Customer Reviews

Fate for Breakfast

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a quality recording in all aspects. A great selection of songs (all by different songwriters), excellent arrangements, quality studio musicians, and Art is in fine vocal form. The songs run the gamut of emotions, from the exuberance of "Oh How Happy" to the despair of "When Someone Doesn't Want You."

But it is a little known gem that steals the show. Dave Townsend's "Miss You Nights" is one of my all-time favorite songs, and Garfunkel nails it perfectly. After 22 years, it still manages to touch my heart with it's longing and mourning.

This is a must for any Art Garfunkel fan.

Artie strikes again in 79 with this love it or leave it album. This is my favorite album by Mr. Garfunkel, though it is critically seen as a flop. From the hip (for Art at least) opening song, "In a Little While I'll be on My Way", to the electric guitar riddled "Take Me Away", everything here is done well, though it seems to contradict itself at times. Also present are some of Art's 50's remakes including the classic "Since I Don't Have You" and the lighthearted "Oh how Happy." Though the American album is missing the GREAT "Bright Eyes" Fate for Breakfast will always stay on my turntable. By the way, I'm 20. Strange? Possibly. Also note, the cover photos are wonderful, though a little confusing. We see a quite bald Garfunkel making a mess of dinner and sporting a blacked out tooth. I'm not sure what to think, he always looks so serious and mean. Ah well. I LOVE IT.

I could never have believed Art could top "Emily wherever I May Find Her," However, this entire album is full of to "Love" songs, and he is in top form on each one. Whatever took me so long? I truly enjoy the feeling Art has put into "Since I Don't Have You," but each and every one is a topper, and so hard to choose a favorite. I'll take 'em all and fall in love! Thankyou Art!

I AM RATHER SURPRISED TO READ, ALL THESE YEARS AFTER ITS ORIGINAL RELEASE, THAT THIS ALBUM IS CONSIDERED A FLOP BY SOME PEOPLE. I HAVE HAD AND ENJOYED THIS BEAUTIFUL ALBUM, AS WELL AS , "WATERMARK," (WHICH I CONSIDER HIS BEST) SINCE THEY FIRST TIME THEY APPEARED, " WAY BACK WHEN." WHILE I HAVE MOVED ON TO ELECTRONICA/TRANCE MUSIC SINCE THESE ALBUMS FIRST CAME OUT, THE YEARS HAVE IN NO WAY DIMINISHED THE JOY, THRILL AND WARMTH I STILL FEEL IN LISTENING TO THEM. THESE SONGS STAYED WITH ME THOUGH TIME.

This album and Everything Waits to Be Noticed were in a tie for my least favorite Garfunkel album (which isn't saying they're not good, since the others get 5 stars from me), but the reinclusion of Bright Eyes, which originally was only in European pressings, lifted it up a notch.

Some of these songs would have sounded much better had Art sung them in a lower pitch, which he used on the following album, Scissors Cut, and made it sound as serious and classy as the tux he wore in the cover photo.

Sail on a Rainbow is a good example of this; I appreciate it much more when I imagine it being sung in a lower key.

To me, the album's mood changes too abruptly. That which Beyond the Tears creates is shattered 10 seconds into the next one, the chirpy Oh How Happy, which earns the distinction of being my least favorite Garfunkel song, out of the 100 or so I've committed to memory.

In a Little While I'll Be on My Way (so hold on baby, just-a one more da-ay, in a little while I'll be on my waaa-haaaAAAY - to you!) was actually a SINGLE?? I'd really like to see him back in the top 5 again, but sometimes someone needs to take you by the hand and keep you from going down the wrong path - friends don't let friends record mushy songs. Because this record bombed we probably got Scissors Cut, and Roy Halee back as a producer, so in a way this recording may have been a good thing.

But Garfunkel is probably one of my 20 favorite singers, and the rest of the songs here aren't too bad. Bright Eyes was deservedly a number one smash in Britain, and should have been here also. Miss You Nights would have been as good as the Cliff Richard original if he had sung it a bit lower also.

Someone apparently talked him into doing some frothy pop-disco stuff and he listened. He never went wrong with Jimmy Webb and I'm glad he used some of his material on later albums again.

Received the C.D. quickly and the condition was good. I have enjoyed listening to it, my favorite cut is "Since I Don't Have You".

Many of our great Artists are disappearing, either because no one thinks that they are "marketable" any more" a note to them, we are still here, and we still love and want to buy these artists products.
You saw the jump in Michael Jackson's Music after he died, let's support our beloved artists now, and let them know that we still love them and they have a very loyal fan base!!!
The enrichment their songs gave to our lives cannot be forgotten well as the memories, that their music brings us back to a time, when music has a message, and it touched our hearts, souls and our very lives. Today's music may do the same, but most of it (Hey, my opinion counts!) Sucks!
What we take in through our eyes, and ears not only touches our souls but shapes our hearts and our view of the world and it's people.
And classics are never out dated or out of style.
They stand the test of time.
Buy your favorite artist now, and not only let them know that we haven't forgotten them. but are still willing to by their art. And by doing so, you support them, still while they are here among us.

First things first: if you are an Art Garfunkel fan, this is a MUST, a beautiful collection of songs, highlighted by one masterpiece, "Miss You Nights," the best song in the collection, and worth the purchase for just this one song - beautifully arranged, sung, with lyrics that are subtle and strong - perfect. Then you have two legitimate hits, "Bright Eyes," and "Since I Don't Have You," both terrific songs, and other small gems such as the tuneful "And I Know," that fill out an impressive album. Garfunkel's vocals here are their zenith, so you have a rich, full voice giving full credit to these songs and arrangements. The only complaint, which explains the 4 stars, not 5: some of the arrangements, particularly on the poor opening number, and even on "And I Know," are overproduced, indicative of the terrible "disco era," when it seemed that you needed to submerge good vocals into overly synthesized instruments. Leah Kunkel, for instance, was one of the finest back-up vocalists of her day - and her own CD's are absolutely worth owning, please check them out - but her wonderful voice is just devoured here and it's a shame. It would almost be worth it for Art to go back and cut a couple of these beautiful songs again without the over production. They are worth it. And so is "Fate For Breakfast," despite a few flaws, another winner from Mr. Garfunkel, one of America's finest vocalists - ever! You will absolutely enjoy some of these wonderful songs, particularly "Miss You Nights," a true classic!

I believe I own every Art Garfunkel CD except for Lefty and, without a doubt, Fate for Breakfast is one of my absolute favorites. Art is, of course, in fine voice as usual, and contrary to some other reviewers I think producer Louie Shelton pushed all the right buttons on this project. Far from being sappy, the arrangements compliment Art's beautiful tenor voice. While I am hard pressed to pick a favorite song on this CD, gotta go with Miss You Nights. While I respect Cliff Richard as a vocalist of great repute, Art really hits this one out of the park, and coupled with the inclusion of Bright Eyes, Since I Don't Have You, Beyond the Tears and When Someone Doesn't Want You, this CD is a treasure and a must for any Art Garfunkel fan.

Art Garfunkel has a beautiful voice and a word needs to be put in for this album, which is his best I think. And I Know, Sail On A Rainbow and When Someone Doesn't Want You are standouts. Interestingly the listings here include Bright Eyes, another classic Garfunkel piece, and that wasn't on the original album.I have a huge collection of all kinds of music, but I'd be hard pressed to think of a more beautiful album. I'd rate it just ahead of Scissors Cut and Breakaway which are really nice albums as well. Its a desert island disc for sure.