Bridge Over Troubled Water

5: The moustache that appear on Art if you put your thumb on Pauls face on the album cover. 5: The songs.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel (1970) There are no dull moments in this musical smorgasbord of aural delights; and no serious listener of recorded music should fail to become familiar with this well constructed album. One would be hard pressed to come up with any other album in the history of recorded that has such a universal scope. Styles include gospel, reggae, rockabilly, Latin jazz, Andean folk, and a superbly recorded live cut (Ames, Iowa) in which the audience actually knows how to clap. The engineering/mixing alone cements this work as a classic. The leadoff title track “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a powerful lyric of love. Its selfless, giving message is rendered in perfectly pitched angelic tones by Art Garfunkel, and energized with an ever-expanding intensity, utilizing echo-enhanced percussion and a superlative orchestral arrangement. The recording of the bass lines is unequalled. Play it loud. The second track, “El Condor Pasa” invites the listener to take a (needed) deep breath, becoming entranced by the ethereal, wooden sounds of Peruvian instrumentals (performed by Los Incas, or “Urubamba”). Carango and dueling quena flutes never sounded so good on an American album. Next, for a shift in mood, “Cecilia” raises silliness to art, taking heartbreak to a comic level through the ingenious use of percussive sounds that defy identification. The only thing it’s missing is cowbell. Great song. On the rockabilly pot-dealing lament “Keep the Customer Satisfied”, pay attention to the nonstop build. And prepare yourself for the bombastic horns on the outro, splayed out before your ears from stomping bass trombone to the sky high wailing of the lead trumpet. Wonderfully mixed. Then just when you need to rest your hands from clapping, bossa nova slides in with the weirdly evocative “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright”, a moving eulogy to a genius (in architecture, of all things). Is there any genre Paul Simon can’t creditably perform on acoustic guitar? Bongos, jazz flute, and string quartet flavor this mellow reflection. Obituaries don’t get any better than this. Side two (remember, this is an album) begins with “The Boxer”, in the ‘old’ Simon & Garfunkel vocal/guitar style of folk duo, flavored with sultry baritone sax and muted bass drum providing an anxious heartbeat—and that shudder-inducing snare crash in the chorus. The orchestral arrangement and recording technique on the first part of the extended outro are paralyzing. Simon presents here a dramatically poetic first person ballad that transitions to the third person in the final verse for the knockout punch, the surprise of which I will not spoil. The comical “Baby Driver” is up next, which rivals anything The Beach Boys put on vinyl, with stepping, thumping bass and a swingin’ baritone & tenor sax duet in the bridge. Here, at the age of 16, I discovered the synthetic nexus between sex and drag racing. Vroooom! Then we settle in again to a quietly reflective “The Only Living Boy in New York”, the first song I chose to learn to play and sing for performance (in a bar in Subic City, Philippines—There’s a story there that I won’t go into). “Hey, I’ve got nothing to do today but smile”is a line everyone needs to hear more often. (By the way, “Tom” is Garfunkel, who had gone to Mexico to film “Catch-22”, a career move that contributed to the split up of S&G later in 1970.) “Why Don’t You Write Me” is back to more musical whimsy, with teasing internal rhyme and the cleverest baritone sax duet in the bridge you’ve ever heard. A wild and live cover of the Everly Brothers hit “Bye Bye Love” follows, with deft mix of electric bass and muted drum, segueing into the all-too-brief “Song for the Asking”, with Paul Simon closing out the album with his signature acoustic stylings accompanied by delicate Garfunkel harmonies and tasteful strings in the background. Makes you want to play the album over again, which I just did. Twice. If you can’t fall in love with this album, you should give your heart to someone who can make better use of it. 5/5

Close to a perfect album. The Only Living Boy In New York and The Boxer are two of my all time favorite songs. So good it doesn't even lose points for being my ex-mother-in-law's favorite album. Art of course was given his moment to shine on the title track. This is a surprisingly easy 5.

If you don’t like this. It’s because you don’t have ears

Some of the all-time best pop songwriting of all-time. Lovely and gentle lovely Paul. I love it, so sue me.

