“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel - album review

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TJR says

The fifth and final serving from the duo arrived in January ’70 and proved to be hugely entertaining; packed with vitality and variety. The title-track opens the set and, although it doesn’t move me greatly, I can appreciate the drama. Better immediately is “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)”, with Simon’s new lyrics being set to an arrangement of a Peruvian folk melody, authenticated by the instrumental track being played by genre experts, Los Incas. Lovely. The stomp-pop brilliance of “Cecelia” seems to be underlined immediately, due to the sheer contrast to the preceding tranquillity. Cashing in on the excitement levels, “Keep The Customer Satisfied”, glorious and ebullient on the surface, is weary of the baggage that comes with showbiz. On that same theme, opening side 2 is the album’s lead single, a Top 10 smash 9 months in the public domain afore the LP, “The Boxer”. It’s another fantastic production, fit to be labelled “epic”. Once again, Simon lashes out at the critics, likening himself to the boxer who “carries the reminders of ev'ry glove that laid him down or CUT HIM till he cried out”. The emphasis on CUT HIM is just WOW. Talking of big wows, “The Only Living Boy In New York”, Paul’s melancholic lament over the impending dissolution of his musical partnership with Art, proves to be the duo’s last great song. It would bring tears to the manliest of men and the story was indeed foretold; it signalled the end of a beautiful bromance. They bowed out heads held high, with their magical track record intact.

The Jukebox Rebel
16–Dec–2007

Tracklist
A1 [04:52] 6.9.png Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon) Songwriter
A2 [03:06] 7.5.png Simon and Garfunkel - El Condor Pasa (If I Could) (Paul Simon, Daniel Alomía Robles) Folk
A3 [02:54] 9.2.png Simon and Garfunkel - Cecilia (Paul Simon) Folk Rock / Americana
A4 [02:33] 9.7.png Simon and Garfunkel - Keep The Customer Satisfied (Paul Simon) Pop
A5 [03:47] 6.0.png Simon and Garfunkel - So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright (Paul Simon) Songwriter
B1 [05:08] 9.0.png Simon and Garfunkel - The Boxer (Paul Simon) Folk Rock / Americana
B2 [03:14] 6.8.png Simon and Garfunkel - Baby Driver (Paul Simon) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B3 [03:58] 8.6.png Simon and Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy In New York (Paul Simon) Folk Rock / Americana
B4 [02:45] 5.8.png Simon and Garfunkel - Why Don’t You Write Me (Paul Simon) Cerebral Pop
B5 [02:55] 4.6.png Simon and Garfunkel - Bye Bye Love [live] (Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant) Pop
B6 [01:49] 6.3.png Simon and Garfunkel - Song For The Asking (Paul Simon) Songwriter

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