Paul Simon has personally selected the tracks on the new retrospective album, Songwriter. In a statement Simon explained, “I think of myself as a songwriter first, the recording artist and performer in me follow in the writer’s footsteps.” The album includes some unique selections, including a live version of “The Sound of Silence” from Simon’s 2011 concert at New York’s Webster Hall and Aretha Franklin’s studio take on “Bridge Over Trouble Water.” The album also features a cut from Simon’s massive Central Park show as well as material from this year’s So Beautiful or So What. The album leads up to Simon’s 70th birthday on October 13.

Here’s a look at Paul Simon’s new album

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 1
3. 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

Disc 2

1. Obvious Child
2. Further To Fly
3. The Cool, Cool River
4. Spirit Voices
5. Born In Puerto Rico
6. Quality
7. Darling Lorraine
8. Look At That
9. Senorita With A Necklace Of Tears
10. That’s Me
11. Another Galaxy 1
2. Father And Daughter
13. Rewrite
14. Love And Hard Times
15. So Beautiful Or So What