What a monster of an album. So many huge tracks. Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Boxer, Cecilia, The Only Living Boy in New York, Baby Driver... Huge. There's one weird duck in the mix (So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright is SUPER weird) but, other than that, it's pretty much folk-banger after folk-banger.

The title track is one of the most beautiful songs ever written with one of the best vocal performances, and all of the songs are great too.

I don't need to listen to this album (for the 5 millionth time) to give it 5 stars. Every song is a winner.

A classic, no doubt about it. Simon and Garfunkel's last album before the tension was too much and they went their separate ways, lending an atmosphere of melancholy, hurt and reconciliation (which ultimately wasn't to be) to the lyrics. It makes for therapeutic, cathartic listening, and that's saying nothing of the music itself: some of the most gorgeous songs recorded. The title track fully deserves a place in the pantheon of 20th century pop standards, "The Only Living Boy in New York" sends waves of gorgeous harmonies crashing against the shore, and "The Boxer" would be a career highlight for any folk singer-songwriter: here it's just one of many killer tracks. It's not all melancholy separation music, though: one of my main surprises first hearing this was how S&G continued to develop right to the end, pushing the envelope further from their rule-book in genre and sound. "Keep The Customer Satisfied" is a driving, brass-laden slice of soul-pop that shoots for Motown. "Baby Driver" is the most engaging, carefree Beach Boys homage since "Back in the USSR." There are exercises in Peruvian folk, bossa nova and the giddy joy of "Cecilia." If I had any quibbles, it's that the album threatens to tail off at the end: "Why Don't You Write Me" doesn't come on as strong as the wave of excellency before it, and "Bye Bye Love" is a head-scratching live addition with intrusive crowd noise. However, the plaintive "Song for the Asking" redeems it, giving a tender send-off to the pair's partnership. Above all, this is a winning combination of intricate, wry lyrics, inspired and varied arrangements, and accessible melodies beautifully sung. I'm so glad to have it in my collection.

My god, I get goose bumps every time I hear Garfunkel’s soaring, angelic vocals over the swelling orchestra in the crescendo of the opening track. Not many albums can do that from the get go. And whilst nothing quite matches the title track, there are some pretty, entertaining, witty and lyrical songs here to enjoy and luxuriate in the harmonies.

Love it so much. One of my favorite folk albums. My favorite Simon album for sure. I love the harmonious yet natural vocals, the beautiful and often dramatic accompaniment, and the insane songwriting that beats anything anyone was able to come up with until then. Insane to think Simon pretty much wrote it all alone. Half the album is full of insane strongs that define the era... The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Cecelia... I don't want to imagine what music wouldn't exist if these tracks never existed. El Condor Pasa and The Only Living Boy in New York are two other masterpieces, albeit not as essential. The other three tracks up to that point are also really good. Only complaint is that the last 3 songs are kinda weak, but I still sorta like them. Making the cover "Bye Bye Love" live was an interesting choice. "Song for the Asking" is such a serene, quiet, and snappy closer you don't even notice until it's over. Regardless, those last 7 minutes isn't enough to deduct from a full score.

Fantastic album, had not listened I. A while. Will again very soon.

Not bad, but not really my cup of tea tbh.

One I can listen to on vinyl today! So you can imagine that I already have quote a strong bias towards it. I can't really approach something I love like this with a critical eye. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright is the weakest track, I guess? It has Bridge, Cecilia, The Boxer, Baby Driver, El Condor Pasa, The Only Living Boy and Baby Driver. 7 of the 11 tracks would make a best of. That kind of hit rate is ridiculous.

A near-perfect album. So good.

One of the best albums of all time.

This album has a lot of old favorites. I love singing Bridge over Troubled Waters and frankly everything else.

Ultra sappy. Painful to listen to.

