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Paul Simon's only No. 1 solo hit was 40 years ago

Paul Simon
Paul Simon performs at Carnegie Hall on April 17, 2014, in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy | Getty Images 2014

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Today's Morning Edition music is from "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon which was No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart 40 years ago.

In an interview, Simon described how he created the song by saying: "I woke up one morning in my apartment on Central Park and the opening words just popped into my mind. I wrote it with a Rhythm Ace, one of those electronic drum machines, so maybe that's how it got that sing-song 'make a new plan Stan, don't need to be coy Roy' quality. It's basically a nonsense song."

To date, it's Simon's only No. 1 hit as a solo artist.