Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
Simon & Garfunkel’s final album was their finest, in large part because it feels like a swan song.
There was plenty of tension between the duo during the writing and recording of the album — some of which found its way into the songs — and an undercurrent of melancholy to the project that serves it well.
Even the fun songs (‘Baby Driver,’ a live recording of ‘Bye Bye Love’) play a little sad, like echoes of better times.
This album also features a trio of songs I rank among the finest ever written: the title track, ‘The Only Living Boy in New York’ and ‘The Boxer.’ If it was a 3-song EP including only those tracks I’d still put it on this list.
You’re shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I’m down on my knees
I’m begging you please to come home
Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart
You’re shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I’m down on my knees
I’m begging you please to come home
Come on home
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom (making love)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed
Someone’s taken my place
Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart
You’re shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I’m down on my knees
I’m begging you please to come home
Come on home
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I’m laughing,
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I’m laughing
Meet Me In Montauk 
I would have to agree with you; any album containing that selection of songs belongs on some sort of “best of” list. I’m actually surprised that it’s not higher, but we’ll have to see what else you have up your 70’s sleeve.
As I was flipping around channels this weekend (funny how we still use the word “flipping” from the days before remote controls), I caught the last 10 minutes of a PBS documentary about Simon and Garfunkle. It seems as though the footage would have been taken in the early 70’s, though maybe it was a bit earlier. There was one scene of them both sitting on a bed with Simon playing and singing, and Art chiming in on harmonies. While I may have been reading into things, the look on Simon’s face seemed to suggest he wasn’t all that thrilled to have Art singing next to him. A later scene showed Simon lying on the bed with the guitar singing on his own. Then it cut to concert footage of the duo, sounding wonderful but Simon still seeming less than thrilled.
Anyway, while the debate can continue as to whether Art was needed on these albums, the fact is that the songs were great and the sound, which included Art’s vocals, became iconic. This is indeed a worthy pick for your best of the 70’s list.
I too would have expected this to be higher because it is such an amazing album. I never tire of listening to these songs, and I believe Art was needed to complete the sound.