Late in the Evening

"Late in the Evening" is a song by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the lead single from his fifth studio album, One-Trick Pony (1980), released on Warner Bros. Records.

"Late in the Evening"
Single by Paul Simon
from the album One-Trick Pony
B-side	"How the Heart Approaches What It Yearns"
Released	July 1980 (1980-07)
Genre	Pop rock worldbeat
Length	4:02
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Paul Simon
Producer(s)	Paul Simon Phil Ramone
Paul Simon singles chronology
"Stranded in a Limousine" (1978) "Late in the Evening" (1980) "One-Trick Pony" (1981)
Music video
"Late in the Evening" on YouTube

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Billboard	(favourable)[1]

His first single release for Warner, "Late in the Evening" was released in July 1980 and became a hit on several charts worldwide. In the U.S., the song hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, the song was a top 20 hit in the Netherlands, Belgium, and New Zealand. The song has received praise for Simon's lyrics, the horn interlude, and the famous drum beat, referred to as a 'groove' by drummer Steve Gadd. Gadd devised the distinctive drum part by using two pairs of drumsticks – one in each hand – in order to give the impression of two drummers playing together, as he has demonstrated in drum clinics.^[2] Gadd plays a New York City–style Cuban Mozambique drum groove.^[3] Billboard described the hook consisting of a "percussive and bass duet" as being "irresistible."^[4] Record World said that it's highlighted by "spirited brass, percussion & guitars."^[5] Simon performed the song with Art Garfunkel during their 1981 reunion concert in Central Park in New York City.

Personnel

• Paul Simon – vocals
• Steve Gadd – drums
• Tony Levin – bass guitar
• Eric Gale – electric guitar
• Hugh McCracken – acoustic guitar
• Ralph MacDonald – cowbell, temple blocks
• Dave Grusin – horn arrangements

Chart performance

"Late in the Evening" performed on singles charts in several territories worldwide. In the U.S., the single premiered on the Billboard Hot 100 at position 46 on August 9, 1980,^[6] rising over the following weeks to a peak of number six on September 27, 1980. It spent sixteen weeks on the chart in total.^[7] It had also peaked at number seven on the magazine's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart two weeks earlier, where it also spent sixteen weeks.^[8] In Canada, it first premiered on the magazine's RPM's all-genre singles chart, the RPM 100, on August 23 at number 87,^[9] eventually peaking at number 19 on October 25.^[10] It debuted on the magazine's "Adult Oriented Playlist" chart on September 6, 1980, at number 39,^[11] later peaking at number two on October 25.^[12]

In the United Kingdom, the song premiered on the UK Singles Chart on August 31, 1980, at number 74,^[13] and rose over two weeks to a peak of number 58 on September 14, 1980.^[14] It performed better in the Netherlands, peaking at number 11,^[15] in Belgium at number 15,^[16] and in New Zealand at number 19.^[17] Nearby in Australia, the song fared better than its UK performance, peaking at position 34.^[18]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1980) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 34 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 15 Canada (RPM) Top Singles[10] 19 Canada Adult Oriented Playlist (RPM)[12] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 11 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 19 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 58 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 6 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[20] 7

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 80

Notes

References

1. "Review: Late in the Evening – Paul Simon" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 32. 9 August 1980. p. 70. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
2. Steve Gadd - In the Evening Groove. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
3. Walden, Rupert M. 1987. "Gadd's Mozambique" Modern Drummer Magazine, Nov. p. 42
4. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. August 9, 1980. p. 70. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
5. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Record World. August 9, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
6. "Music: Top 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 9, 1980. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
7. "Paul Simon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
8. "Paul Simon – Chart history". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
9. "RPM: 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. 33 (22). Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada. August 23, 1980. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
10. "RPM100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. 34 (2). Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada. October 25, 1980. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
11. "RPM: Adult Oriented Playlist" (PDF). RPM. 33 (24). Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada. September 6, 1980. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
12. "RPM100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. 34 (2). Ottawa: Library and Archives Canada. October 25, 1980. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
13. "Archive Chart: 1980-08-31". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
15. "Paul Simon – Late in the Evening" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
16. "Paul Simon – Late in the Evening" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
17. "Paul Simon – Late in the Evening". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
18. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
20. "Paul Simon Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
21. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 19, 2021.

Sources

• Bennighof, James (2007). The Words and Music of Paul Simon. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-99163-0.
• Eliot, Marc (2010). Paul Simon: A Life. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-43363-8.
• Kingston, Victoria (2000). Simon & Garfunkel: The Biography. Fromm International. ISBN 978-0-88064-246-0.

External links

• Paul Simon - Late in the Evening on YouTube