A lot changed during the 18 months between Simon & Garfunkel\u2019s last album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, & Thyme <\/i>and the release of Bookends.<\/i> The Vietnam War was reaching its critical stage, the release of Sgt. Pepper\u2019s <\/i>had impacted the very fiber of modern music, Jimi Hendrix had exploded upon the scene, and Simon & Garfunkel had helped to organize the legendary Monterey Pop Festival. <\/p>\n
Simon and Garfunkel were legitimate stars by the time of this release. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme <\/i>had reached number four on the album charts. The movie, The Graduate<\/i>, with the memorable, \u201cMrs. Robinson,\u201d enabled Simon & Garfunkel to reach a whole new audience and build upon their established fame.<\/p>\n
Bookends,<\/i> released April 3, 1968, held the number one slot in the U.S. for seven weeks and remained on the charts for over a year. The duo was now a mouthpiece for a generation and their new album represented their manuscript for this place in time, containing a series of poetic stories about innocence, loss, and the American Dream. <\/p>\n
There were four single releases from the album, three of them which sold well but didn\u2019t reach the top ten. \u201cFakin\u2019 It\u201d (#23) and especially \u201cAt The Zoo\u201d (#16) and \u201cA Hazy Shade of Winter\u201d (#13) may have been just a little too thought-provoking for radio and car music, but within the context of the album, they worked well. \u201cFakin\u2019 It\u201d is about life\u2019s insecurities. \u201cA Hazy Shade Of Winter\u201d is a thoughtful song about time passing quickly with a melody that belies its serious content. \u201cAt The Zoo\u201d is a complicated song with obscure lyrics that almost defies understanding but always brings the listener back for another try.<\/p>\n
The fourth single, \u201cMrs, Robinson,\u201d ultimately reached number one. It became a signature song for the duo and crossed generational lines as it addressed eternal themes of life and time\u2019s passing. The song would go on to win the Grammy Award as Record of the Year. <\/p>\n
Another tune that would stand the test of time is \u201cAmerica,\u201d which remains a part of Paul Simon\u2019s concert repertoire. It is interesting to think of the ever-changing context of this song over the years.<\/p>\n
One of the most memorable two minutes on the album, \u201cVoices Of Old People,\u201d gathered a string of reflections by the elderly, which Art Garfunkel recorded at rest homes. Entire lives are presented in just a sentence or two. I wish the album could have concluded with this track as it is the ultimate bookend.<\/p>\n
This album and I have aged fifty plus years since its release, and these end of life thoughts are more poignant, sadder, and real for me today. When the track \u201cOld Friends\u201d follows, there is a sigh for what can never be again. <\/p>\n
Bookends<\/i> remains an album I play over and over again. As I have aged, these songs have taken on new personal substance and meaning, communicating on both conscious and unconscious levels. Music rarely gets better than this.<\/p>\n
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