Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
It's no secret that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel didn't end their partnership on the friendliest terms. Despite a brief reunion every decade or so -- most notably in the fall of 1981 at The Concert in Central Park -- Simon & Garfunkel were notorious for not speaking to each other, so their reunion at the 2002 Grammy Awards, opening the show with "The Sound of Silence," was a big deal. It was a good performance, too, whetting the appetites of an audience eager for a full-fledged reunion tour, which the duo delivered in 2003 and into 2004. This tour is documented on the appropriately titled (and none too surprisingly titled) Old Friends: Live on Stage, a double-CD set that culls highlights from a series of concerts they performed at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey and Madison Square Garden between December 3 and 8, 2003. There's also a deluxe version of the concert containing a DVD that recreates the entire set list of the show, adding six songs to the concert, including "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" and two additional Everly Brothers songs. In either incarnation, the same holds true: it's a warm, enjoyable slice of nostalgia. Simon & Garfunkel make no attempt to hide their age -- during the show, they recall meeting each other in sixth grade in a production of Alice in Wonderland, offhandedly mentioning the 40 years that have passed since they started their professional musical career. This is a smart move, since the point of the entire tour and by extension this album is nostalgia, to gain comfort in reminiscing and revisiting the duo's generation-defining songs. This is made explicit on the intro to the DVD, which recaps the cultural shifts from the '50s to the 2000s, all peppered with photos of Simon & Garfunkel as boys, first-time fathers, and senior citizens. This may be unapologetically sentimental, even sappy, but anybody who had Simon & Garfunkel songs as the soundtrack to their life -- particularly Baby Boomers, but to a lesser extent their children, as well -- will find that it tugs on their heart strings all the same, and gets them ready to enjoy this stroll down memory lane. (Nevertheless, it sure is weird to hear the hometown crowd hoop and holler at the "come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue" line in "The Boxer.") As music, Old Friends isn't quite as successful, even if it's still a pleasurable experience. Simon & Garfunkel's voices have aged, lowering a bit in range, and Simon's pitch isn't as strong as it once was, but when they harmonize, the chemistry is still apparent; if anything, the changes in their voices only adds to the nostalgic appeal of the music, since it makes it clear just how much time has passed and how much things have changed. Musically, the biggest flaw is that, apart from the handful of solo acoustic numbers, the arrangements are slickly professional -- well done, to be sure, but just a shade too glossy. But that's a minor complaint, since this overall is a very enjoyable listen. Perhaps it's nostalgia, but it does its job exceptionally well. [Two final notes: The CD contains a new song, "Citizen of the Planet," which is pleasant, but not remarkable. The DVD, however, has an exceptional series of clips from the 1970 TV special Songs of America that contain footage of Simon & Garfunkel performing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in the studio, traveling across the U.S., playing in hotel rooms, and being interviewed. For any dedicated fan, it's worth the price of admission, but hopefully the entire special will be released on DVD someday.]
