Name Harper Simon
Best known for Nobody knows anything about me! That’s why I’m so excited to do this interview with Liza Lentini for SPIN! Fun fact: I own a fur storage facility in Ronkonkoma, Long Island and play alto sax in a Henry Mancini tribute band!
Current city Los Angeles
Really want to be in Siwa Oasis in Egypt.
Excited about The release of my new book Thinking Out Loud, a collection of interviews I conducted with some interesting people from politics, film, comedy, and some musicians too like David Gilmour, Mark Mothersbaugh, Dean Wareham, and Britta Phillips from Galaxie 500 and Luna, as well as Lee Ving from Fear.
Also, my musical project Butterfly, produced by Vincent Gallo, is out now, vinyl only. But a digital release is coming soon.
My current music collection has a lot of Thelonius Monk, Jackson C. Frank, Steely Dan, Nino Rota, Sly and the Family Stone, King Tubby, Korla Pandit, Glenn Gould, the Cramps.
And a little bit of Angel Olsen, Deerhunter.
Preferred format Don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to feel like these titans of tech are not our friends. The streaming services have decimated the creative middle class. It’s probably time for us all to get off these platforms, but how? We need the artists at the top, as well as label executives, to initiate some kind of transition that’s equitable for artists, but it seems they aren’t economically motivated to do so. If they continue to do nothing, we should snub them at social events and treat them rudely in public. Buy vinyl. It sounds better anyway and it looks cool. Pay for music in whatever capacity, if you have the means. Artists need to make a living, too.
5 Albums I Can’t Live Without:
1
Randy Newman, Randy Newman
Although one would have to say that Sail Away is his undisputed masterpiece, I’d like to point out his under-recognized 1968 self-titled debut album for your consideration. The most famous song on the album is likely “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today,” which was covered by a ton of people. But other songs like “Love Story” and “So Long, Dad” are so great. It’s produced by Lenny Waronker and the great Van Dyke Parks whose own debut, Song Cycle, could be viewed as a kind of companion piece. I recently had the honor of working with Van Dyke on an upcoming project of mine. What a talented and witty man!
2
Transformer, Lou Reed
No notes. I feel I need not annoy you by commenting further.
3
The Harder They Come (Soundtrack), Jimmy Cliff & Various Artists
This is the sound of my childhood. It’s the best soundtrack of all time probably. It’s flawless. Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, the Slickers, the Melodians and let’s not forget Scotty. Recorded at Dynamic Sounds in Kingston, Jamaica. I love ska and rock steady, reggae and dub. I started listening to this stuff as a kid and I expect I’m going all the way with these records. I just went to Kingston myself to record with some of the greats down there. What a thrill. But more on that later.
4
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Pavement
I was a little late to the party with Pavement. I didn’t hear their first record Slanted and Enchanted until their second album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain broke. I loved everything about this album. The songs, the sound, the guitar interplay. I didn’t meet Steve Malkmus until years later when we played “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac at a wedding for our friend Annabel, with Joanna Newsome singing back-up and Fred Armisen on drums. It was a total train wreck but maybe that’s what made it good. Then, in another twist, I ended up as an executive producer on Pavements, the documentary directed by Alex Ross Perry, which came out last year.
5
After School Session, Chuck Berry
After School Session is the first long playing album by Chuck Berry. It came out on Chess Records in 1957, but it’s really mostly a collection of previously released 45s. “School Days,” “Too Much Monkey Business” and instrumentals like “Deep Feeling” make up this seminal collection of rock ‘n roll classics. Please enjoy. By the way, that’s Willie Dixon on bass.
