Live 1969

Simon & Garfunkel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Legacy
• ASIN: B001TD1XS0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,988 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

When Simon & Garfunkel went out on the road in November of 1969 on what would be their last tour together for 13 years, the duo's popularity rivaled that of The Beatles. They embarked on the tour soon after completing Bridge Over Troubled Water, the album that would be their crowning glory and biggest seller. Bridge wouldn't be released until January 21, 1970, so their sets contained several songs from that album that the fans who packed their shows would be hearing for the first time. Several shows on the '69 tour were recorded in anticipation of what was earmarked to be their sixth album, the follow-up to Bridge. That live album never came to be and Simon & Garfunkel soon ended that early stage of their partnership. At these final shows Simon & Garfunkel gave performances that are as magnificent as any they ever offered. This set contains both acoustic and full band recordings from the tour, including an incredible version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' along with inspired versions of all their big hits.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concert Compilation, April 10, 2008

By 

Philip A.Cohen (Bay Harbor Islands, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Live 1969 (Audio CD)

This disc,presently offered exclusively through Starbucks(or through Amazon Marketplace merchants selling promo copies) is a compilation from shows recorded on the duo's late 1969 tour,where they were combining familiar hits with a preview of songs from their forthcoming "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album.It is the only Simon & Garfunkel 1960's tour to employ a backing band,who are heard on a few songs in the middle of the show,though on a typical show,the added musicians were heard on more of the show than on this composite compilation show.

Simon & Garfunkel varied the set list from one night to the next,and unfortunately,this composite show doesn't feature all of the songs performed on this tour.Amongst the missing songs are "America","Fakin' It","Bye Bye Love","Poem on The Underground Wall" and the controversial,never-released "Cuba Si,Nixon No".

In some ways the unofficial "Back To College" CD(recorded direct to 2-track,during a filming at a University in Oxford,Ohio) provides a more accurate snapshot of this tour,a better set list and generally better performances.

Still,"Live 1969" is a decent addition to your Simon & Garfunkel Collection.Don't overpay for it though.By the mid-fall of 2008,it should be available from Amazon.com itself.You have two options at present:Starbucks Coffee dealers(or their website) or Amazon marketplace merchants.

I resent Sony/BMG for holding back the release of this disc for a year after the promo copies were sent out,just for the sake of setting up this pointless exclusive for a coffee shop.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Spectacular, September 22, 2010

By 

SCM (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Live 1969 (Audio CD)

This might be the best Simon and Garfunkel ever. They are at their absolute peak and one listen to this CD will remind you of just how massively talented both of these performers are - tremendous vocal range, brilliant song-writing, and near perfect harmony even while live. Oh, and the sound quality is shockingly crisp, clear and dynamic. It sounds like it was recorded last week. A true testament to their talent is hearing them call songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Boxer a "song from our new album (about to come out)," hear the audience reaction of politely enthusiastic applause and then hear how moved the audience was after hearing that song for the very first time. Happening upon this CD on Amazon was like discovering a diamond mine. Buy it. Buy it. Buy it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before the egos went under the bridge, February 18, 2010

By 

Pit O'Maley "Moon Man" (Alameda, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Live 1969 (Audio CD)

One can only hope other surviving members of the 60's singers had the forethought to record a live record of such awesome beauty before the onset of ego separation pervades their output as the Simon & Garfunkel handlers did. This is the definitive live recording for this influentially social conscious duo to date. The addition of such senior stalwarts as Joe Osborne(base), Hal Blaine(drums), the late Larry Knechtel(keyboards, Mamas & Papas et al.)and Fred Carter(guitar)adds to the enjoyment very subtlely. Here, the gents are freely jubilant and in perfect pitch and soaring vocally like Torvil and Dean on ice through some of the early hits and soon-to-be-released gems like "Bridge Over Troubled Water," that are met in that case with tremendous roars upon completion. Get it while you can, because that kind of vocal gold is rare indeed, diminishing with each rappin' Grammy. Lordy.