019s folky and acoustic, so we\u2019ve left it off this list of rocking covers.)<\/p>\n \u201cAmerica\u201d by Yes from <\/b>The New Age of Atlantic<\/b><\/i> (1972)<\/b>
\nBritish progressive rock heroes Yes broke through to the big time with their third album, 1971\u2019s The Yes Album<\/i>. Their earlier albums failed to chart in the U.S.; though solid efforts, they revealed a band still developing its signature style and songwriting skills (and its classic lineup). The band\u2019s self-titled 1969 debut album included covers of songs by The Beatles and The Byrds; 1970\u2019s Time and a Word<\/i> found them covering Richie Havens and Stephen Stills. Around that time, Yes also recorded a reading of Paul Simon\u2019s \u201cAmerica,\u201d though it was initially released only on an Atlantic Records various-artists collection. \u201cAmerica\u201d eventually resurfaced on a Yes compilation, Yesterdays<\/i>, in 1975.<\/p>\n