Songwriter is a selection of songs, chosen by the composer, as the best of his decades-long creative output. Some of these are well-known hits and others more obscure works, but all bear the distinct lyrical, melodic and rhythmic signature of Paul Simon, one of the great composers of popular song in the last 50 years. As Simon has said, "I think of myself as a songwriter first, the recording artist and performer in me follow in the writer's footsteps."

Simon brought his own unique perspective on the nuances of his catalog in the assemblage of Songwriter. The album includes an emotionally resonant rendition of "The Sound of Silence," from Simon's 2011 concert at New York's Webster Hall, Aretha Franklin's transcendent studio take on "Bridge Over Trouble Water" and other selections from the artist's critically-acclaimed catalog of songs.

Selecting the individual songs for Songwriter, from the hundreds he's written and recorded, presented Paul Simon an opportunity to reflect over the entirety of his career. The collection showcases the individual songs best-exemplifying the high-points in his conversations with the muses, from his early work with Simon & Garfunkel to his ruminations on 2011's So Beautiful or So What.

Songwriter includes liner notes by music journalist Tom Moon, who notes that the collection, "....features commercial landmarks alongside ambitious and often criminally under-appreciated compositions. This structure makes the case that hit-single success is just one (often over-emphasized) measure; inevitably, with an artist who has contributed as much as Simon has, some of the 'smaller' pieces get overlooked.... What you learn, listening to this 'director's cut' sampler from a long career, is that there have always been conversations bubbling inside of Simon's tunes, and those conversations take many forms...."

The release of Songwriter signals a banner year for Simon, who turns 70 on October 13.

Paul Simon - Songwriter

Disc 1: 1. The Sound Of Silence (Live at Webster Hall 2011) - new unreleased 2. The Boxer - Paul Simon - Live Central Park 3. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Aretha Franklin - studio version 4. Mother And Child Reunion 5. Tenderness 6. Peace Like A River 7. American Tune 8. Kodachrome 9. Something So Right 10. Late In The Evening 11. Train In The Distance 12. Hearts And Bones 13. Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War 14. Still Crazy After All These Years 15. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes 16. The Boy In The Bubble 17. Graceland