The dangling conversation (Simon and Garfunkel) (LP 3778 - 3782)

Simon and Garfunkel  Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1966) *****  

Simon & Garfunkel   Live from New York City, 1967 (CD, Columbia Records, 2002) *** 

Simon & Garfunkel  Bookends (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1968) *****   

Simon and Garfunkel  Bridge Over Troubled Water (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1970) *****   

Simon and Garfunkel  Old Friends: Live on Stage (CD, Columbia Records, 2004) ****   

Genre: Folk rock, pop

Places I remember: Marbecks Records, Kings Recording

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Cecilia (BOTW)

Gear costume: Mrs. Robinson (Bookends), The Boxer (BOTW)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6

Active compensatory factors: As I was growing up, I was, of course, aware of their big hits, but I was late coming to the Simon and Garfunkel albums. I'd started with Paul's solo album - There Goes Rhymin' Simon, and worked backwards, beginning with Bridge Over Troubled Water, but then going further into their back catalogue. 

The awkwardly titled Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme was their third album. The Sounds of Silence had been successful so Paul returned from London and the duo was reunited.

Now with time (four months) to work on songs, the pair came up with some enduring classics: Homeward Bound; The Dangling Conversation; Scarborough Fair/Canticle; The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy); For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her and 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night.

The Live in New York album documents their early approach (the set was well recorded, in early 1967) - Paul on guitar and both Art and Paul on vocals. This is an excellent concert - warm and relaxed pretty much, as they go through their early hits amongst the material from their first couple of albums.  

Bookends is a carefully realised album. The first side follows a concept - the aging process, while the second has the hits - Mrs. Robinson, and A Hazy Shade of Winter. It all hangs together - showing the serious/art side of their music. 

AllMusic sums it up well: 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.

What can be said of Bridge Over Troubled Water? An unbelievable collection that serves as testament to the genius of both Simon and Garfunkel. Art's singing on the title song is peerless, and Paul's writing peeks on this album. As a duo they left the best to last as they effortlessly feature a range of styles, from rock, R&B,gospel, jazz, South American music, folk rock and pop. An embarrassment of riches!

The Old Friends Live on Stage double CD set is magic as well. It documents their 2003 tour well and even though Art's voice isn't the pristine instrument it once was, the concert and CD become a fitting reminder of the magic the two old friends could conjure up. Yes, it's an exercise in nostalgia but so what.

Where do they all belong? The notable exception is 1981's Concert in Central Park reunion album - for some reason I never bought it.

There are plethora of Greatest Hits style compilations out there - I have three. They act as a great sampler.