M- SHRINK 1968 Orig Simon & Garfunkel BOOKENDS + POSTER

$

103

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       1968 MINTY CLEAN ORIGINAL COLLECTIBLE                    

  In Factory Shrink Wrap, transparent sticker and large POSTER!            

                          SIMON & GARFUNKLE

               Bookends 

                       ...USA - 360 Sound Columbia - KCS 9529 

Original 1968 first pressing on the highly collected 360 Columbia label, including the printed original Columbia inner sleeve to the pressing...in original factory shrink wrapper includes the scarce transparent sticker advising of the Simon & Garfunkel poster within, yes, the large poster is included, plus the original printed Columbia records inner sleeve, making this complete, just as issued 42 years ago...!

Bookends is a most brilliant melody-maker. What you may not expect is the proto-industrial trip they call "Save the Life of My Child" that zones right in after the mellow acoustic strums of "Bookends Theme". Seriously, the music itself must have been tripping on acid when this song was recorded. But there's melodies abound, which makes this synthesized dissonance quite lovely. Sure, some may say that Simon & Garfunkel were too sissy to take on something so grandiose, but the fact that it's on here is awesome in its own right. Failed experiment no way; these pansies were actually filled with smooth grooves.

Each song has great qualities. Bookends Theme sounds similar to something you'd find off of their previous album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, easing the listener who's pretty sure that a nice, quiet song is up next.

Then a Moog synth comes out of nowhere, sending the listener into Save the Life of My Child. This is surprising for any album in 1968, especially a folk rock album. The song keeps the Moog for the beat, as the song tells the story about a man who stands on a building, about to commit suicide. The story goes into how onlookers reacted, before "he flew away".

The somewhat depressing ending segues into the next song, America. America is a song about a couple hitchhiking through America. The song interestingly doesn't rhyme, and is one of the best songs on the album. A well known British progressive rock band covered this song, adding in instrumental passages that lengthen the song to about 10 minutes.

Overs sounds much like something that would have been in Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, since the song is all acoustic guitar, there  isn't any drums or electric instruments featured even in Simon and Garfunkel's later albums.

Voices of Old People isn't a song, it's a passage of recordings from old folks homes, featuring those in them. It fits well as an introduction into Old Friends.

Old Friends features an orchestra prominently, much like Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme's The Dangling Conversation, only more so for Old Friends. It's a very nice song.

The Bookends Theme returns, but in a longer form with vocals included. The theme of aging is also in this song, with the song talking about "long ago" and about "preserving your memories".

The quiet Bookends Theme is interrupted like it's previous incarnation, but not as surprisingly. Fakin' It is a lively tune, especially in contrast to the songs since America.  The song is about a man who feels as if he's out of place, saying he feels that he was a tailor in a previous lifetime. After that's said, the song switches tone, going into a Paris-esq atmosphere, and a child asking Mr. Leech if he's "had a busy day?", and the the melody returns as the character says he's still Fakin' It.

Punky's Dilemma is a smooth song, just going through a couple silly thoughts of a man and his breakfast, but goes into "Roger draft dodger" sneaking into the basements, as the muffled sound of a man falling down some steps is played, but the easy going returns, as Paul whistles through the rest of the song.

The next song was a hit for Simon & Garfunkel, their first since 1965's The Sound of Silence. Mrs. Robinson is a definite change in tone from 1965, and is the complete form of the song that was featured in the movie The Graduate. The song looks at Mrs. Robinson, a women who seems to have some troubles, as the song goes through a few of them. The song is also the longest on the album.

A Hazy Shade of Winter is up next, and goes to a less upbeat tone found in Mrs. Robinson, giving a glimpse into a man's eyes who sees a apparently barren world, which seems like it's under this hazy shade of winter, as he puts it. Very infectious melody, as you know....

At the Zoo is the final song on the album, and talks about a trip to the zoo (which seems to be the Central Park Zoo), and goes into a metaphorical look at all the animals there. Very catchy melody as you know...

The album is pure greatness...

CONDITION: The cover: Clean, solid, MINT in factory shrink wrap still with the transparent sticker on outside of the cellophane. Hard to find like this. NIce collectible. Upgrade to your old copy or great first time score!

The vinyl: All glossy on both sides, smooth and clear M- ...looks as nice as it plays...

keeper!

     A  GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTION !

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record