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
P. Simon, Composer - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - John Scher, Executive Producer - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
P. Simon, Composer - P. Simon, Lyricist - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Composer
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Composer
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Spoken Word, Composer - Spoken Word, Lyricist - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - John Scher, Executive Producer - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Composer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Art Garfunkel, Lyricist - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Composer
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Spoken Word, Composer - Spoken Word, Lyricist - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - John Scher, Executive Producer - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
The Everly Brothers, Performer - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, Composer - BOUDLEAUX BRYANT, Lyricist - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Felice Bryant, Lyricist - Felice Bryant, Composer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
P. Simon, Lyricist - P. Simon, Composer - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Composer - Art Garfunkel, Lyricist - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Composer
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
P. Simon, Composer - P. Simon, Lyricist - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
DISC 2
P. Simon, Composer - P. Simon, Lyricist - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Jorge Milchberg, Composer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Daniel A. Robles, Composer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - John Scher, Executive Producer - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Jim Keltner, Drums - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Lyricist
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Lyricist - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Guitar - Paul Simon, Vocal
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
P. Simon, Composer - P. Simon, Lyricist - EDDIE SIMON, Executive Producer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Rob Schwimmer, Keyboards - Mark Stewart, Acoustic Cello - Mark Stewart, Guitar - Jamey Haddad, Percussion - Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Art Garfunkel, Vocal - Larry Saltzman, Guitar - John Scher, Executive Producer - Warren Bernhardt, Piano - Jeff Kramer, Executive Producer - Pino Palladino, Bass - Paul Simon, Vocal - Paul Simon, Guitar
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel, Performer - Patrick Woodward, 2nd Engineer - Jon Altschiller, Mixing Engineer - John Alagia, Mixing Engineer - John Alagia, Recording Engineer - Paul Simon, Composer - Paul Simon, Lyricist
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Album review
It's no secret that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel didn't end their partnership on the friendliest terms. Despite a brief reunion every decade or so -- most notably in the fall of 1981 at The Concert in Central Park -- Simon & Garfunkel were notorious for not speaking to each other, so their reunion at the 2002 Grammy Awards, opening the show with "The Sound of Silence," was a big deal. It was a good performance, too, whetting the appetites of an audience eager for a full-fledged reunion tour, which the duo delivered in 2003 and into 2004. This tour is documented on the appropriately titled (and none too surprisingly titled) Old Friends: Live on Stage, a double-CD set that culls highlights from a series of concerts they performed at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey and Madison Square Garden between December 3 and 8, 2003. There's also a deluxe version of the concert containing a DVD that recreates the entire set list of the show, adding six songs to the concert, including "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" and two additional Everly Brothers songs. In either incarnation, the same holds true: it's a warm, enjoyable slice of nostalgia. Simon & Garfunkel make no attempt to hide their age -- during the show, they recall meeting each other in sixth grade in a production of Alice in Wonderland, offhandedly mentioning the 40 years that have passed since they started their professional musical career. This is a smart move, since the point of the entire tour and by extension this album is nostalgia, to gain comfort in reminiscing and revisiting the duo's generation-defining songs. This is made explicit on the intro to the DVD, which recaps the cultural shifts from the '50s to the 2000s, all peppered with photos of Simon & Garfunkel as boys, first-time fathers, and senior citizens. This may be unapologetically sentimental, even sappy, but anybody who had Simon & Garfunkel songs as the soundtrack to their life -- particularly Baby Boomers, but to a lesser extent their children, as well -- will find that it tugs on their heart strings all the same, and gets them ready to enjoy this stroll down memory lane. (Nevertheless, it sure is weird to hear the hometown crowd hoop and holler at the "come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue" line in "The Boxer.") As music, Old Friends isn't quite as successful, even if it's still a pleasurable experience. Simon & Garfunkel's voices have aged, lowering a bit in range, and Simon's pitch isn't as strong as it once was, but when they harmonize, the chemistry is still apparent; if anything, the changes in their voices only adds to the nostalgic appeal of the music, since it makes it clear just how much time has passed and how much things have changed. Musically, the biggest flaw is that, apart from the handful of solo acoustic numbers, the arrangements are slickly professional -- well done, to be sure, but just a shade too glossy. But that's a minor complaint, since this overall is a very enjoyable listen. Perhaps it's nostalgia, but it does its job exceptionally well. [Two final notes: The CD contains a new song, "Citizen of the Planet," which is pleasant, but not remarkable. The DVD, however, has an exceptional series of clips from the 1970 TV special Songs of America that contain footage of Simon & Garfunkel performing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in the studio, traveling across the U.S., playing in hotel rooms, and being interviewed. For any dedicated fan, it's worth the price of admission, but hopefully the entire special will be released on DVD someday.]
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 25 track(s)
- Total length: 01:35:42
- Main artists: Simon & Garfunkel
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Folk/Americana
(P) 2004 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.