The Legendary Partnership of Simon and Garfunkel: What Led to Their Breakup?

Introduction

Simon and Garfunkel’s iconic partnership rose to immense success but eventually faced a tumultuous end. Personal tensions and the making of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ played crucial roles in their breakup.

The Rise and Fall of Simon and Garfunkel’s Legendary Partnership

• Simon and Garfunkel were a legendary musical duo who achieved immense popularity and success over the span of half a decade, with multiple records owning the top spots on the US albums chart.

• Despite their massive success, personal tensions and turmoil began to strain their relationship as they worked on their fifth studio album.

• Their strained relationship was exacerbated by the overlapping commitments of filming ‘Catch 22’ and creating ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.

• The duo’s partnership ultimately came to a passive aggressive climax with the final song they recorded for their last album, leading to irreconcilable differences and the end of their iconic partnership.

The Making of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’

• The making of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ was overshadowed by the strained relationship between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

• Originally scheduled for a brief 3-month shoot in Mexico, Catch 22, the movie Art Garfunkel was filming, took a year to complete, drawing him away from the album’s composition.

• The combination of Simon’s perfectionism and Garfunkel’s prolonged absences turned the project into a 19-month marathon, spanning from June of 1968 to December of 1969.

• Despite the challenges, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ proved to be a rare and phenomenal moment in music history, spending 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard charts and selling over 25 million copies worldwide.

• The song ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ was written in the summer of 1969, inspired by Paul Simon’s feelings during Art Garfunkel’s absence, and it became one of the most shocking moments in Simon’s songwriting career.

The Inspiration and Creation of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

• Paul Simon admitted that much of the inspiration for the song came from listening to the gospel group The Swan Silver Tones.

• The composition process began with Paul Simon playing a Bach chorale on his guitar, but he hit a wall with the lyrics after coming up with the now familiar instrumentation for the song.

• The iconic phrase ‘like a bridge over troubled water’ was inspired by a phrase from a Swan Silvertones song.

• The song was initially written on the guitar before being transposed to piano by arranger Jimmy Haskell, and a demo was recorded in LA with session pianist Larry Knechtel.

• The track was the final one recorded for the album, and it marked the end of Simon and Garfunkel’s partnership.

• Paul Simon envisioned the song as a showcase for Art Garfunkel’s pure tenor and suggested that he should take the lead vocals, but both artists had reservations about who should sing it.

• Ultimately, Simon was insistent that Garfunkel should take the lead vocals, a decision that Paul Simon later regretted as he felt he should have sung it himself.

The Phenomenon of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

• In 1970, Simon and Garfunkel released “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which became an instant hit and a landmark track in the music industry. The song was initially only two verses long, but thanks to producer Roy Haley and Art Garfunkel’s insistence, Paul Simon added a third verse inspired by his wife Peggy’s first gray hairs.

• Despite Paul Simon’s initial doubts about the third verse, the lush orchestral arrangement and the emotional impact of the song made it a huge success. When the album was ready for release, there was some hesitation about making “Bridge Over Troubled Water” the lead single due to its length and pace, but it was eventually chosen and went on to top the charts in multiple countries.

• The success of the song was unparalleled, earning Paul Simon an estimated $7 million from the single alone by the end of 1970. Simon and Garfunkel also swept the Grammys that year, winning six awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

The Breakup of Simon and Garfunkel

• Simon and Garfunkel, despite their commercial success and critical acclaim, eventually reached a breaking point in their partnership, leading to their split and pursuit of solo careers.

• Both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel went on to release successful solo albums after their breakup, demonstrating their individual capabilities as artists.

• Their 1972 Greatest Hits package, released during this time, achieved immense success, selling 19 million copies worldwide.

• Although they had temporary reunions and collaborations, they never released another studio album together, choosing to focus on their solo careers and producing top-tier craftsmanship for decades.

• The song ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ holds a significant place in many people’s hearts, including the writer’s mother, and continues to resonate with audiences as an unforgettable classic.

Conclusion

The song ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ marked both the pinnacle of Simon and Garfunkel’s success and the beginning of the end for their partnership. Their breakup, though saddening, led to the emergence of their individual capabilities as remarkable artists.

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