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Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel left the 1960’s with about a dozen
hits in their wake and a legacy that lasts to this day. It’s still easy to revel in the
artistry of their work.
Bookends is their fourth record and some
would say their best. It has my favorite Simon & Garfunkel song, “America,” and their
familiar number, “Mrs. Robinson.” The unifying theme is the notion of friends, or
“bookends,” as Simon writes. You’ll hear gentle acoustic arrangements, the intrusion of
a synthesizer (it works) and the voices of elderly people that Garfunkel recorded in
their nursing homes.
The music is crystalline, every note planned and
plotted. Even the percussion: I’ve never heard so many finger snaps and hand claps in
one collection before, all perfectly placed.
“Save The Life Of My
Child,” with the aforementioned synthesizer, is a strange story that didn’t make the New
York Times, possibly due to its tabloid-like narrative. The conclusion may astound
you.
“America” is a masterpiece that travels from a whisper to the clash
of symbols, packing an emotional stomach punch that leaves me gasping.
“Old Friends” is about two septuagenarians who meet daily on a park bench
and sit there like bookends. Yes, we will be seventy some day too, and it won’t be that
bad.
If a man from Mars were to visit and request a core sample of 60’s
pop, I’d let the little green guy hear “Fakin’ It” (my second favorite). Its stark
melody and darkly cynical lyrics capture the times. The start and end of the song is
similar to the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields.”
“Punky’s Dilemma” is breezy
and refers to corn flakes, English muffins, and a preference for boysenberry jam. It has
the bouncy sound of the Sesame Street theme.
After all the cover
versions I’ve heard, I was stunned to learn that Simon wrote “A Hazy Shade of Winter.”
It’s like being told Steven Foster penned “Hey Ya” in 1858. “Hazy” is the one
straight-out rock tune in the bunch.
For the finale “At The Zoo” features
another whisper-quiet beginning that quickly gyrates into a rollicking
Beer-Barrel-Polka-fest. The liner notes describe this song as “Orwellian.” Baloney.
It’s just a cute song about animals – my nine-year-old loves it.
The bonus
tracks include a folk-rocker, “You Don’t Know Where Your Interest Lies” and an acoustic
version of “Old Friends” that I prefer over the odd, string-heavy one that appears
earlier.
Someone told me it’s all happening “At the Zoo.” I’m not sure
about that, but it’s definitely happening on this classic CD. If you missed
Bookends in 1968, or weren’t born yet, grab it now.
