Let's talk about Simon and Garfunkel,
their epic concept album, Bookends,
and the times in which it was
released to the world -
including Castlegar.
During the mid to late 60s, the family home on
the hill was constantly thrumming with music.
At any given time, the console stereo would be
pumping out the latest sounds from a wide
variety of artists, while Rod's Seabreeze
record player was in use in his or my
bedroom. Doug might be outside,
washing his 4-wheeled pride and
joy, as its radio blared the
hit parade, courtesy of
Castlegar's own
CKQR.
Meanwhile, Gord,
Ken and I might be in the
rumpus room, trading licks:
Gord on his '65 Yamaha Spanish
guitar (with the original 'motorcycle
spokes' logo on the headstock), Ken
playing his Ludwig Jazz kit, and me
on my used, $25, candy apple red
Teisco bass (with the 4 pickups).
Music was anywhere and everywhere,
on the hill and in the valley below.
That was how cool Castlegar
was, way back in the 60s.
When Rod unwrapped and first played Bookends,
top to bottom, we brothers all stopped what we
were doing and congregated in the living room,
amazed by the LP's lush production and 2-sided
concept: side one exploring the ups and downs of
ageing and side two containing hit song after hit song,
mostly written for (and rejected from) the soundtrack to
the movie The Graduate. My ears quickly became hooked
on the album, requiring daily doses of its timeless strains,
as I subconciously memorized every melody and lyric,
not to mention its perfectly planned - perfectly
sequenced running order...
Side One:
Bookends Theme; Save The Life of My Child,
featuring Bob Moog's synthesiser; the magnificent,
sprawling America; Overs; the haunting Voices of
Old People (who were not much older then than I
am now); one of my lifelong faves,
Old Friends and the title song,
Bookends.
Side Two:
Fakin' It, with its incredibly deep and wide production,
courtesy of the great Roy Halee (whom I met in early '80);
the humorous Punky's Dilemma; the number one smash,
Mrs. Robinson; A Hazy Shade of Winter and... finally...
the mesmerising At The Zoo, with its tongue-twisting
couplets of rich, wry rhyme. What an album!!
I searched far and wide for clean copies of each song,
then embedded each Tube video in its correct sequence,
below. I couldn't find Voices Of Old People, and could
only locate a 'live', mono version of Punky's Dilemma.
Now, it's up to you, ladies and fine fellows,
to follow the mellow yellow brick road...
back... back... no... further... yeah...
THAT far back...
...to the distant spring of '68.
Here's Classic Album 2,
almost in its entirety:
"Bookends".
Bookends Theme
Bookends
Fakin' It (Mono)
their epic concept album, Bookends,
and the times in which it was
released to the world -
including Castlegar.
During the mid to late 60s, the family home on
the hill was constantly thrumming with music.
At any given time, the console stereo would be
pumping out the latest sounds from a wide
variety of artists, while Rod's Seabreeze
record player was in use in his or my
bedroom. Doug might be outside,
washing his 4-wheeled pride and
joy, as its radio blared the
hit parade, courtesy of
Castlegar's own
CKQR.
Meanwhile, Gord,
Ken and I might be in the
rumpus room, trading licks:
Gord on his '65 Yamaha Spanish
guitar (with the original 'motorcycle
spokes' logo on the headstock), Ken
playing his Ludwig Jazz kit, and me
on my used, $25, candy apple red
Teisco bass (with the 4 pickups).
Music was anywhere and everywhere,
on the hill and in the valley below.
That was how cool Castlegar
was, way back in the 60s.
When Rod unwrapped and first played Bookends,
top to bottom, we brothers all stopped what we
were doing and congregated in the living room,
amazed by the LP's lush production and 2-sided
concept: side one exploring the ups and downs of
ageing and side two containing hit song after hit song,
mostly written for (and rejected from) the soundtrack to
the movie The Graduate. My ears quickly became hooked
on the album, requiring daily doses of its timeless strains,
as I subconciously memorized every melody and lyric,
not to mention its perfectly planned - perfectly
sequenced running order...
Side One:
Bookends Theme; Save The Life of My Child,
featuring Bob Moog's synthesiser; the magnificent,
sprawling America; Overs; the haunting Voices of
Old People (who were not much older then than I
am now); one of my lifelong faves,
Old Friends and the title song,
Bookends.
Side Two:
Fakin' It, with its incredibly deep and wide production,
courtesy of the great Roy Halee (whom I met in early '80);
the humorous Punky's Dilemma; the number one smash,
Mrs. Robinson; A Hazy Shade of Winter and... finally...
the mesmerising At The Zoo, with its tongue-twisting
couplets of rich, wry rhyme. What an album!!
I searched far and wide for clean copies of each song,
then embedded each Tube video in its correct sequence,
below. I couldn't find Voices Of Old People, and could
only locate a 'live', mono version of Punky's Dilemma.
Now, it's up to you, ladies and fine fellows,
to follow the mellow yellow brick road...
back... back... no... further... yeah...
THAT far back...
...to the distant spring of '68.
Here's Classic Album 2,
almost in its entirety:
"Bookends".
Bookends Theme
Save The Life Of My Child
America
Overs
Old Friends
Bookends
Fakin' It (Mono)
Punky's Dilemma
(live version from 1968)
Mrs Robinson
A Hazy Shade of Winter
At The Zoo
Mozz the Elder
www.vapormusic.com
Thanks for reminding me of this great album. Reminds me of my old high school English teacher. He had the tweed jacket with the elbow patches and we listened to this album in class. Everyone who lived in the sixties probably had one "groovy" English teacher like that.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has always been one of my favourite tunes and I like the YES version too!
Wow! Such a great album. Their best, IMHO. America was one of the first S&G songs I learned to play on the guitar, courtesy of lessons from my buddy Mike (A.)
ReplyDeleteEvery track on the album is amazing. I, too, have a great fondness for "At The Zoo". Fine imagery in the lyrics.
I teach "Punky's Dilemma" to my students each year. A seemingly light hearted tune, which may have more serious underlying meaning.
Thanks for putting this one up. Truly, one of the great classic albums.