Don't hate it, just don't care and have heard some of these songs too many time in 55 years

I love Simon and Garfunkel. The piano goes hard. The music is grandiose, and the vocals compliment each other beautifully. I love any time traditional instruments are used (pianos, violins, trumpets, oh my!) The boxer is a classic, it's really sweeping and comes to a massive climax. I really liked the inclusion of 1 live song that wasn't just a repeat of a previously played song - it added some energy and excitement towards the end of the album. Top songs: Bridge over troubled water Keep the customer satisfied The boxer The only living boy in new york Song for the asking

An absolute classic. This album is very much of its time, but the songs are SO good. Some of the songs sound better in subsequent live versions. I found myself watching The Concert in Central Park after listening to this - Garfunkel singing Bridge Over Troubled Water in that concert was possibly his crowning moment. Similarly, The Boxer is one of my favorite songs of all time (I love playing it on guitar), but I prefer subsequent live versions (check out the Concert in Hyde Park for a great version). Regardless of version, I get chills every time I hear "In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade/and he carries the reminders/ of every glove that laid him down or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame/ "I am leaving, I am leaving" but the fighter still remains." What a moment. Plenty of other great moments: El Condor Pasa takes you somewhere else. This is the first time I listened to the original version by Los Incas which sounds almost identical except the Los Incas version is an instrumental and has a bit of craziness in the last minute. Cecilia is a classic and Keep the Customer Satisfied is a fun little rockabilly song. Baby Driver is a fun classic-sounding rock n roll song (I even originally thought it was a cover, but it's not). The Only Living Boy in NY is a good track - I like the overlaid vocals in that one. The only tracks I find (relatively) weak are So Long Frank Lloyd Wright and Why Don't You Write Me. They could have ended with the live version of Bye Bye Love since it's a callback to their early days and the influence of the Everly Brothers. But Song for the Asking is a nice touch and perhaps it's poignant that the last Simon & Garfunkel album ends on a song that almost sounds like Simon is singing alone (I can barely hear Garfunkel in it). In fact, that's consistent with the cover - Paul Simon appears to be eclipsing Art Garfunkel. It makes sense...Paul Simon wrote pretty much all the music for Simon & Garfunkel and it was time for him to move on, leading to an amazing career. Great album.

Did not expect to get something I've already known so soon as the thrid in the journey! Bridge over Troubled Water itself is one of my all-time favourites since 2007, although it was introduced to me in 2005 and was not a "love at the first sight". Words are touching, music is full of love and expanding energy. Learnt all the words by heart and was encouraged by it numerous times. For this song itself this album deserves a 5. Love the duo all the time since teenage years. Other songs in this album were no strangers nor disappointments. Elegant, witty folk songs.

Up until the second to last track this would be a perfect 5/5. The songs and arrangements (especially the lovely instrumental details in the arrangements) are fantastic and the title track as well as The Boxer are masterpieces of songs, with El Condor Pasa not far behind. The perfect score is only marred by the live track Bye Bye Love which would already easily and by far be the worst song if it were not a live arrangement. The audience noise is a jarring contrast to the rest of the album's serene beauty and crystal clear production. I'll still round it up to a 5, but I really wish that track weren't on there.

“Everywhere I go I get slandered, libeled, I hear words I never heard in the Bible” is getting incorporated into my vocabulary.

I still have the Old Friends box set with their entire output even though I haven't listened to a CD in...17 years? Anyway, this album is classic and has many of their best work. In my imagination, once Simon got Garfunkel to sing Bridge he knew it was the pinnacle of their paring and they'd never top that song. They had to break up. I saw them at their Old Friends reunion tour in 2003, and I'm pretty sure Simon was deeply, deeply, stoned and Garfunkel inexplicably didn't change Bridge to a key his much older vocal chords could handle. It was an experience. I look forward to Simon's solo stuff popping up here.

Paul! Paul, Watch out!! He's right behind you, Paul! Oh my god, he's got his airpods in, he can't hear us!

My dad and I have spent a generation fighting about this album, most particularly whether Cecilia is a good song (I say it’s fucking great; he hates it); whether Art’s solo vocals on Bridge or the harmony part is better; and which song is better, The Boxer or Only Boy Living in NYC. Honestly, we’re both right on all of. I am undeniable biased on this album, which is great, but my memory of it is even better.

just a classic, in every way. Poor garfunkel always having to stand in simon's shadow.

