Simon & Garfunkel - Classic or Dud?

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My world doesn't feel right when I am not listening to Simon and Garfunkel lately. what is wrong with me

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 17 June 2004 07:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Classic, obv.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 17 June 2004 08:00 (twenty-one years ago)

ten months pass...

simon & garfunkel are so fantastic.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 9 May 2005 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

"april come she will"!

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 9 May 2005 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

when paul simon hit his stride he was a fine lyricist, with a keen, economical ear.

― cozen (Cozen), Monday, 9 May 2005 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

There are no happier three minutes than 'At the Zoo.'

― 57 7th (calstars), Monday, 9 May 2005 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, a lot of the arrangements of the songs on record were done by Columbia, sometimes without their knowledge. I'm thinking specifically of 'Sound of Silence' which has that campy 60s backing track to it. I say all of this in defense of 'Bridge over Troubled Water,' which is much more affecting without all the orchestra muck that's piled on top of it.

― 57 7th (calstars), Monday, 9 May 2005 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

My younger sister was a fan/completist (at, like, age 8) so I heard all the albums in my pre-adolescence. (And I saw the '81 Central Park show.) Ditto on Bookends for albums, great tracks scattered otherwise.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 9 May 2005 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Prefer "Paul Simon" and "Graceland."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 9 May 2005 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Classic, despite suffering a beating because they were "too collegiate" from first generation of rock critics who were trying to keep pure the bloodlines of rock, descendant of rock and roll.

― Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 9 May 2005 13:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm truly surprised by the overwhelming pro-S&G consensus here - even Alex praises 'em! I certainly prefer Paul Simon's more straightforward lyrics to his failed attempts at poetry (or successful attempts, what do I know?), but I generally enjoy the harmonies and gently rocking (or not) acoustic melodies regardless. I could really do without hearing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for a few years, tho.

I've always wondered: Did Paul Simon steal that "Coo coo ca-choo" from John Lennon or vice versa?

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 9 May 2005 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

That issue has been addressed here

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 9 May 2005 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I def recall Simon admitting he copped it from the Beatles (to Dick Cavett, I think).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 9 May 2005 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh well I don't know.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 9 May 2005 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm starting to prefer Simon solo to S&G. It wasn't always so.

Several S&G songs are as classic as can be: "The Boxer," "Only Living Boy in New York," "America," "April Come She Will," "Mrs. Robinson."

But they also made some truly troublingly bad things. The swallowed-a-thesaurus 11th-grade-level poetry of "The Dangling Conversation," for example. Or

Pressed in organdy
Clothed in crinoline
Of smoky burgundy

...it just smacks of Trying Too Hard.

And if I never hear "Feelin' Groovy" again, I will die a happy man.

Frankly, I've never really gotten the sense that Garfunkel added a lot. He sings pretty. He sings high. So the fuck what. The songs are where it's at--delete Art from most S&G tracks and you still have good songs.

So semiclassic, with reservations.

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 9 May 2005 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Much as I hate to disagree with you Mad P, and hate to agree with Marcello, Artie G had a one-of-a-kind voice and he really knew what to do with it. Having said that, I might slightly prefer solo Simon's old greatest hits collection to S&G's greatest hit. Love those opening lines of "Duncan"

Couple in the next room
Bound to win a prize
Theyve been going at it all night long
Well, Im trying to get some sleep
But these motel walls are cheap
Lincoln Duncan is my name
And heres my song, heres my song.

Right up there with "Motel Blues" in the Best Motel Song category.

― Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 9 May 2005 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm just sayin--Art's contribution was as a talented sideman, not a collaborator.

The snare drum part on the intro of "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is easily one of the three or four best drum performances ever recorded. I am a drummer and I am telling you that it is utterly, indisputably perfect. But would you call the group that recorded that song "Simon & Gadd"? No.

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 9 May 2005 15:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Spotty, at best. I think this thread should've been a s/d.

Simon solo piques me more.

― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Monday, 9 May 2005 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Pressed in organdy
Clothed in crinoline
Of smoky burgundy

I love those lyrics!

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 9 May 2005 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I love that song! The "how I love you" part at the end turns me to mush.

POX (off the top of my head)

America
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
Hazy Shade Of Winter
Patterns
Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Faking It
Mrs Robinson
Seven O'Clock News (Silent Night)
The Dangling Conversation

Albums

1. Parsley, Sage Rosemary and Thyme*
2. Bookends
3. Sounds of Silence
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water
5. Wednesday Morning, 3AM
6. The Graduate OST

*Wins over Bookends because of the hilariously over-earnest sleevenotes.

― Ben Dot (1977), Monday, 9 May 2005 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Simon & Garfunkel...just the thought of stamping DUD on those great lyrics & Arty G's beautiful voice, man, your heart would have to be a shrivelled piece of coal to live with yourself for that. Okay so I'm exaggerating but I grew up with the 'Live At Central Park' double album, my Mum loved them, and I have nothing but good feelings when I hear their music.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

somebody upthread mentioned that Garfunkel kills Simon in the acting dept. S/he forgot to mention Catch 22, in which Artie holds his own with Orson Welles, Alan Arkin, Martin Sheen... Is Garfunkel the best acting rockstar ever?

― dl, Tuesday, 10 May 2005 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

All you Garfunkel hataz should read this

― Ken L (Ken L), Tuesday, 10 May 2005 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i listened to bridge over troubled water for the first time in a while ... so classic!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 12 May 2005 03:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm starting to prefer Simon solo to S&G.

i think his first solo record is the best, most coherent/satisfying thing he's done (though there are some songs on the second solo album that are incredible). but there sure are some awesome s&g songs, even if they all have a few lyrics and/or clipped diction that make me cringe. ("seeking out the poor-er quarters..." egads).

