Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD) [LIVE]

Simon & Garfunkel

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 7, 2004)
• Original Release Date: December 7, 2004
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Live
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000679N8W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,720 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Folk > Live Albums > Folk Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
One may never be able to go home again, but that hasn't kept Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from trying every other decade or so. This two-CD plus DVD live set (recorded in December 2003 at the Meadowlands and Madison Square Garden) shows their musical chemistry has transcended the years--and no small amount of acrimony. But while their '80s live reunion was marked by an aura of celebration, this one floats on an undercurrent of bittersweet resolve. There's no mistaking the elegiac tone of the title track, while stark readings of "Hazy Shade of Winter" and "Sounds of Silence" can't help but evoke the scars of 9/11. A musical circle is completed as the Everly Brothers step in for a joyous "Bye Bye Love," while elsewhere Simon's musical restlessness inspires a subtly jazzy reworking of "Slip Slidin' Away" and Garfunkel adds his stately grace to his partner's "American Tune." The album concludes with S&G's first new studio recording in 30 years, the plaintive, irony-studded plea "Citizen of the Planet." --Jerry McCulley

Recommended Simon & Garfunkel Discography

Bridge over Troubled Water	Sounds of Silence	Bookends
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme	Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m.	The Columbia Studio Recordings

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Brilliant, December 8, 2004

By	Donovan (Los Gatos, CA) - See all my reviews

The DVD: This documents very nearly the entire set from last year's shows (the only omission being the Everly Brothers' performance of Let It Be Me.) If you saw any of those shows, you pretty much know what you'll see here. The only unpleasant surprises you'll get on viewing this are in the form of some questionable editing - dramatic musical moments when the view should be locked on Simon and Garfunkel, the view artlessly flits to a back-of-the-arena shot, or worse, an audience shot. This is by no means the most grievous recent example of attention-deficit editing (that honour goes to David Bowie's Reality DVD), but why oh why can't we just see the artists performing? Frequent angle switches don't make the show more fun to watch. They just remind us that we're watching a DVD and not actually at the show. The biggest disappointment regarding the video are the inclusion of embarassing (though mercifully momentary) audience-member "sing along" shots. I for one never want to see this. Never. It grossly cheapens the value of the visual document.

For those who didn't see the shows, there are some magnificent moments here, and a few of the performances do transcend the old recordings that we are familiar with. And some that don't.

Some highs points:

"Only Living Boy In New York". Yes, Simon does sometimes sing lazily or weirdly, forsaking a note that you want or expect for one from outer space. But this is a performance for posterity, and a fully realized arrangement. The mid-song entry of the harmonies, Pino Palladino (recently of The Who) masterfully nailing the bass, it adds up to four minutes of absolute grace.

"I Am A Rock" also comes alive, technicolor sound next to the original recording's black and white. The dramatic, electric arrangement is similar to that on Simon's "Live In Paris" DVD, but with the inclusion of the third verse, and of course harmony.

"My Little Town" is record-perfect.

"Bridge Over Troubled Water". It is refreshingly different to hear Simon take over the second verse of "Bridge", even if he doesn't sing it straight and has to do that weird thing with his arms.

The few songs where we get to hear the "naked" unadorned sound of the acoustic guitar and S&G's voices are definite highlights: "Leaves That Are Green", "Kathy's Song", "Scarborough Fair".

The songs which have "jazzy" arrangements inflicted on them tend to fare the worst... i.e. "Homeward Bound", "Cecilia". And as great as it is to see the dignity and musical power of performers who have a lifetime of music behind them, the youth, energy and elasticity of the duo's voices 30+ years ago are sometimes missed. There are a handful of clips from 1970 (in the DVD bonus features) featuring pieces of songs (not entire performances), and short interview bits.

As for commenting on the CDs, these are basically an abridged version of what's on the DVD. The only reason to own the CDs would be to be able to play them in a player that won't play DVDs.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water...., December 7, 2004

By	Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

After some time waiting to do another reunion, Simon and Garfunkel got together in the aftermath of September 11. I eagerly awaited the release of this CD/DVD set and I was not disappointed! There are two CDs and a DVD from Simon and Garfunkel's 2003 Old Friends Tour.

The DVD allows us not just to see this fantastic duo perform live--which is especially good if you couldn't be there for the concert--you also get a great two CD set! Yes, the DVD shows that they have aged and their voices did change a little because of the natural aging process, but it's a great way to see them if you couldn't afford tickets or get to one of their concerts!

I think my favorite song here would have to be "Bridge Over Troubled Water." It is a very moving, deep and touching song about one human being reaching out to another. But there's hardly a stinker here! They perform "Mrs. Robinson," "The Sound Of Silence," and "The Boxer." There's no question why these songs are so well known and gave such fame to Simon and Garfunkel! Don't forget the song, "Leaves That Are Green," either! The duo also performs a song from their very early days when they called themselves Tom and Jerry, the song "Hey, Schoolgirl."

As Amazon and another reviewer have noted, The Everly Brothers join Simon and Garfunkel for "Bye Bye Love." Very well done--a treat! GRIN "The Only Living Boy in New York" is especially wonderful as well.

As an added bonus there is the brand new song by Simon and Garfunkel, "Citizen Of The Planet." Terrific! I predict you will enjoy it.

All in all, this is a value packed set that is a pleasure to add to your collection of fine music from the last 40 years! It's hard to believe that's just about how much time it's actually been since Simon and Garfunkel got underway! The CD/DVD set shows a reflective, seasoned Simon and Garfunkel that fans will forever appreciate and enjoy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless, March 11, 2005

By	Bruce Kendall "BEK" (Southern Pines, NC) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Wanna capture time in a bottle? Start here. This is an absolutely brilliant set from a duo who were amongst a '60s '70s movement who brought brilliant song crafting and writing to a popular culture which had previously been practically devoid of it (the occasional Cole Porter or Gershwin being exceptions).

It's great to see that the guys give a great and proper shout out to the Everly's, who were their harmonizing inspirations. Just about every cut is either equal to or surpassing the originals most of us are familiar with. The greatest duo in Pop/Rock/Folk history? I think so, my friends. Hear them here in all their glory, with great back up musicians (as always) and pitch perfect recording! It's the state of the art, as it should be for two talents who are indeed "artists" as well as highly prolific tunesmiths. What a night of music!

BEK