So many classics on this one. I'd never heard their version of BOTW, and it gave me chills, and I was only 2/3 through the song. As I continued listening to this album, almost every song was excellent, and I feel like the ones I didn't love right away would just take a few more listens. Top to bottom wonderful. Highlights: bridge over troubled water, el condor pasa, cecilia, the boxer, the only living boy in new york (harmonies!)

Fun fact: Bridge over trouble waters was the first song I learned how to play on saxophone and my band teacher always had this vinyl hanging up in the classroom. For that reason alone I have no choice but to Stan. Keep the Customer Satisfied, Baby Driver, and Bye Bye Love were some of my other favorites.

So good, basically the folk-songwriter "Rumours" in both banger content and hurt feelings. An album with "The Boxer" that also has not one but *two* songs that are perhaps even better ("..Customer.."/"..Living Boy..") - remarkable!

Clearly one of the best albums of all time and well worth a listen 5 stars

Paul Simonis one of the great American songwriters of the 20th century. And this is one of his best pieces of work. Just the title track and "The Boxer" secure a 5/5 for this one, but there's so much more. 8x Platinum in US, 11x Platinum in UK, it was certainly successful. Besides the hits, there's several great deep cuts, including one of my favorite S&G songs "The Only Living Boy in New York". That said, there are a couple of throwaways. The only head scratcher is thecover of "Bye Bye Love", which is a live recording with the vocals too low in the mix, and the crowd too high. It is jarringly out of place. But not nearly enough to drop the score. Yep, this is an album that everyone should listen to before they die. 5/5

Can’t believe this isn’t a greatest hits album.

Without this site I definitely wouldn’t have listened to it ( not that i hate it it’s just not my normal kinda thing i go for). I am so grateful that I herd it though cause it’s a really good folk rock album I recommend it to anyone really: Side one is my favourite starting with the title track what a song! I really like that the album starts with the only piano centric song, also it has to have one of my favourite chorus’s and those explosion sounds at the end are good as well. El condor pasa is my least favourite from this for me having a better intro then actual song. The three next songs Cecelia to so long frank loyd wright are great more specifically; Cecelia is a really well placed single and I love all the hand claps at the start. Keep the customer satisfied has great orchestral instruments ( sorry i’am bad at naming these bits) and So long frank loyd wright is a great pace changer and a great closer to side one ; but when side two starts the boxer comes on you know you’re in for a treat! Everything from the lyrical highs of the verses and the simple but effective chorus just show brilliance a definite favourite for me. I like the lyrics and the samples on baby driver but musically it’s really not a favourite of mine. The only living boy in New York sounds a lot more gloomy in the verses and I like how it briefly explodes into the more optimistic chorus. Why don’t you write me isn’t my least favourite on here but its the only one I would call a little bit filler-ish and i do like the horns on it and the fade out works for bye bye loves live cheering. Speaking of… i’am not huge on bye bye love as a song but I like that they used a live version which makes the handclaps sound so much better. I love how bye bye loves cheering goes into song for asking which is good but its short length makes it quite unsatisfying for me.

Of course I liked it. Fucking assholes. And on my final class for my Master's? Irritatingly great, douchebags.

Very pleased to see this album show up today. I usually listen to Bookends, but absolutely love me some Simon and Garfunkel. Aw heck and now I want to give the Graduate yet another re-watch. Gotta be 5/5 for me every time.

Absolutely one of the greatest albums of all time. The songwriting, the harmonies - a stunning piece of work

Classic, but surprised at the number of songs I didn't recognize. And what's with that Frank Lloyd Wright one?

In simulated reality created by sentient machines, A program designed to investigate the human psyche once said “Everything that has a beginning has an end” and when the end”. This was the end of some of musics most iconic hairstyle silhouettes partnership, but when the ends comes the best we can all hope for is that it is on a high. Just like a suit from Savile from, this album is tailored to near perfection, Head to toe, Start to finish. An album that “suits” any occasion any emotion and any slow motion montage of performing artist we have lost this year. As a new decade begins,A cry of the British capital is calling in the distance with teenagers getting there kicks all thinking they can be hero’s. The 60s sound is starting to look for property’s on the coast, Leaving us with this one last gift. Safe in the knowledge that for many years to come Frank Sinatra will have competition for the most played song at a cremation.