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 12 May 2005 05:35 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

been listening a lot - rather inexplicably (must be chronic AM depression) - of the "Collected Works" lately. Its frustrating how many truly great songs there are, all sorts of bizarre production idiosyncrasies, etc. and then they're pushed right up against some of the clumsiest, cringe-inducing crap ever. "How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission"? ewwwww. "59th Street Bridge Song"? blech. and yet, the second half of the "Bookends" LP is completely perfect. at the same time, I can't remove my general affection for them from my childhood nostalgia for my mom's S&G obsession... they're such the quintessential "safe" baby-boomer act, and yet their appeal seems to occupy some strange space that is not rock, folk, or pop, its off in its own little world.

Also, why was S&G never mentioned as a massive "influence" on Belle and Sebastian?? It seems so glaringly obvious.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 28 July 2005 19:55 (twenty years ago)

ten months pass...

Apparently I'm going through a fairly cyclical S&G phase.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 June 2006 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

classic, of course!

― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Monday, 12 June 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

Great song-writing, great harmony.

Classic.

― shorty (shorty), Monday, 12 June 2006 21:43 (nineteen years ago)

I still can't get over how bad some of the sanctimonious stuff is - "The Great Big Green Pleasure Machine", that Silent Night/Holy Night + evening news thing, pretty much all the hymns, "The Dangling Conversation"... ugh, so frustrating.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 12 June 2006 21:48 (nineteen years ago)

Dud. Paul Simon gradually started to purge his penchant for bad poetry when he went solo.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 12 June 2006 22:04 (nineteen years ago)

Classic. And 59th Street Bridge Song is great.

― Steve Schneeberg (Steve Goldberg), Monday, 12 June 2006 23:15 (nineteen years ago)

None more classic.

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Tuesday, 13 June 2006 01:31 (nineteen years ago)

Dud.

But Graceland is really good.

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Tuesday, 13 June 2006 02:28 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

god, I hadn't heard "Mrs. Robinson" in ages. So good.

― Curt1s Stephens, Monday, 19 November 2007 08:23 (eighteen years ago)

spent many a car journey in my childhood listening to S&G so i have a nostalgic bias. But their best work still holds up very well in my opinion - so definite CLASSIC!

― sam500, Monday, 19 November 2007 08:34 (eighteen years ago)

simon: classic
garfunkel: dud

― abanana, Monday, 19 November 2007 10:39 (eighteen years ago)

super mega classic.

― wanko ergo sum, Monday, 19 November 2007 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

I command everybody to listen to the Aretha Franklin version of Bridge Over Troubled Water right now this minute, and never listen to the original again.

― ecuador_with_a_c, Monday, 19 November 2007 18:54 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

FUCK U IF YOU DON'T THINK CLASSIC

― I'm into SB (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 2 January 2010 13:21 (sixteen years ago)

two years pass...

lye la lye
*PUNCH*
lye la lye lye (*PUNCH*) lye lye lye
lye la lye
*PUNCH*
lye la lye lye (*PUNCH*) la la lye lye lye

― Word of Wisdom Robots (Abbbottt), Saturday, 26 May 2012 20:17 (fourteen years ago)

it looks like a knitting pattern written out like that

― Word of Wisdom Robots (Abbbottt), Saturday, 26 May 2012 20:17 (fourteen years ago)

Bookends is classic.

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Saturday, 26 May 2012 21:56 (fourteen years ago)

Funny story about how that *PUNCH* was recorded

― Ian Hunter Is Learning the Game (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 26 May 2012 22:02 (fourteen years ago)

Which has already been posted here Studio Stories although not the part about the security guard.

― Ian Hunter Is Learning the Game (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 26 May 2012 22:09 (fourteen years ago)

I refuse to believe it is anything but the sound of a boxer punching someone.

― Word of Wisdom Robots (Abbbottt), Sunday, 27 May 2012 01:48 (fourteen years ago)

preferring paul simon solo to S&G seems completely insane to me, sort've on the level of preferring mccartney solo to the beatles -- i mean, mccartney solo is often pretty great, but c'mon!

― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 28 May 2012 23:59 (fourteen years ago)

How I woul;d rank these
1. beatles
2. paul mccartney solo
3. s&g
4. the song where a rabbit dies in Watreship Down
5. paul simon solo

― Word of Wisdom Robots (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 29 May 2012 00:01 (fourteen years ago)

6. *PUNCH*

― Word of Wisdom Robots (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 29 May 2012 00:01 (fourteen years ago)

4. the song where a rabbit dies in Watreship Down

Isn't that the only solo Garfunkel song anyone likes?

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 29 May 2012 00:03 (fourteen years ago)

Skipping 41 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I *think* I can piece it together but there is conflicting info out there

― Eric Blore Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 February 2026 23:23 (three months ago)

That album it is on was recorded and overdubbed in several different places, New York, Nashville and Los Angeles it seems.

― Eric Blore Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 February 2026 23:54 (three months ago)

So first song on it was notably overdubbed in New York and the last one seems to have been done in Los Angeles.

― Eric Blore Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 February 2026 23:55 (three months ago)

Some things say Carol Kaye is playing bass on that song, but it could also very well have been Joe Osborn.

― Eric Blore Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 February 2026 23:57 (three months ago)

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