Simon and Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

sfilzen — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 20:31:20 +0000

Simon and Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water” released on this date, January 26th, 1970. I recently nabbed this copy from my parents’ collection and I believe they had it since its release in ‘70 – I can’t recall a time growing up in the 70′s when it wasn’t on heavy rotation. Considered among the best records ever released, the duo’s fifth and final album hit #1 literally everywhere (or at least the countries where such things are tracked) and won a couple of Grammys. My favorite tracks are the ones I loved best as a little kid. “Cecilia” was always my favorite (and continues to be), a raucously fun song, great syncopated beat! with a funny/sad lyrics; it hit #4 in the US. I love the mysterious “El Condor Pasa,” the song’s melody based on Peruvian folk music (Paul Simon was sued for the track by the original recording/composer’s son who had a copyright for the track); it went to #18 in the US. Another favorite is Simon and Garfunkel’s cover of the Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love” which they recorded live, including the audience’s clap-along on the LP. I was also completely fascinated by “The Boxer” (#7 US) – I distinctly remember reading the lyrics on the back cover not long after I figured out to actually read (maybe 4 years old or thereabouts) so I could sing along. Generally it’s not the kind of song I like (i.e. not a rocker) but it’s so full of tension and such a good story. It’s probably Simon and Garfunkel heresy, but I really didn’t like – and still don’t – the title track “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which is one of the duo’s best-known and best-loved songs ever. (I find it overblown and excessively sentimental, though it’s possible I just heard it way too much in the 70′s) Of course it hit #1 in the US (plus the UK and a bunch of other places) and won two Grammys for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1971. I recently read Paul Simon’s biography (a really great read!) and he talked extensively about the track – he felt it was one of his best written songs to date but was ticked (and still is!) that everyone assumed it was Garfunkel’s song since he basically sang it solo in concert.

The post Simon and Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Simon & Garfunkel “Bookends”

sfilzen — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:30:48 +0000

Simon & Garfunkel “Bookends” released on this date, April 3rd, 1968, the duo’s breakthrough concept album that catapulted them to superstardom: Bookends debuted #1 on the US charts where it remained for 7 non-consecutive weeks (it also went to #1 in the UK). The single “Mrs. Robinson” (#1 on the Hot 100, also included in the 1967 movie The Graduate) became the first rock song to win a Grammy for Record of the Year. Bookends also won in the Best Contemporary Pop Performance category. Other singles from Bookends include “A Hazy Shade of Winter” (one of my all-time favorites, made even better by the Bangles in ‘87), which was first released as a single in 1966 (#13 US Hot 100); “At the Zoo” (#16 US Hot 100), which Paul Simon wrote for The Graduate but the song was not used in the film; “Fakin’ It” (originally released in ‘67, #23 Hot 100); and the epic ode to hitchhiking track “America” which wasn’t released until 1972 as part of the promotion for Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits album (my parents had that album on super-heavy rotation throughout my 70′s childhood).

Ours is a used original copy; while the album cover has seen a bit of wear, the poster that was included is in surprisingly pristine condition. The inclusion of the poster at the time of Bookends release did cause some internal controversy: Columbia Records exec Clive Davis wanted to increase the album price by a dollar above the standard (from $4.79 to $5.79) to cover the cost of the poster. Simon in particular pushed back, predicting the album would become Columbia’s biggest seller of the year (it was). Davis felt the duo was being ungrateful to him (he saw himself as the vehicle to their superstar status). As somewhat of a compromise, Simon and Garfunkel signed a contract extension with the label, but got a higher royalty guarantee in the bargain.

Despite being over 50 years old, Bookends remains just as relevant for today’s America. As Allmusic writes, “Bookends’ problematic, disillusioned themes, sometimes disguised in wry humor, striking arrangements, and augmented orchestral instrumentation, portray the sounds of people in an American life that they no longer understand, or understands them. Simon & Garfunkel never overstate; instead they observe, almost journalistically, enormous life and cultural questions in the process of them being asked. In just over 29 minutes, Bookends is stunning in its vision of a bewildered America in search of itself.”

The post Simon & Garfunkel “Bookends” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

simon and garfunkel Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

Simon and Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

Simon & Garfunkel “Bookends”