Customer Reviews

Garfunkel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I didn't know Simon's voice from Garfunkel's voice until they went solo, and while Simon had his gifts and genius, Garfunkel has the voice! "When A Man Loves A Woman" is a version unlike any other of this song. It's soft, gentle and silken. He's not a rough and tough type but a man in love, like a morning songbird, he reveals his love to his mate. "Break Away" is the title track from his best LP (great LP cover and concept). "Bright Eyes" not a hit but a strong LP song. "(What A) Wonderful World" is interesting because it's a good song with a terrific threesome; however, it's not my favorite. "All I Know" and "Scissors Cut" are two of Jimmy Webb's songs. "All I Know" is one of Garfunkel's best, either with Simon or solo (rivals his work on "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" LP). "Scissors Cut" isn't as strong but deserves to be here. "I Only Have Eyes For You" remains his biggest solo hit. He does "I Only Have Eyes" in the same way he did "When A Man Loves A Woman". Very gentle and silken. "So Much In Love" is my least favorite song on this cd, in fact, it should have been left off! "99 Miles From L.A." another song from his "Break Away" LP. This remains, for me, one of the strongest songs of his career. His interpretation and voice were a perfect match for this song. "Second Avenue" is my favorite song by Garfunkel, and that says a lot (I would love to find Tim Moore's version on cd, he wrote this song and did an outstanding version). "A Heart In New York" remains a good LP song but not a hit. "I Have A Love" a really sentimental and beautiful duet. All in all, a wonderful collection of love songs and introduction to Garfunkel's solo career.

If Art Garfunkel's hypnotic, soothing voice could be harnessed as a force of nature, it would turn his hometown of New York City into Rocky Mountain National Park. "Garfunkel" pairs his otherwordly tenor with the strongest material he recorded over the years, much of it written by renowned composer Jimmy Webb. It's especially valuable because many of his 70's hits such as "Breakaway" and "Second Avenue" are infrequently heard on the radio these days. The heartbreaking ballad "Bright Eyes" was a huge hit in the UK, not the US, and it will be a pleasant surprise to many American ears. Listening to this CD is like catching up with a long-lost friend and recalling good times you'd almost forgotten.

No one is more under appreciated as a talent and artist in his own right than the incredible Art Garfunkel, he of the angelic voice underpinning the fabulously successful duo Simon And Garfunkel of the 60s, 70's, and 80s. All of his extensive vocal range and velvet voice is in evidence her in a wide variety of different songs that illustrate why he has been so successful. Whether performing "When A Man Loves A Woman", "I Only Have Eyes For You", or "99 Miles From L.A.", he brings a unique set of interpretive qualities and a refreshing sound to both standards and original work. One of my favorite songs, "(What A) Wonderful World" is here, performed by Garfunkel, Simon, and James Taylor in a cover that literally leaves the original gasping for air. Of course, his hit "Breakaway" is here, and another favorite of mine, "All I Know", which is perhaps the most honest and forthright song I've heard about the emotional wounds lovers inflict on each other without consciously trying to. This is a terrific album, and one you will be glad to have on your special CD shelf. Enjoy!

It's hard to find a more lush, more comparable voice than Art Garfunkel's. All true Garfunkel fans own this CD and love giving it a spin. But when we get to his version of Tim Moore's Second Avenue, we all take a deep sigh. We simply cannot understand why someone decided to edit the original single version of this heart-wrenching, achingly beautiful ballad. We're pleading with you CBS. Find the original full-length master of this classic and release it to us. I know it's just one song, but perhaps you could just repackage "Garfunkel" or include it as a bonus cut on one of his solo albums. Garfunkel is synonomous with lush sound and our old vinyl 45 of this no longer does this incredibly hypnotic masterpiece justice. I'm sure I'm speaking for many Art fans. Our hopes continue...we hope someone is listening!

I loved this cd the first time I heard it. I loved Bright Eyes, the melody and the music in that song is so beautiful. I loved All I Know because he put so much emotion into singing it. Wonderful World and Scissors Cut are great to listen to. When A Man Loves A Woman and So In Love are two songs I love listening to. I'm just about at a loss for words when I discribe this cd. I really love it.

