The Concert in Central Park
Live album by Simon & Garfunkel
Released February 16, 1982
Recorded September 19, 1981
Genre Folk rock
Length 75:51
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Paul Simon, Roy Halee, Phil Ramone
The Concert in Central Park is a live album by Simon & Garfunkel. On September 19, 1981 the folk-rock duo reunited for a free concert on the Great Lawn of New York's Central Park attended by more than 500,000 people. They released a live album from the concert the following March (Warner Brothers LP 2BSK 3654; CD 3654). It was arranged by Paul Simon and Dave Grusin, and produced by Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Phil Ramone and Roy Halee.
The concert was also shot on videotape, televised by HBO in 1982, and subsequently released on various home video formats. The VHS and DVD contain two songs that were omitted from the live album: "The Late Great Johnny Ace" and "Late in the Evening (Reprise)". "Johnny Ace" was disrupted by a fan rushing the stage who came very close to attacking Paul. This incident was both frightening and ironic, as the song is an elegy upon the murder of John Lennon just one year earlier. "The Late Great Johnny Ace" is not listed in the track listing, appearing between "A Heart in New York" and "Kodachrome".
In addition to some of Simon and Garfunkel's greatest hits, the duo performed Simon and Garfunkel versions of some of Paul Simon's 1970s solo hits, including "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard", "American Tune", "Late In the Evening", "Slip Sliding Away", and "Kodachrome".
Listener reviews
You can almost hear Simon & Garfunkel begin to like each other again on this now-legendary set. On September 19, 1981, the duo reunited for just the second time since their initial breakup and revealed a camaraderie that had apparently vanished years earlier. Not only do they reprise their shared hits, they also work in a few of Paul Simon's solo gems and a couple of telling covers--one from the Everly Brothers and one from Chuck Berry. The band includes the best session men around. By the time they get to the sincerity of "Old Friends" and the joy of "The 59th Street Bridge Song," you sense a relationship fully repaired. After this success, they even planned a studio record together--one that eventually became Simon's overlooked Hearts and Bones--few were surprised when it did not come to pass. -- Marc Greilsamer
The sound quality for live albums is either great or awful - seldom is there middle ground. These 2 guys are such absolute perfectionists, you would guess that the sound would be excellent - and it is. But the choice of songs, the world-class back up band and the tight Simon and Garfunkel vocals are the real draw for me. I really like the fact that they don't do note-for-note copies of their album takes on these well-known songs. There are enough twists here and there to keep the songs fresh and interesting. Also, the fact that this disk perfectly captures an event that could have only happened in NYC doesn't hurt. I find it hard to believe that this all happened over 20 years ago. If you like these guys even a little bit, have a listen, you might just like what you hear. -- Dom Miliano
Professional ratings
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars
Track listing
All songs by Paul Simon except where noted.
1. "Mrs. Robinson" Ð 3:52
2. "Homeward Bound" Ð 4:22
3. "America" Ð 4:47
4. "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" Ð 3:22
5. "Scarborough Fair" (traditional, arr. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel) Ð 3:52
6. "April Come She Will" Ð 2:37
7. "Wake Up Little Susie" (Felice and Boudleaux Bryant) Ð 2:19
8. "Still Crazy After All These Years" Ð 4:04
9. "American Tune" Ð 4:33
10. "Late in the Evening" Ð 4:09
11. "Slip Slidin' Away" Ð 4:54
12. "A Heart in New York" (Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle) Ð 2:49
13. "Kodachrome/Maybellene" (Simon, Chuck Berry, Russ Fratto, Alan Freed) Ð 5:51
14. "Bridge over Troubled Water" Ð 4:48
15. "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" Ð 4:23
16. "The Boxer" Ð 6:02
17. "Old Friends" Ð 2:57
18. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" Ð 2:01
19. "The Sounds of Silence" Ð 4:13
Personnel
* Paul Simon Ð guitars, vocals, triangle
* Art Garfunkel Ð vocals
* David Brown Ð guitars
* Pete Carr Ð guitars
* Anthony Jackson Ð bass guitar
* Richard Tee Ð keyboards, piano
* Steve Gadd Ð drums, percussion
* Grady Tate Ð drums, percussion
* Rob Mounsey Ð synthesizer
* John Gatchell Ð trumpet
* John Eckert Ð trumpet
* Dave Tofani Ð saxophones
* Gerry Niewood Ð saxophones
[edit]
Released February 16, 1982
Recorded September 19, 1981
Producer Paul Simon, Roy Halee, Phil Ramone
* Paul Simon Ð guitars, vocals, triangle
* Art Garfunkel Ð vocals
* David Brown Ð guitars
* Pete Carr Ð guitars
* Anthony Jackson Ð bass guitar
* Richard Tee Ð keyboards, piano
* Steve Gadd Ð drums, percussion
* Grady Tate Ð drums, percussion
* Rob Mounsey Ð synthesizer
* John Gatchell Ð trumpet
* John Eckert Ð trumpet
* Dave Tofani Ð saxophones
* Gerry Niewood Ð saxophones