Under-appreciated at the time of its release in 1983, and then overshadowed by the crossover magic of the African-pop influenced Graceland, Hearts and Bones has since become a much loved staple to hardcore Paul Simon fans. Simon initially conceived the record as a potential reunion album with his old partner Art Garfunkel, but for either personal or creative reasons chose to erase Garfunkel’s parts and go it alone. It’s hard to imagine these songs working in the context of the duo’s delicate harmonies, as the lyrical narratives that drive the songs are best served coming directly from Simon unencumbered. The title track is masterful, an exquisitely delineated tale of a marriage (Simon to Carrie Fisher) struggling to make sense of itself. "The Late Great Johnny Ace” confronts the somber impossible feeling that Simon felt the night John Lennon died. “Rene and Georgette Magritte with their Dog After the War” jumbles up the post-war decades into a warming doo-wop influenced look at life after wartime. Overall, Hearts and Bones is quiet, unassuming and deeply resonant.