These songs, every single one of them, they're great. Just great. Song for the asking is such a nice ending to a beautiful album. Almost sad that the album's title is a reference to only one song on it since there's so much more on offer. I'd give it 6 stars if I could.

Quando eu vi a capa do album do dia meu cérebro fez "yessss". Metade dele já estava na minha lista.

Sounds more like a collection of songs than an 'album'. But the songs! Besides the all-timers, Keep the Customer Satisfied and Only Living Boy are additional standouts.

9/10

I think this album is significant proof that Paul Simon is the superior member of this duo. It’s a beautiful folk record that hits on tons of different styles, but it does so in a way that feels natural and not at all forced. My only complaint here is that it’s not a Paul Simon solo record. Favourite song on the record: “The Boxer” Least favourite: N/A There’s really not a lot left for me to say that hasn’t been said. It’s Paul Simon’s world and we’re just living in it. 4*

I love me some Baby Driver.

This made me feel like frolicking through the forest like a lil garden nymph. I was into it heavily.

S&G are despised by many for the sentimentality, the bold lunge towards the middlebrow, and for Paul Simon being a bit of a prat. These criticisms all seem fair to me, and this album still triggered several flashes of weeping for me today. There’s a degree of nostalgia there from hearing much of this in the car as a child, but Simon’s hooks and feints have some innate power that has me wanting to bawl. Maybe a couple of placeholders on this, but the hits smash me.

+100 for every word I never heard in the bible.

Un très bon album bien que la nonchalance de Garfunkel et son manque de motivation commence sérieusement à bien faire. Celui-ci passera son temps à souffler, traîner les pieds, et oubliera parfois même que c'est à son tour de chanter. On aurait aimé le sentir plus impliqué.

Cet album nous présente un Garfunkel au bord du gouffre émotionnellement. En effet, ce dernier ne supporte plus de vivre dans l'ombre de Simon. Il refusera d'ailleurs dans un premier temps d'enregistrer l'album avec Simon, mais après de nombreux pourparlers, il accepta de se rendre au studio en traînant des pieds. C'est à ce moment précis que la photographie figurant sur la couverture d'album a été prise.

I've never heard any song from this album, but seeing the words "folk rock" is enough for me to know that I probably won't like it. Yeah, after listening, not a huge fan. There were some good moments - I'm a sucker for the flute so I enjoyed "El Condor Pasa". The "la la la" part of The Boxer also tickled my brain in a fancy way. That's it though. The rest was really generic, uninteresting folk music. I can definitely see this being enjoyable if you like this type of music though.

Boring folk music Would probably enjoy more if i was an elf living inside a comically large mushroom

