MR SIMON'S BIG TRIP

BBC Radio 2 Tuesday 5 June 2007 2230-2330

In this programme, Radio 2 uncovers the real story of Paul Simon's British residency, and the part it played in his creative formation. For years, fascination has surrounded the missing 13 months in the life and career of Paul Simon preceeding the rise to success in America of Simon and Garfunkel.

Simon spent what is probably one of the most famous 'gap' years in music history travelling around England, writing songs, playing tiny folk club venues and meeting future legends of the Folk scene such as Bert Jansch and Martin Carthy, Homeward Bound was famously penned on Widnes Station, and many of his most famous lyrics can be traced to British roots.

The programme includes interviews with Martin Carthy, Brian Protheroe, Al Stewart and many more and features a hitherto un-heard Paul Simon song, "The Northern Line", recorded in an Exeter Folk club in 1965.

From BBC Radio 2 website.