''Paul and'' is the debut solo

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by American pop and folk singer-songwriter

Noel Paul Stookey Noel Paul Stookey (born December 30, 1937) is an American singer-songwriter and activist who is known for being a member of the 1960s folk music, folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary along with Peter Yarrow and Mary Travers. He has been known by his f ...

released in 1971 on

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

. " Wedding Song (There Is Love)" was issued as an advance single, reaching No. 24 on the

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), o ...

in ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' and No. 3 on the

Easy Listening chart The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary music, adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on ...

. The album has appeared on best seller lists, charting in the US and Canada.

Cover art

The cover art for ''Paul and'' was designed by

Milton Glaser Milton Glaser (June 26, 1929June 26, 2020) was an American graphic designer, recognized for his designs, including the I Love New York logo; a 1966 poster for Bob Dylan; the logos for DC Comics, Stony Brook University, Brooklyn Brewery; and his ...

. The photos of Stookey on the jacket hide his trademark goatee identifying him in the

Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary were an American Contemporary folk music, folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), ...

covers, to change his image as a solo artist.

Critical reception

Ernie Santosuosso for

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

called it “good enough to make Stookey a star, a “live” ticket on the concert circuit. Describing the lyric of “Wedding Song” as “simple and sensitive”, “Sebastian” as carrying “the stamp of consideration substance” and “Ju Les Ver Negre En Cheese” making“allusions to the Moon shots”, he opined “You might get bogged down in the interpretation of some lyrics but the totality of the product somewhat offsets this. Paul Stookey is now his own man musically.” Ellis Widner of the

Moberly Monitor-Index The ''Moberly Monitor-Index'' is a weekly newspaper published Fridays in Moberly, Missouri, United States. History The ''Moberly Monitor-Index'' newspaper was started on June 23, 1869 by Lafayette R. Brown under the name of ''The Monitor''. ...

said it was a “fine package” with “some excellent satire,” and a “pure delight,” praising the “high quality of workmanship and production,” and well performed tunes. The album received positive reviews from music critics.

Track listing

Production

* Jim Mason – producer * Ed Mottau – producer *

Shelly Yakus Sheldon Gershon "Shelly" Yakus (born November 1945) is an American music engineer and mixer. Formerly chief engineer and vice president of A&M Records, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Yakus is referenced ...

– engineer, mixer

References

External links

* * {{Authority control 1971 debut albums Paul Stookey albums Warner Records albums