Paul Simon ha compuesto algunas de las mejores canciones de la historia. Sus temas han sido versionados por innumerables grupos y solistas, desde los mejores y más conocidos (Aretha Franklin hasta un Johnny Cash moribundo) hasta cualquier artista callejero. A diferencia de otros como Dylan, sus interpretaciones no siempre mejoran cuando las interpretan otros. Este Bridge over troubled water presenta algunas de las mejores canciones del duo, un tremendo final para Tom y Jerry. Uno de los discos más vendidos de la historia, y con todo mericimiento aunque la crítica no lo recibió con los brazos abiertos (algo que s eha venido corrigiendo con el paso del tiempo). Aquí contaron acertadamente con el apoyo nada más y nada menos que The Wrecking Crew . La canción titular es todo un himno, imprescindible en cualquier discoteca. Es su Let it be particular, con ese sonido y producción tan Spectoriana. El condor pasa es un ejemplo de proto-world music que luego seguiría años después (Graceland, The Rhythm of the saints). Otros temas muy conocidos son Cecilia (alegre como pocas y una genial instrumentación), The only living boy in New York (siempre se acuerda uno de la versión de Everything but the girl y esa inigualable voz de Tracey Thorn), y sobre todo The Boxer. Otras como Keep the Customer Satisfied son Rock and Roll de toda la vida (como la versión de Bye Bye Love de los Everly Brothers) que entran perfectamente por las orejas. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wrigh o el final con Song for the asking son delicadas y brillantes. Disco esencial e imprescindible, si no te gusta es que no tienes corazón ni sentido musical. Otros discos de 1970: The Beatles- Let it be, Paul McCartney-McCartney, George Harrison- All Things Must Pass, John Lennon- John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, LED ZEPPELIN-III, THE KINKS- Lola versus Powerman and the moneygoround, VAN MORRISON - Moondance, THE STOOGES - Fun house, THE DOORS - Morrison hotel, NEIL YOUNG - After the gold rush, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - Loaded, BADFINGER - No dice, GEORGE HARRISON - All things must pass, FLAMIN' GROOVIES - Flamingo, IKE & TINA TURNER - Come together, ERIC BURDON & WAR - The Black-Man's Burdon, MC5 - Back in the USA, DAVID BOWIE - The man who sold the world, WILLIE DIXON - I am the blues, FLYING BURRITO BROS - Burrito Deluxe, SANTANA- Abraxas, Miles Davis- Bitches brew, SIXTO RODRIGUEZ- Cold fact, THE SOFT MACHINE -III, DEREK AND THE DOMINOS- Layla and other assorted love songs, JJ PERREY- Moog Indigo, Carpenters- Close to you, SPIRIT- Twelve dreams or Dr. Sardonicus, DEEP PRUPLE- In rock, THE WHO- Live at Leeds, Credence Clearwater Revival- Cosmo's factory y Pendulum... y debuts de Black Sabbath (además de Paranoid),Elton John, Stephen Stills y Kraftwerk.

Not a bad one in the bunch. Excellent album.

An all-timer for me. I remember driving back from a 10-day silent meditation retreat in the mountains and it was the first album I listened to in 10 days and I was just bawling at how incredible it is. Meditation does funny things to a lad

LP

The last time I reviewed a Simon & Garfunkel album, It was PARSLEY, SAGE,ROSEMARY & THYME, and I gave it a short review and a 3. Simply: as much as I appreciated the work they put into their orchestrations, I didn't think the music was any much more than just fine. Maybe it was just a bit too folk for my taste; I didn't go back and check that album for this review. Now, I also said at the end of the album that I'd probably like their other ones more. So, did I? I have no idea what changed in the intervening four years between that album and this, but goodness. Goodness. This album is actually incredible. Beautiful in some parts, like with the title track; fun in others, like with "Baby Driver"... Mostly, though, it's pretty beautiful. Jus', goodness me. And, like, besides these songs just being written and arranged amazingly, if I could attribute anything to that, it's the fact that... Well, this was their last album. Much like something like ABBEY ROAD, it just hangs over the whole record until the end, where it finally can't ignore it anymore. I mean, the last two songs, "Bye Bye Love" and "Song Of Asking", are basically the two of them saying goodbye to each other and extending an olive branch if they ever wanted to get back together (or at least Paul is). Which, I don't think they ever did, given that Wikipedia still lists this as their last album, but still. The fact that the album ended like this is sweet. And this is coming from someone who hardly cares about Simon & Garfunkel outside of "The Sound Of Silence", so, hey, if this album's able to pull off making me feel like that... It's a hard 5 from me, and a heavy recommendation. I'm happy they were able to go out on top with something like this. And, hey, this album has the song that provided the title for my second-or-third favorite Edgar Wright movie, so that's worth something at least.

Simply immaculate folk. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 5. Bridge Over Troubled Water, as a title track, sets an incredible tone and sets a high bar for the rest of the album, and while I don’t think it ever quite touches that bar again, it’s never more than a few inches away. El Condor Pasa is incredibly efficient in its simplicity, Cecilia feels like late 2000s indie rock in the best way possible, Keep the Customer Satisfied is the best Beatles song that Simon & Garfunkel ever made, and once this album gets to side 2, it just keeps rolling from there. There’s maybe one or two stumbles on its way to the finish line (looking right at “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright” & “Bye Bye Love”), but regardless of anything else, that’s a super breezy and really enjoyable 37 minutes. I don’t think this lived up to like, the super duper universal acclaim that it has, but I can certainly see why people think that way, and maybe one day, it’ll click in that sense for me. Make no mistake about it, though; this is a stellar album. There’s a few tracks that didn’t hit as well for me, but from top to bottom, this thing is beautifully written, composed, and produced. It’s a great listen, and it fits perfectly as a final album for Simon & Garfunkel. Super easy 5.

