[.ca] Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Amazon.com essential recording:
When a retrofit of electric guitars transformed "Sounds of Silence" into Simon & Garfunkel's folk-rock entrée, the partners and their label hastily followed with a like-titled album mixing Paul Simon's acoustic folk songs with plugged-in bids for radio play. By contrast, this successor, released less than a year later, more coherently and convincingly reveals Simon's broadening horizons as a writer and the duo's nascent studio perfectionism. The title song remains a haunting signature piece, relying on acoustic guitar and harpsichord to carry its contrapuntal marriage of English ballad and antiwar plaint; such acoustic delicacy prevails throughout and has proven more durable than by-the-numbers wattage. The first great S & G album, the set includes "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," "Homeward Bound," "Dangling Conversation," and Art Garfunkel's luminous solo piece, "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her." (The 2001 reissue adds a pair of unreleased demos to the original work.) --Sam Sutherland

S & G's masterpiece:
What can anyone say about this album but WOW?! This is the best S & G album that they made, and although slightly lacking the power of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" it beats it by the sheer number of great songs on there. "Scarborough Fair" is without a doubt the best song on this CD, with the haunting anti-war lyrics. "Homeward Bound" will always stick out in my memory because of its catchy melody and chorus. "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" is a nice break from the rather dreary songs in the beginning. "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night", while dated (people under 30 won't get the full effect), is the most powerful song on this CD, and is only rivaled by "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Boxer". Definitely pick up this CD; it's their best.

The Unparalleled Masterpiece:
This is the greatest album ever released by ANYONE EVER. It's as simple as that. Nobody else could sooth your soul like Simon And Garfunkel, and for that reason alone, I consider them to be the most gifted musicians that ever lived. They got their start with the understated WEDNESDAY MORNING, 3 A.M., which failed to impress people, and then the excellent SOUNDS OF SILENCE, which not only impressed people but fascinated them. And it all culminated in this, their third album, an incomparable work of art. "Scarborough Fair" is my favorite song in the world, and also the most beautiful song in the world. It's divine. It's Heaven on Earth. It's so lovely that I feel like I'm being touched by God whenever I hear it. Yeah, many would say "Jeez, it's only music". Well no, it's not "only music", it's medicine for the mind and soul. I first heard the song via the movie "The Graduate". As soon as "Scarborough Fair" played, I felt all of my troubles drifting afar, and I felt my mind being eased and taken to a world of musical divinity. The Beatnik-like "Patterns" is equally impressive. Ingenious lyrics, great conga playing and maracas, and, as usual, fantastic vocals from emotion extraordinaire Art Garfunkel. And I love the way that Simon sings along on some of the lines, giving it more of a darker feel. God I love that song. "Cloudy" is about as mellow as you can get, and once again, Simon perfectly captures the spirit of youthful uncertainty. "Homeward Bound" has one of the most addicting choruses that I've ever heard. Can't get it out of my head to save my life. "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" is awesome. Great, up-tempo, feel-good song. Needless to say that it's about marijuana. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" is the most uplifting, reassuring song that I have ever heard. And if there's one thing the world needs, it's reassurance. The song is a hippie tune that just talks about feeling good and being one with the universe. I love it. "The Dangling Conversation" is a wonderful song complete with some orchestral arrangements. Very touching. "Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall" is my third favorite on here (after the first two songs). That vocal melody just brings a big smile to my face every time I listen to it. And brilliant lyrics as always. "A Simple Desultory Phillipic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission)" is a hilarious Bob Dylan parody. Simon even borrows Dylan's classic line "Everybody must get stoned". And he says it in a way that just cracks me up. "I've just discovered somebody's tapped my phone!" is another line that I love. "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" is quite beautiful, but not their best ballad ever. "April Come She Will", from the previous album, was far superior. But this one's still very pretty, and resplendent with some of the most ingenious lyrics ever written ("I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears"). "A Poem On The Underground Wall" is wonderful, with a great vocal melody. And the closing "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" is very moving. How can anyone dislike it? If you need peace of mind, just put on this song and you're sure to get it. And they have the news playing in the background, talking about the tragedies of the Vietnam war and things like that. I think it captures the time perfectly and it really makes you understand the pain and misfortune that occured in that wild time known as the 1960's. In a nutshell, if you love beautiful music, buy this album. Nothing else in the world even comes close to it.

