Even in 1964, Simon and Garfunkel were exploring unexpected musical terrain, whether by acknowledging their contemporaries or unearthing 16th century motets.īased on a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson, these lyrics, told from the point of view of Cory’s employee, paint a picture of their boss as someone to be envied. The traditional “Benedictus” is an early demonstration of Art Garfunkel’s command of soaring, high notes, complemented by a delicate acoustic guitar. It is fitting that one of the most unearthly harmonies in pop music should be introduced into the world by something literally heavenly. Somewhat naïve in its intent, the song does feature a haunting melody and the early promise of the great harmonizing on which Simon and Garfunkel made their name. Lyrically, however, this is nothing like Dylan, as Simon evokes naturalism to tell a tale of the unwanted. One of the few Simon originals to appear on their debut album, “Sparrow” is clearly indebted to Bob Dylan, especially in its fingerpicked guitar and folk rhythm. This track shows Simon the songwriter in his infancy, but it demonstrates his ability to perfectly ground a lyric with a simple phrase. Over a warm, almost jaunty acoustic guitar melody, the duo opens with “ Fog’s rollin’ in off the East River bank/ Like a shroud it covers Bleecker Street,” an evocative image if there ever was one. As the song reaches its cathartic ending, the feelings of grief and loss become palpable, their voices rising in unison to bring home its devastating subject.Įven in his earliest work, Simon showed a knack for the earthy lyricism that he would make his signature.
Released during the height of the Civil Rights movement, it alludes to the murder of a former classmate of Simon’s who was killed during a demonstration in Mississippi. Relying on an alternating minor/major twelve-string guitar figure and the pair’s close harmonies, this shows off Simon’s burgeoning strengths as a lyricist. Robinson.” If you don’t, we hope you enjoy these unsung classics. Sure, “The Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and many of the other songs on their Greatest Hits are indelible pieces of pop history, but a set such as The Complete Albums Collection allows us to look under the hood and find the weird little gems that bolster songs such as “America” and “Homeward Bound.” If you already familiar with the songs we have selected here, you know that there is more to Simon and Garfunkel than “Mrs. Sony Legacy has recently released Simon and Garfunkel: The Complete Albums Collection, a vinyl box set showcasing the duo’s studio albums.Īlthough they put out only five albums, Simon and Garfunkel is not just a greatest hits band.
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