Simon and Garfunkel: The Boxer (1969)

"The Boxer" took Simon and Garfunkel over 100 hours to record. They brought in Fred Carter Jr. to play guitar on the track. Paul Simon struggled with the chorus and used "lie-la-lie" as a space filler until he could develop one. He couldn't and the refrain remained. Some thought the song was a veiled shot at Bob Dylan, but in reality, it was autobiographical. At the time, Simon felt people were beating him mercilessly. He even included the Biblical phrases "workman's wages" and "seeking out the poorer quarters" to accentuate his isolation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3LFML_pxlY


Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy1hXDOenOY


　


　

Mo Ostin: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2003

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/mo-ostin/bio/

Mo Ostin was a record exec that artists loved.

He worked with everyone from Sammy Davis Jr. to Nellie Furtado.

Ostin signed Hendrix in 1967 after Monterey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP2xcjtgcIc

At Warner Brothers, he signed The Beach Boys, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Van Halen, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Prince.

Songs about, or referring to, Ostin:

A Apolitical Blues by Little Feat w/Mick Taylor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfN_F2TC0xs

Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze by Neil Young: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9_vwofmsIM

Paul Simon: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2001

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/paul-simon/bio/

Official Site: http://www.paulsimon.com/us/home

Paul Simon spent the 1960s collaborating with Art Garfunkel. The pair split in 1970. Simon experienced great solo success.

This video guest stars Mickey Mantle and Spud Webb....

Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard (1972): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6VrKro8djw

Kodachrome (1973): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLsDxvAErTU

Loves Me Like a Rock (1973): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3BJl5Zy7HQ

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (1975): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTiyLuZOs1A

Still Crazy After All These Years (1976): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46bkXgxb66E

Slip Slidin’ Away (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuPJzzcV6jA

Concert in Central Park with Art Garfunkel (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTCNwgzM2rQ

We Are the World (1985): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI

In 1986, Simon released the seminal album, Graceland.

You Can Call Me Al (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-gYOrU8bA.

Graceland (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtT7Og2LBbE

The Obvious Child (1990): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y11yMCnhxZE

Father and Daughter (2003): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTLcA_WUNoM

The Afterlife (2011): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQzSMvNMvBY

Simon continues to perform and occasionally reunites with Art Garfunkel.

Paul Simon: Slip Slidin' Away (1977)

Reminds me of childhood sitting in the back of the car...

Before it appeared in commercials, Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away" hit the top 10. Who hasn't had a period in life like this? The song itself seems to sum up America in the 1970s after the promise of the Kennedy years. It came at a time when the divorce rate began to skyrocket, gas prices jumped, the economy soured, and Watergate left everyone in a "last days of Rome" mood.

The Oak Ridge Boys provided backup vocals.

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f88rdBAJSVY

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_H-LY4Jb2M

Simon and Garfunkel: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1990

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/simon-and-garfunkel/bio/

Official Site:

http://www.simonandgarfunkel.com/us/home

Paul Simon:

http://www.paulsimon.com/us/home

Art Garfunkel:

http://www.artgarfunkel.com/

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel formed the group Tom and Jerry in 1957.

Hey Schoolgirl as Tom and Jerry (1957):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ftd49btv2s

They hit it big as Simon and Garfunkel in 1965.

The Sound of Silence (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hUy9ePyo6Q

Homeward Bound (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtCDjV_WrDc

I am a Rock (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My9I8q-iJCI

A Hazy Shade of Winter (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSd4QJBEMvk

At the Monterey Pop Music Festival (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K8wfyzAJQ

Scarborough Fair (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQaD2CAi9A

They helped develop the soundtrack to The Graduate starring Dustin Hoffman.

The Graduate (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-3PP7hfIm4

Mrs. Robinson (1968):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_jmDscGi7E

Joe DiMaggio considered suing over “Mrs. Robinson” until he realized what Paul Simon meant with the line “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?”

Joe DiMaggio around the time of “Mrs. Robinson”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUB6LBsveH0

Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_a46WJ1viA

Cecilia (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5_QV97eYqM

El Condor Pasa (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pey29CLID3I

The duo split in 1970. The pair reunited several times over the years.

Saturday Night Live (1975):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hqdZ4AWSaI

The Concert in Central Park (1981):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-PNun-Pfb4

Wake Up Little Susie (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq7Ja6-J26E

Grammy Awards (2003):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=debgoWX1tLU

The pair reunited for a tour in 2004-05.

They planned a tour for 2010, but Garfunkel suffered from vocal chord paresis. The tour is on hold.

Dion: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989

His career in links.

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/dion/bio/

Official Site:

http://diondimucci.com/

Dion was one of the most popular performers before the British Invasion.

With the Belmonts (1957-1960):

I Wonder Why (1958):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZBSGaWrEn4

Dion and the Belmonts played on the Winter Dance Party tour in 1959. Dion could not afford the $36 needed to fly and stuck with the bus. The plane, carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, crashed killing the three.

A Teenager in Love (1959):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYdcwunG7g

Where or When (1960):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmi3yYJmkRc

In 1960, Dion checked into rehab for a heroin addiction. The band split later in the year over financial disagreements.

Solo:

Lonely Teenager (1960):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8b8fd6K5PI

Runaround Sue (1961):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c49klxPex-k

The Wanderer (1961):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m6lymJy57E

Lovers Who Wander (1962):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIfg2M_-kuE

Little Diane (1962):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKu8sha9ATQ

Ruby Baby (1962):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRjviO8negQ

Donna the Prima Donna (1963)

:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igGVFZNCbZI

Drip Drop (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSW_MFMOAco

The British Invasion hit and Dion’s fortunes changed. In 1968, he cleaned up again and changed his style and life.

Abraham, Martin, and John (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPdYViBu0is

Your Own Back Yard (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKYb6XVWsIs

In 1979, he became born again. He did not return to rock for a decade.

Written on the Subway Wall w/ Paul Simon and Lou Reed (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xynbNneZkmI

Today, he works in the prison ministry and tries to help those with addiction.

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 25^th Anniversary Concert (2009):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMlBjFKOodM

827. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel (1970)

America entered the seventies much as it left the sixties...in turmoil. Simon and Garfunkel address the underlying tension and stresses of 1970 America in "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Interestingly, the song exposed turmoil within the duo. The pair split after the album, but they went out on top as the song proved a major hit.

There have been many covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" most notably Elvis in 1970 and Johnny Cash in 2002.

Simon and Garfunkel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-PNun-Pfb4

Elvis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FTAWzexOmQ

Johnny Cash (w/Fiona Apple):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6gyUotqwPM