Cathartic

loved album

Very Good！It integrates elements of rock, R&B, gospel, jazz, world music, pop music and other genres.I like it!

the sequencing is fine. get over yourselves. Bridge over Troubled Water is a record that i think is flawed, but still undeniably Simon and Garfunkel's best. it follows that trend of "Goodbye, the 60's" records like Abbey Road or The Velvet Underground; it's an eclectic medley of styles while still displaying what the band is best at. hearing this as my first full S&G album made me think that this scattered style is what holds it back, but after giving Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and Bookends a listen, i've come to understand Bridge as their tightest album. every song is doing something different, but even the goofy tracks or covers don't feel time-wastey. it's just as well that this is their last album, because i don't think they could really improve on what they had here. it's not perfect, but it's the best they'll ever do it. i think you're probably some sort of sentient meat slab if "The Boxer" doesn't stir something in you. someone foolish said "Cecilia" is a proto-freak folk song. if an Animal Collective ripoff covered this whole album, how would they handle "Keep The Customer Satisfied"? accordion drone? creaky voice white girl doing the horn parts a cappella?

Un disco que marco época. Simon no por algo es uno de los mejores músicos y compositores de la historia, su trayectoria es impecable y Garfunkel las veces que se unió a Simon eran éxito asegurado.

I genuinely was not expecting to like this as much as I did, especially since I'd never listened to Simon & Garfunkel before. This album is outstanding - I wasn't sure if the rest of it would hold up to the rightfully iconic title and opening track, but it really did.

I love the vibe of this. It has such beauty. I mean, transporting ... to a place that I want to be. It resonates in the cave of my soul. Also, how does someone actually write something like Bridge Over Troubled Water? Like a butterfly: so fragile yet strong enough to fly and take us with it. Yes, this is what life is (should be) about. Song for the Asking ... need I say more.

Phenomenal album. It's hard to believe it was their last one, with all the good tracks on here. I enjoy the slightly less "folk-y" approach, with drums and horns and such, it gives the tracks more presence.

Bridge is an amazing song - those vocals are heavenly. Such a complicated relationship between the two of them. But somehow the music was beautiful, having arisen out of both love and contempt. Not so sure about the choice for the closer, but all in all this is a masterpiece.

Beautiful album with some of my favorite folk/folk rock songs of all time.

It's very good!

I read once on the internet that everyone has a favorite Simon And Garfunkel song and if you really listen to it, it'll break your heart. I'm not sure that's entirely true, but so many of the songs on this album sound sweet for their harmony or tempo or melody, and if you listen carefully you'll hear lonliness, alienation, fear of loss, and so many other emotions that can break your heart. End-to-end, it's a great album, but I found the crowd noise in "Bye Bye Love" jarring and distracting, so I have to take a half-star off for that. Rounding up, it's still a five-star album.

Excellent album

I don't care for the title track, but once you get past that, it's nearly perfect. Nothing Paul Simon did before or after quite compares.

Love this album. Wish I could play like Paul.

Have always loved this album. It's very sentimental.

Classic and a must-listen

Ahh yes, the Simon & Garfunkel album where it looks like Art Garfunkel has an enormous handlebar moustache lol. This album is actually really solid! Baby Driver, The Boxer, Cecilia....what's not to love... Simon & Garfunkel are hipster fuel though. Favourite songs: Baby Driver, Cecilia, The Boxer Least favourite songs: "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" 5/5

what a standard

The title track is a masterpiece. Such a beautifully written song. Honestly this album deserves a 5 just for the title track. It's probably one of the easiest 5 stars so far I've given so far in this project. The songs are all beautiful, interesting, and just really good.

