The songs on this album are filled with heartbreak, desire and sadness, and the loss of the magic they experienced in making music together.
‘”When Paul and I were first friends, starting in the sixth grade and seventh grade, we would sing a little together and we would make up radio shows and become disc jockeys on our home wire recorder. And then came rock and roll.” ~ Art Garfunkel
Thus began the music of Simon and Garfunkel. Together they combined the literacy of Bob Dylan with harmonies that matched The Everly Brothers. With Simon’s songwriting powers, his virtuoso guitar work and Artie’s own magnificent instrument of a voice, the duo produced classic after classic in “Sounds of Silence”, “I Am A Rock” and many others.
By the time they recorded Bridge Over Troubled Water in 1970, they were one of the biggest folk/pop acts ever. Their previous album Bookends is widely acknowledged to be their masterpiece, but Bridge comes a close second and in several of the songs matches their best work.
The songs on this album are filled with heartbreak, desire and sadness, mostly exploring the loss of Artie’s friendship and the dissolution of the magic they had experienced for more than a dozen years of making music together. Bridge Over Troubled Water is a record of the ashes and pain experienced in the mind and heart of Paul Simon.
The majestic, much-covered title track begins with gospel piano before Garfunkel starts singing softly. The lyrics soothe and the song gives off a decidedly spiritual air; it eventually builds and builds, boosted by Garfunkel’s powerful, awe-inspiring vocal that is among the greatest in pop history. Simon failed to appreciate Art’s performance, feeling jealous of the adulation Garfunkel received for the song in concert and voicing on more than one occasion that he should have kept it for himself. The song has proved to be timeless; it’s been covered by more than 50 artists, including Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.
There were strong indications of Paul’s emotional state on at least two other tracks, the first of which is “So Long Frank Lloyd Wright”. The song is not about the famed architect at all, but refers to Artie, who had once studied architecture.
Secondly, Paul in later years admitted that another tune on the album “The Only Living Boy In New York” was written while Artie was away in California trying to kick-start a movie career – he landed a major supporting role in the movie Carnal Knowledge that starred Jack Nicholson, Ann Margret, Candice Bergen and Carole Kane. Paul sat in New York “with nothing to do” save write songs.
Paul Simon spent hundreds of hours in the studio perfecting Bridge Over Troubled Water. In 1971 it won six Grammy awards, including album of the year and song of the year. In the year of its release it was the best-selling album of all time, topping the charts in ten countries. To date sales have exceeded 25 million copies, making it one of the most popular albums ever made. The title song has been streamed more than 300 million times on Spotify alone.
The record has often been regarded as a precursor to Dylan’s 1972 release Blood On The Tracks. Both albums are disguised confessionals about an important break-up: with Simon it was about a friendship, and with Dylan, the breakdown of his marriage.
After Paul and Artie went their separate ways in 1970, they both went on to issue wonderful solo albums, with Simon’s Graceland being hugely influential in developing the audience for world music. Their occasional reunion tours sold out dozens of times around the world, but the performances were strictly business and their relationship was noticeably cool.
Only recently in late 2024 did the two reconcile as friends when they met over an arranged luncheon date. “We ended years of estrangement with a lot of sweet candour,” stated an emotional Art Garfunkel. “It’s true”, stated Paul. “I burst into tears,” he said, “and then there were hugs.”
As it turns out, some bonds cannot be broken.
