1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #125. Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)

Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)

Label – Columbia
Producer – Art Garfunkel, Roy Halee, Paul Simon
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 28:55

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Bookends Theme
2. Save The Life Of My Child
3. America
4. Overs
5. Voice Of Old People
6. Old Friends
7. Bookends Theme
8. Fakin' It
9. Punky's Dilemma
10. Mrs Robinson
11. Hazy Shade Of Winter
12. At The Zoo

Simon and Garfunkel just made great music. Period. “Bookends” was a ‘kinda’ concept album, with the first side following the views of ageing, while the second side contained what were essentially throw away songs from “The Graduate” soundtrack. It all starts with the most minimal of openings with the theme, an acoustic guitar stating itself slowly and plaintively before erupting into a big sound of synthesizers that is "Save the Life of My Child." The classic "America" is next The song is a message of hope as two people travel the American landscape searching for America until it dawns on them that everyone else on the freeway is doing the same thing! The final three tracks, "Mrs. Robinson," (the theme song for the film The Graduate) "A Hazy Shade of Winter," and "At the Zoo," are all just top notch Paul Simon classics.
“Bookends” was a #1 hit on Billboard's Pop Albums chart, as well as in the UK. Four singles charted: "A Hazy Shade of Winter," "At the Zoo," "Fakin' It" and "Mrs. Robinson," which peaked at #13, #16 and #23 and #1, respectively. Interestingly, the song “America” was released as a single in 1972, to coincide with the album “Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits”, and eventually hit #97 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2003, the TV network VH1 named the record the 93rd greatest album of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 233 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
It is HIGHLY recommended.


You can purchase the CD here


New Releases
February 16
Reissues
SANTANA...Supernatural (Deluxe Edition, Extra Tracks)
THE BLACK CROWES...Warpaint Live (vinyl release)

February 23
New
LIFEHOUSE...Smoke And Mirrors
Various Artist...Covering Clapton From Cream And Beyond
URIAH HEEP...Official Bootleg - 19.12.2009 Gusswerk, Salzburg
JANIS JOPLIN/BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY...Lost Tapes

Reissues, Remasters, Box Sets
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN...Texas Flood (vinyl)
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN...Couldn't Stand The Weather (vinyl)
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN...Soul To Soul (vinyl)
Various Artist...Classic Rock Hits (Box Set)

March 16
Reissues, Remasters
DEEP PURPLE...Machine Head (24 karat gold)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 15
Mick Avory from The Kinks is 66; John Helliwell from Supertramp is 65; Stevie Benton from Drowning Pool is 39; Brandon Boyd from Incubus is 34;

ON THIS DATE
1947 David Brown, who was a member of Santana twice, is born. Brown died in 2000
1977 Rumours by Fleetwood Mac is released
1998 The Rolling Stones wrap up their Bridges To Babylon tour in Las Vegas
2006 The National Trust heritage organization declares the gravesite of Bon Scott of AC/DC in Fremantle, Australia a historic site
2007 It is announced that Audioslave has officially called it quits
2008 Don Henley of the Eagles and his wife donate $4,000 a piece to Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue of North Carolina, who is running for governor. Her rival, Richard Moore, holds a press conference apologizing for using "Life In The Fast Lane" in commercials without permission

IN THE NEWS
Axl not sweet to fashionistas
DEEP PURPLE - Machine Head Being Reissued By Audio Fidelity
Creed Goodies To Be Won!