Is there any other record that has more classics than this one? Its just banger after banger after banger. Also, who the hell starts off a record with the church music sounding "Bridge Over Troubled Water"? Absolutely brilliant. I remember the first time I listened to this all the way through. It was probably in 10th Grade and it definitely changed how I digested music and about what music could be. It's not quite as a raw as Bob Dylan or Kris Kristofferson tunes that I gravitate more towards, but the songwriting, the pop melodies and vocals are captivating. *Bridge Over Troubled Water -This is one of those song really translates through generations. It's a song that everyone can get behind. Its been covered by everyone and one that is universal loved. *El Condor Pasa (If I Could) -incredible song. I love how they took this traditional Peruvian song and made it contemporary, their own story and in English. *Cecilia -who couldn't love this song?? Old blues bo diddley rhythms and hand pipes?! *Keep the Customer Satisfied -probably the most skipped song on the album, but still a brilliant and fun song. Its fun and dancy. Honestly, a great change of pace. *So Long Frank Lloyd Wright -probably the most skipped song on the record, but I like that they did it. Its sentimental and meaningful. Also, I love the jazz flute in this song. *The Boxer -this is one that I'm always drawn to. I love the story, the melodies, the guitar, the chorus. I love the folk instruments and hand harps. Its mystical but it draws you in. *Baby Driver -another fun change of pace. Fun song. *The Only Living Boy in New York -The sad boy anthem of the century. Zach Bryan has got nothing on this song. I could turn this on any day and immediately be transformed. *Why Don't You Write Me -really fun and bluesy. I love the break from folk music on this one. It almost feels like it could be on a Beatles album, but with more weird instruments. *Bye Bye Love -I really love the live recording on this one. Its fun and good. Its a good cover, though I don't know if it was necessary on the album. *Song for Asking -Really great and sentimental way to end the record / career as a band. I love this album and I love this band.

Not a dud to be found on this one. Magic, every time I hear it. One of the most influential albums on my humble little musical life.

Albumi #86, 22.10.2024 Bridge Over Troubled Water on Simon & Garfunkelin viides ja viimeiseksi jäänyt albumi vuodelta 1970. Mykistävän hieno albumi. Ei tästä mitään muuta voi sanoa.

Wow. Never even really a fan of S&G but you listen to this and you feel the greatness. Every track a new facet of a diamond with different sounds and melodies and styles. The great ones wear many hats while the pretenders have as many sides as a pane of glass. Outstanding.

Absolutely gorgeous

Þessi kom mér á óvart. Ég bjóst ekki við að svona plata hefði fallið jafnvel í hlustirnar mínar og hún gerði. Kannski voru það bara kringumstæðurnar en ég held þetta sé bara frábær plata

I love this album. You have no idea.

Simon and Garfunkel have long been some of my favorite. I grew up with them being one of the groups my family most listened to. This is an absolute classic.

How else would I get over the troubled water?

Fiver... Too easy

Great. 4.5

I keep getting 70’s classics, and I have no problem with that. This is just a collection of great songs, and I’m fine with that.

good

Simon & Garfunkel are always an easy listen. Both gentlemen were already well-versed and well-known in the music industry at this point in time, but this album is significant as it signaled the end of the duo's legendary run together. This is probably their most eclectic work without totally deviating from the folk rock sound they considered home. Immediately starting with a gospel-inspired track, followed by some Andean-inspired world music, rockabilly, jazz, and reggae. Highlights include the classic "Cecilia" (something about that reverb...), "Baby Driver", the self-titled track (where Garfunkel gets to shine), and the fun live cover of "Bye Bye Love". "Bridge Over Troubled Water" signified an amicable end to Simon & Garfunkel's successful musical partnership. It's the duo arguably at their best and also their most ambitious. They certainly went out with a bang before enjoying varying levels of success in their solo endeavors later on. This record is a perfect audio example of "don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened".

One of the best!

One of the albums you must hear absolutly

banger after banger after banger, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Boxer, Cecilia and El Condor Pasa are my favorites

Excellent album!

Perfect in every way

Classic 2 voice harmonies ! Amazing