Musical Notes – Simon & Garfunkel
Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel
Produced by Lawrence Standifer Stevens
Written by Joseph E. Casanova
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Originally named “The Sounds of Silence,” the song was eventually retitled and remixed giving American duo Simon and Garfunkel one of the biggest-selling singles of their career.
Paul Simon penned “The Sound of Silence” in 1964 which joined Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” and the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” at the threshold of the folk rock movement.
Simon’s composition appeared on their debut album, Wednesday Morning 3 A.M., but the collection failed to meet the label’s sales expectations.
However, a Boston radio station later placed the track onto heavy rotation and a remix of the song found its way onto the pop charts, eventually hitting #1 and selling over a million copies.
The new version was included in the duo’s sophomore album, Sounds of Silence, which also yielded two more hits, “Homeward Bound” and “I Am a Rock.”
Oscar-winning director, Mike Nichols, used “The Sound of Silence” in several scenes in his 1967 comedy, The Graduate, which also featured another Simon and Garfunkel song, the now immortal “Mrs. Robinson.”
It boggles my mind how much my nephew Cole likes the music of the 60’s. We often hit local indy record stores and hunt for used copies of classic works.
One afternoon, after the city enjoyed a rather torrential downpour, Cole grabbed his phone and recorded the soaked backyard behind my sister’s house.
To score the piece of footage he shot, my nephew chose “The Sound of Silence,” which perfectly captured the stillness of the moment.
My sister Celeste asked Cole why he selected that piece of music.
He simply smiled and said, “It just seemed to fit.”
“Do you even know who sings that song?” Celeste asked him.
“Yeah, it’s Simon and some guy with curly hair like Uncle Joseph.”
I need to find a barbershop and quick.
