Simon and Garfunkel

That was a nice coincidence, Trotsky!  It might seem that Finland is the promised land of Paul & Simons music. Actually "Bookends" didn't even hit charts here, as it was no.1 at U.S.A. and Britain...

Matti wrote: I guess the whole album is conceptual.

I think it was my mistake. I read what Jake Nyman wrote in "Happy Days 2" (about old records), and it was not intented as a concept album. But the themes of the songs and the music follow up each other very nicely, so it's easy to get such impression.

Matti wrote: Eetu Pellonpää wrote: Matti wrote: Bookends 1969. Essential with many classics, but not even 30 minutes long. Old Friends, America. Wasn't this a somekind of concept album about getting old? How hip!  Very good but somehow even depressing album. I never thought of a concept, but at least it has 'Voices of Old People' which Art recorded in a home for old people - they're just talking - followed by 'Old Friends'. And 'Punky's Dilemma' also fits to the theme. Yeah, I guess the whole album is conceptual. (Was Paul Simon's Graceland also a concept album, anybody?)

Interesting info, Matti & Eetu, I'll admit I'm one of those who knows Simon & Garfunkel compilations better than any album. The day I was born, my father bought a S&G compilation album (it was in Helsinki funnily enough) and the group's music has been with me forever ... yet it is two compilations (Greatest Hits and Definitive) and the live album that I know best ... what a combination, what a songwriter Paul Simon is.

As for Graceland, as far as I know it was not a concept album, although all the songs were recorded with South African musicians giving it a strong stylistic cohesion (I think a couple of them actually involved Simon writing English lyrics over an original composition by South African musicians ... I think Gumboots and Homeless fall under this category). Unfortunately even though Simon's wanted to spread the gospel of South African music, his actions were in defiance of anti-apartheid laws and this promised to give some trouble at one point. Thankfully it all worked out in the end and one of my favourite albums ever was recorded ...

Eetu Pellonpää wrote: Matti wrote: Bookends 1969. Essential with many classics, but not even 30 minutes long. Old Friends, America. Wasn't this a somekind of concept album about getting old? How hip!  Very good but somehow even depressing album.

I never thought of a concept, but at least it has 'Voices of Old People' which Art recorded in a home for old people - they're just talking - followed by 'Old Friends'. And 'Punky's Dilemma' also fits to the theme. Yeah, I guess the whole album is conceptual.

(Was Paul Simon's Graceland also a concept album, anybody?)

The whole quintet of albums is good. Let's see if I still remember them... some mistakes possible.

Wednesday Morning 3 AM  (or something...), 1965: the folkiest and most acoustic.

Sounds of Silence 1967. Essential, many classic songs and touching lyrics, e.g.  I Am a Rock, Most Peculiar Man, Somewhere They Can't Find Me.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme 1968. Yeah, maybe the most enjoyable.

Bookends 1969. Essential with many classics, but not even 30 minutes long. Old Friends, America.

Bridge Over Troubled Water 1970. A strong album all over. El Condor Pasa, So Long Frank Lloyd Wright, The Boxer.

Excellent duo, prefer them over any other sixties' act. Paul Simon also made great albums solo. Graceland is a clear five star pop/rock album.

Good stuff!!!

Who listens to them?  Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter and a great guitarist and vocalist, and Artie's got one of the best voices I've ever heard.  One of my favorite bands(or duos, more accurately).  Yes' cover of "America" is awesome, too.