The Best of Simon & Garfunkel [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Simon & Garfunkel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00002MZ41
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (302 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Pop > Oldies > General
  • #16 in Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters
  • #18 in Music > Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Augmenting 1972's Greatest Hits with additional tracks, Best of... now stands as the preeminent one-disc introduction to the music of Simon & Garfunkel. Containing everything Greatest Hits offered except for the live version of "59th Street Bridge Song" (the original studio hit resurfaces here) and the incandescent "Kathy's Song," the updated retrospective boasts 20 tracks, in contrast to its predecessor's 14 selections. Added to the mix are the likes of "Hazy Shade of Winter," "The Only Living Boy in New York," "Song for the Asking," and "My Little Town," a one-off the twosome did five years after they ended their phenomenally successful partnership. Remastered from the original source tapes, Best of... also boasts far superior sound to the earlier hits collection. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

Includes the A-sides of all 16 S&G singles to make the Billboard charts, as well as three B-sides and one album cut.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 112 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive S&G: It Doesn't Get Much Better August 17, 2000

By Michael Topper

Format:Audio CD

Now that this Best Of has been released, one has pretty much all the Simon And Garfunkel one truly needs. This is not to say that the rest of the songs they recorded were bad--for the most part, they weren't--but nearly every vital cut is here. The collection ignores their interesting but formative debut folk album (not a big miss, except perhaps for the bittersweet title track "Wednesday Morning 3 AM"), and skimps a little on the sophomore effort "Sounds Of Silence" (I would definitely have included "April Come She Will" and "Kathy's Song") but every other major classic on the next three groundbreaking releases is here, including a bonus live version of the incandescent "For Emily" and the lost mid-70s reunion "My Little Town". Listening to all these songs in one shot--with superb remastered sound quality--reminds one of just how important these two guys were to the face of American pop music, no matter how many times you've heard the songs on classic-rock radio. Even supposedly dated cuts like "59th Street Bridge Song" and "At The Zoo" come off as joyous and essential. Of course, if you're a Simon And Garfunkel buff you'll probably want to get all of the albums plus the 3-disc box set, which would not be a bad idea. But with the exception of the two or three missing early songs listed above, this is one of the finest "Best Of" collections one can purchase, and supercedes 1972's Greatest Hits by some way (ah, the bonuses of 77-minute CD running times!).

64 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A best-of that will make you feelin' groovy November 17, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

At first glance the S&G completists will note--Where is "Kathy's Song"?

First, let me explain. This collection features the S&G songs that were released as charted singles. The evidence in that is that the songs are listed in the order they debuted on the singles charts. Therefore, "The Sound of Silence" kicks it off (released 11/65) and "My Little Town" closes it (released 10/75).

Kathy's Song never charted. One may also note that the applause from "For Emily..." crossfades into the intro to "America." The reason for this is to hide the crossfade ending of Save The Life Of My Child which is underneath the fade-up of "America." The songs are not out of order ("America" was one side of the "For Emily" single).

Lastly, "Fakin' It" is the mono single mix. There is nothing wrong with its inclusion here. This single version has as yet to be released. How does it compare with the stereo remaster on the Old Friends boxed set? Different! The intro doesn't fade up, and the ending is faded out a little early. Also Paul's last verse and chorus (used before the fade-out) comes up a few seconds early after the door chime and the little girl sound effects) Thus the mono single is shorter than the stereo album mix by about eight seconds. The stereo mix is good on the drums near the end and on those sound effects (crossing from one speaker to the next) to give it a spacy, airy feel. However, the mono mix also has more punch, the drums are louder, the vocals without echo seem clearer. I guess, it's a toss up between the two. Both are good in their own way.

The remastering is excellent! This is far more superior than its predecessor. One wonders though where the remastered live "Kathy's Song" will end up. So far, it is only available on Paul Simon's boxed set!

A truly great best-of that lives up to its name. However, I would have welcomed more than two pages of liner notes! Buy this though and start feelin' groovy all over again!

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars try the import for more songs September 17, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

While this is a great album, nodoubt about that, spend a few dollars more and get ALL their best songs (40 on two CD's) on the import "Tales from New York". It has the same cover art, but twice as many songs.