Memo to Sony records: Your 1988 release "Garfunkel" which was touted at the time as some sort of "Greatest Hits" anthology was a hugely disappointing offering back then and now some 17 years later is an insult to the artist. Featuring a meager dozen tracks this disc does a great disservice to Art Garfunkel himself and to his legion of loyal fans all over America. It is high time that this situation was corrected!
"Garfunkel" leaves an awful lot to be desired on any number of levels. First and foremost a mere 12 tracks is simply not acceptable. In this day and age one would expect a minimum of 20 tracks in any collection covering the career of such a significant artist. Next, I would add my voice to that of another reviewer who questioned why an edited down version of Tim Moore's marvelous tune "Second Avenue" was included here instead of the full five minute album track. It is extremely frustrating and I want to pull my hair out every time I hear it! It just ruins the song entirely. Finally there is the matter of all that was not included. I can easily think of at least 8 or 10 tunes that should be a part of any Art Garfunkel collection. Among the tunes that should have been included is Art's haunting 1974 single release "Traveling Boy' from his LP "Angel Claire". While this one failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100, Art's vocal performance ranks right up there with "Bridge Over Troubled Water" which I personally consider to be among the best vocals in pop music over the past half century. Other tunes that might have been included are "Looking For The Right One' from the LP "Breakway" and "Crying In My Sleep". Anyone who has ever attended an Art Garfunkel concert knows of his affinity for doo wop music. While "Garfunkel" does feature his renditions of "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "So Much In Love" it would have been nice if "Since I Don't Have You" was included as well. And while I am not usually a big fan of "Live" albums I might include a couple of numbers from Art's "Across America" CD in any new collection as well.
It is a mystery to me why Sony has not yet chosen to release a brand new collection of the music of Art Garfunkel. For now it would appear to me that the 1998 "import" release simply entitled "The Best of Garfunkel" would be your best bet. But if you take a good look you will find that there are notable omissions on that one as well. It is high time that Sony stepped up to the plate and corrected this situation. "Garfunkel" as it is presently constituted simply does not measure up. I would recommend that you pass on this one.

I bought this CD because I had always been enchanted with his version of "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "99 Miles". But, the remainder is a very nice piece of work. Great to relax to. Sort of dreamy. (Only "So Much In Love" seemed out of place.) But, in my collection, this CD is definitely a fav!

I didn't know Simon's voice from Garfunkel's voice until they went solo, and while Simon had his gifts and genius, Garfunkel has the voice! "When A Man Loves A Woman" is a version unlike any other of this song. It's soft, gentle and silken. He's not a rough and tough type but a man in love, like a morning songbird, he reveals his love to his mate. "Break Away" is the title track from his best LP (great LP cover and concept). "Bright Eyes" not a hit but a strong LP song. "(What A) Wonderful World" is interesting because it's a good song with a terrific threesome; however, it's not my favorite. "All I Know" and "Scissors Cut" are two of Jimmy Webb's songs. "All I Know" is one of Garfunkel's best, either with Simon or solo (rivals his work on "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" LP). "Scissors Cut" isn't as strong but deserves to be here. "I Only Have Eyes For You" remains his biggest solo hit. He does "I Only Have Eyes" in the same way he did "When A Man Loves A Woman". Very gentle and silken. "So Much In Love" is my least favorite song on this cd, in fact, it should have been left off! "99 Miles From L.A." another song from his "Break Away" LP. This remains, for me, one of the strongest songs of his career. His interpretation and voice were a perfect match for this song. "Second Avenue" is my favorite song by Garfunkel, and that says a lot (I would love to find Tim Moore's version on cd, he wrote this song and did an outstanding version). "A Heart In New York" remains a good LP song but not a hit. "I Have A Love" a really sentimental and beautiful duet. All in all, a wonderful collection of love songs and introduction to Garfunkel's solo career.

I noticed that the other best of collections were missing 2 great tracks contained here in this collection - "All I Know" and "Second Avenue" so although this collection has several less songs than the other greatest hits collections, in my opimion, this is the one to own. Plus you get the fine remake of the Tymes hit "So much in Love" also missing from the other collections.

Since the sixties I've enjoyed listening to Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon sing their songs. It wasn't until their great, and final studio album, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," that I discovered just how good Art Garfunkel was. When S&G went their separate ways I was hoping to hear from Garfunkel. It didn't take long. He released a few songs that were good and then he released "All I Know." I couldn't believe how great a voice and musician he was. This CD is true ear candy for anyone looking for solid talent and beautiful arrangements. Get this CD and feast on the experience.