If one thinks about the most influential artists of the Vietnam era, some very big names… If one thinks about the most influential artists of the Vietnam era, some very big names immediately come to mind. Bands like The Beatles seemed to champion the “druggier” side of the ’60s and Simon and Garfunkel seemed to epitomize the lighter, airier side. There is no doubt that Simon and Garfunkel immediately became popular in an era when the country was divided by war both abroad and at home. Simon ‘ Garfunkel, Live 1969, recently released, is an indication of Simon and Garfunkel’s continued popularity with a new generation.

Simon and Garfunkel, Live 1969 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel Sony BMG Music Entertainment

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Countless re-mastered versions of Simon and Garfunkel albums have been made since the official ending of their relationship, including their famous Bridge over Troubled Water and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Simon and Garfunkel songs continue to fascinate moviemakers, and they regularly appear in modern flicks.

Despite all this attention, however, there have been no releases of their capstone 1969 tour. Even the fact that the tour occurred right before the two went on a rather long hiatus failed to spur much interest.

Now, though, from Sony Entertainment comes a re-mastered – and original – release of Simon and Garfunkel’s 1969 tour, complete with original recordings from performances at various tour stops. The album serves as a fittingly spectacular conclusion to the duo’s career. It is an exceptional collection of Simon and Garfunkel classics performed in a way many younger fans of the band have yet to experience.

The collection includes selections from the tour representative of Simon and Garfunkel’s most famous albums, including Bridge over Troubled Waters and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and Bookends. The major highlights are Simon and Garfunkel’s most popular songs, including “Homeward Bound,” “I Am a Rock,” “The Boxer” and, of course, “The Sound of Silence.”

The quality of CD recording brings the best of both 1969 and 2008. The clarity of the CD picks up everything that is happening on stage, allowing the listener to feel as if he is really standing in front of Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon, playing their favorite songs on stage. The same clarity conversely records some of the impurities of the 1969 recording equipment, giving the songs a distinctly vintage feel that many college-aged Simon and Garfunkel fans have come to adore.

There is always something attractive about a live album, and this effort is nothing different. The live aspect gives the songs some humanity over their impeccably choreographed studio equivalents. Many listeners are used to the single version of “The Sound of Silence,” complete with studio-recorded drums and guitar. In the live edition featured on this album, the only percussion is provided by Paul Simon tapping lightly on his acoustic guitar. The rest of the quality of the song arises from the feeling put into the lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel’s singing. Other songs, like “The Boxer,” include small improvisations that make the rendition unique despite being well known.

For any “oldies” fans of Simon and Garfunkel, this new tour provides an exceptional addition to any LP collection. The original LPs take the listener back to the way Simon and Garfunkel sounded to fans of the late ’60s and early ’70s, as they listened at home. The CD brings the listener closer to how Simon and Garfunkel sounded to those fans lucky enough to see them in concert in Detroit, Toledo, St. Louis or New York.

An added bonus of the collection is its case, which provides pictures of both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel as they toured in 1969. Also included is a booklet with literature explaining the creation of the album, the tour itself and basic history about the rise and end of Simon and Garfunkel’s collaborative efforts.

If you really like Simon and Garfunkel, you should notice that you already have three or four copies of each song listed on this album. This is not at all a problem, though, for as a live album, each song featured has its own unique quality, complete with improvisations, new and different inflections and slight guitar embellishments. You would do well to add this CD to your library.