Album · Paul Simon
The Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon
The Rhythm of the Saints is an album by Paul Simon, released in 1990. 2 songs from it have charted on rock radio countdowns, with 13 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “The Obvious Child”, on 12 lists with a best position of #49.
The Rhythm of the Saints, Paul Simon's eighth solo studio album, came out on Warner Bros. in October 1990, and it carries the Graceland idea across another ocean. Where the 1986 record drew on South African music, this one is steeped in Brazilian traditions, with Simon producing it himself.
"The Obvious Child" rides a thunderous rhythm before Simon's wry, conversational voice slides in, and "Born at the Right Time" is gentler, a lilting, sunlit reverie. The grooves are dense and tumbling, the melodies wander, and the words are as knotty as ever. Critics were mostly kind and the record sold, and at the Grammys in 1992 it was up for Album of the Year and Producer of the Year. A year after it came out, Simon played a second Concert in the Park, this time without Art Garfunkel, in front of roughly 500,000 people.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from The Rhythm of the Saints on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Obvious Child | 12 | #49 | – | 1990–2026 | |
| 2 | Born At The Right Time | 1 | #1701 | – | 2020 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.