Composed by Paul Simon in 1963 and 64 it was recorded as an acoustic version in Columbia Studios in early 1964. It was a commercial failure and the duo of Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon broke-up. Simon returned to England and Garfunkel to Columbia University.
In 1965 the song began to gain some traction with college FM rock stations in Boston and Cocoa Beach. Without the singers' permission or knowledge, Columbia Records producer Tom Wilson overdubbed an experimental rock rhythm section to the original acoustic track employing a heavy echo on the remix.
Remarkably, this was not unusual at the time inasmuch as the duo was no longer a working entity and producers routinely added instruments and vocals to previous records to be released as new songs.
The remix version hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, Simon and Garfunkel recorded a second album with several songs featured in the soundtrack for the 1967 film Mrs. Robinson.
This song touched me as a teenager and continues to do so as an old man. The lyrics are timeless and the melody soulful and spellbinding.
From the 25th anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert.....
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