For Paul Simon as for other youngsters in the US the chief opportunity for hearing this new and invigorating type of music that was sweeping the country was courtesy of Alan Freeds radio show Moondog RocknRoll Party Freeds show was required listening for a whole generation of fledgling rock idols Like the young John Lennon 3000 miles away in Liverpool with his ear glued to Radio Luxembourg  the only European outlet for the new rock and roll  Paul Simon was fascinated by the sounds pouring from Freeds show and prepared himself for the next big step for a rock and roll obsessed teenager the switch from listening to others music to making his own