Editing Paul Simon (section)

===1970–1976: Solo and ''Still Crazy After All These Years''===
In 1970, Simon taught songwriting at [[New York University]]. He said he had wanted to teach for a while, and hoped to help people avoid some of the mistakes he had made: "You can teach somebody about writing songs. You can't teach someone how to write a song ... I'd go to a course if the Beatles would talk about how they made records because I'm sure I could learn something."<ref name="Alterman-1970"/>

Simon pursued solo work while occasionally reuniting with Garfunkel for various projects. He gave a solo performance at the [[Cleveland Arena]] in April 1972<ref>{{cite news|date=April 29, 1972|title=Candidate's Day: McGovern Fund Gala Is Sold Out|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/29/archives/mcgovern-fund-concert-in-cleveland-is-sold-out.html}}</ref> in a benefit concert for the [[George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign]], and he and Garfunkel reunited in mid-June that year at [[Madison Square Garden]] in another concert for McGovern.<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=McCandlish|author-link=McCandlish Phillips|date=June 15, 1972|title=Rock 'n' Rhetoric Rally in the Garden Aids McGovern|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/15/archives/rock-n-rhetoric-rally-in-the-garden-aids-mcgovern.html}}</ref> Garfunkel joined Simon again on the 1975 Top 10 single "[[My Little Town]]". Simon wrote the song for Garfunkel, whose solo output Simon felt lacked "bite", and it was included on Simon's album ''[[Still Crazy After All These Years]]'' and Garfunkel's album ''[[Breakaway (Art Garfunkel album)|Breakaway]]''. Contrary to popular belief, the song was not based on Simon's early life in New York City.<ref>Humphries, Patrick. ''The Boy in the Bubble'', p. 96.</ref> Simon also provided guitar on Garfunkel's 1973 album ''[[Angel Clare]]'', and added backing vocals to the song "[[Down in the Willow Garden]]".<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Angel Clare |date=1973 |publisher=[[Columbia Records]] |type=album credits}}</ref>

Simon's next album, ''[[Paul Simon (album)|Paul Simon]]'', was released in January 1972, following his first experiment with [[world music]], the Jamaican-inspired song "[[Mother and Child Reunion]]", which reached both the American and British Top 5. The album received universal acclaim and critics praised its variety of styles and confessional lyrics. ''[[Paul Simon (album)|Paul Simon]]'' reached number 4 in the U.S. and number 1 in the UK and Japan, and produced another Top 30 hit, "[[Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard]]".

Simon's next project, the pop-folk album ''[[There Goes Rhymin' Simon]]'', was released in May 1973. The lead single, "[[Kodachrome (song)|Kodachrome]]", was a number 2 hit in the U.S. The follow-up, the gospel-flavored "[[Loves Me Like a Rock]]", topped the ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' charts. Other songs like "[[American Tune]]" and "Something So Right" (a tribute to Simon's first wife, Peggy) became part of his repertoire. The album reached number 1 on the ''Cashbox'' album charts. It was released in 1974 as a live album, ''[[Live Rhymin']]'', and contained elements of world and religious music.

His next album, produced by Simon and [[Phil Ramone]], was ''[[Still Crazy After All These Years]]'', released in October 1975. The mood of the album, written after Simon's divorce, was darker. It contains "Gone at Last" (a Top 25 hit) and the Simon & Garfunkel reunion track "My Little Town" (a number 9 on ''Billboard''). The album is his only number 1 on the ''Billboard'' charts to date. The [[18th Grammy Awards]] named it the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], and his performance on it the year's [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal]]. The third single from the album, "[[50 Ways to Leave Your Lover]]", reached the top spot on the ''Billboard'' charts. On May 3, 1976, Simon put together a benefit show at [[Madison Square Garden]] for the [[New York Public Library]] that raised over $30,000.