Once was a true love of mine...:
It is here that Simon & Garfunkel's folk yearnings, rock & roll upbringing, Simon's flourishing songwriting, Garfunkel's deft & subtile arangements, and the duo's pop sensibility begin to mix to produce the near perfect 60's folk/pop album. And it is here that they caught the world's attention. The Beatles had "Rubber Soul" and Simon & Garfunkel had "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme". This album sets the tone straight off with "Scarbourough Fair/Canticle", a brilliant interpretation of a traditional English folk tune paired with a Simon-penned anti-war counter melody. Simple and sparse in it's construction (which marks most of the album), yet powerful in its delivery. The tone continues through the album with delecate, intricate and deliberate arrangements through such songs as "Patterns", "Cloudy", "A Poem on the Underground Wall" and "The 59th Street Bridge Song" (featuring members of the Dave Brubeck Quartet). The arrangements grow bigger Simon's road-weary ode "Homeward Bound" with a simple rock rhythm section adding some punch, but not overpowering the acoustic guitar/vocal balance. The gorgeous "Dangling Conversation" features a powerful string section with one of S & G's best vocal performances, reaching from plaintive to empassioned and pleading and back again in a single refrain. Even the two "missteps" here are fun in their own right. "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" is an upbeat parody of comercialism, and "A Simple Desultory Philippic" is Simon's tounge-in-cheek jab at 60's cultural icons and those "hipper than thou" done in a meant-to-be-bad Dylan impersonation. Garfunkel, way underrated in the S & G duality, is at his best here with one of his most powerful vocals on the majestic yet simple "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her". The album ends with the deeply haunting and brilliant "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night", pairing the Christmas carol with an increasing louder and disturbing news report. Although the news reports are of the times (Vietnam, Nixon, the death of Lenny Bruce), the effect is still chilling. Some of the songs here are deeply imbedded in their times, and others are timeless. And nearly all are essential. Simon & Garfunkel created a folk/pop masterpiece, and a perfect Sunday morning album. And they would only get better...

Beautiful harmony:
Even when their material is not up to their usual standard, the beautiful and intricate harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel always offer something of interest. There are some pretentious missteps on this album, but there are also some classics and S & G's performance is polished, nuanced, and expressive throughout. Standout tracks include "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her," "Homeward Bound," and "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"

Beautiful Melodies:
If you were around and into music in the '60's, Simon and Garfunkel was another one of those groups whose albums you simply went out and got when they hit the record stores because you knew it would be worth having. I have the original LP in my collection, but my turntable has been broken for a while and I haven't gotten around to repairing or replacing it, so when I came across this CD, I bought it. My memory didn't betray me. This album is still well worth having. Mind you, it isn't one of my very top favorites. My taste tends more toward harder rock ala the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and the Jefferson Airplane. Further, some of the lyrics here are rather dated. Listening to Paul Simon rail against Maxwell Taylor and Robert McNamara or go on about "feelin' groovey" sounds a little out of it 35 years later. On the other hand, this album contains some of the prettiest folk/rock melodies and hamonies you could ever hope to hear. The opening song sets the tone. "Scarborough Faire/Canticle" is hauntingly beautiful, with a fragile delicacy worthy of a snowflake. I would own the album just for this song, but there's plenty of other outstanding music here, as well. Simon and Garfunkel is another of the great musical acts to come out of the 1960's. PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY & THYME is an excellent piece of their work. Listen past the lyrics in those instances where they become hopelessly dated and enjoy the lovely and timeless music that abounds here. Very highly recommended.

• Scarborough Fair/Canticle
• Patterns
• Cloudy
• Homeward Bound
• The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
• the 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
• The Dangling Conversation
• Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall
• A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into
• For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her
• A Poem On The Underground Wall
• 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night
• Patterns
• A Poem On The Underground Wall