Old Friends

by

Simon & Garfunkel

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It's hard determinining whether this outstanding Simon & Garfunkel box set succeeds or complements the earlier "Collected Works" box. That set gathered only commercial studio releases and offered only convienience to the fan already having the original albums.

"Old Friends" corrects that on disc one, track one: a demo version of "Bleaker Street" that introduces S&G's strengths: Paul Simon's folk guitar mastery and insightful, uniquely New York combination of discovery and disgust, joined to Art Garfunkel's cleansing tenor, superb folk-rock harmony and sense of rock n' roll structure.

Subsequent songs build from that discovery, supplemented by sound clarity missing from the original releases. You hear the original and "remix" of "Sounds of Silence," and the original holds more power in this context. The group's familiar hits are here (all in studio versions, unlike 1972's "Greatest Hits" set) with live tracks displaying S&G's informal performing style and constant acknowledgement of its influence. (Here, they cover the Everlys' "Bye Bye Love," Gene Autry's "Silver Haired Daddy," and their own "Hey Schoolgirl," first recorded as Tom & Jerry. Interestingly, no live tracks are from their Monterey Pop appearance.)

You see simple, striking folk covers and Simon originals from "Wednesday Morning 3AM" progress to the "Abbey Road" ornateness and power of "The Boxer" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Like the Beatles, S&G began simply, slowed and grew the recording process to create something brief but lasting, then saw personal and professional friendships fracture under the weight. "Old Friends" introduces that process to new fans and completes the story for longtime followers. Highly recommended.