The Essential : Simon & Garfunkel

The first disc of this two-CD collection focuses on songs originally recorded by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel between 1964-1967, a time when Simon was incorporating elements of British folk into his songwriting. Hits and high points from these fruitful years include their breakthrough hit "The Sound of Silence," the anthemic "I Am a Rock," the class-divided "Richard Cory," the pastoral "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," and the acoustic rock of "A Hazy Shade of Winter," all of which feature those inimitable, Everly-inspired harmonies. Disc two covers the 1967-1969 era, in which Simon & Garfunkel had reached a stride both creatively and commercially, with timeless tracks such as the jaunty "Mrs. Robinson" (from The Graduate), the lamenting "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)," and the revered ballad "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Interspersed throughout both discs are live recordings of "Leaves That Are Green," "Overs," and others, along with the 1975 reunion single, "My Little Town." Although some outstanding songs (such as "April Come She Will" and "Patterns") inevitably fall through the cracks, The Essential Simon & Garfunkel proves to be an excellent offering for those looking for the middle ground between the five-disc box set and one of many single-disc collections.|