Simon’s early solo work introduced a new rhythmic urgency. He began experimenting with percussion that relied on "transients"—the initial sharp attack of a drum or slap.
Before diving into sample rates, let’s establish the baseline. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) preserves every single bit of the original master. Unlike MP3 or AAC, which surgically remove “redundant” sonic information, FLAC delivers:
By up-sampling to 88.2 kHz, you avoid rounding errors, unnecessary digital reconstruction filtering, and phase distortion. The result: a smoother, more natural sound that preserves the original master’s time-domain accuracy. paul simon discography 19652023 flac 88 better
No official commercial release spans 1965–2023 in 88.2 kHz. Therefore, any such collection is from multiple sources.
Paul Simon 's solo discography from consists of 15 studio albums , ranging from his acoustic debut The Paul Simon Songbook to the spiritually-focused Seven Psalms . While a singular "88.2 kHz" box set for the entire 1965–2023 period is not a standard retail release, a majority of his catalog is available in high-resolution 24-bit/96 kHz FLAC through platforms like Qobuz . Paul Simon Studio Discography (1965–2023) Album Title High-Res Availability (FLAC) The Paul Simon Songbook 24-bit / 44.1 kHz Paul Simon 24-bit / 96 kHz There Goes Rhymin' Simon 24-bit / 96 kHz Still Crazy After All These Years 24-bit / 96 kHz One-Trick Pony 24-bit / 96 kHz Hearts and Bones 24-bit / 96 kHz Graceland 24-bit / 96 kHz The Rhythm of the Saints 24-bit / 96 kHz Songs from The Capeman 24-bit / 96 kHz You're the One 24-bit / 96 kHz Surprise 24-bit / 44.1 kHz So Beautiful or So What 24-bit / 96 kHz Stranger to Stranger 24-bit / 96 kHz In the Blue Light 24-bit / 96 kHz Seven Psalms High-Res Digital Audio Fidelity & "FLAC 88.2" Context Simon’s early solo work introduced a new rhythmic urgency
To truly unlock the "88 better" promise, ensure your playback chain supports Hi-Res Audio. When browsing digital music stores (such as Qobuz or HDtracks), look for the badge. If 88.2 is unavailable, 96kHz or even 44.1kHz lossless FLAC still offers a significant upgrade over standard compressed files.
Similar to Graceland , this album’s focus on percussion demands the superior soundstage of a high-res FLAC file. 4. The Mature Artist (2000-2023) You're The One (2000) So Beautiful or So What (2011) FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) preserves every single
Audiophiles often note that high-resolution files restore the "air" around acoustic instruments. When listening to early Simon tracks, the decay of guitar strings, the subtle breaths taken between vocal lines, and the resonance of the studio room sound organic rather than clinical. What to Look For: The Pitfalls of "Upsampled" Files
If you want to listen to hi-res Paul Simon without buying each album, consider a streaming service with a "HiFi" tier.