Simon and Garfunkel The Concert in Central Park

What started as a suggestion for Paul Simon to play a concert in New York’s Central Park blossomed, on September 19, 1981, as a full-blown Simon and Garfunkel reunion after an 11-year hiatus, and now proves a priceless snapshot of two of America’s greatest folk-rock performers. (It’s also the rightful bookend to Simon and Garfunkel’s acoustic Live from New York City, 1967.)

Performed with a who’s-who of East Coast session aces before a record-setting crowd of half a million fans, The Concert in Central Park finds its stars just shy of their 40th birthdays and very much in their primes, their voices sweet and pure and their playing relaxed, perfectly in tune and in synch. The show features a mix of S&G and solo Simon tunes, including all the songs that appear on the CD, with the addition of a reprise of “Late in the Evening” and the first live performance of Simon’s “The Late Great Johnny Ace.” This is classic material from start to finish, 87 minutes of unmitigated beauty. –Michael Mikesell

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Simon and Garfunkel live in central park
the concert is awesome and my 1 year old son loved to dance to it!

5 Stars Real Pros, And Not A Bad Song In The Bunch
This is a very, very good concert featuring most of the famous singing duo’s best songs, of which there were many. There is a good mix of fast and slow songs and so-so stereo. Too bad they couldn’t have re-mixed this in 5.1surround sound for the DVD.

Simon and Garfunkel are such pros. The two harmonize so well it’s amazing and even though they were live, playing in front of a mammoth crowd, most of their songs sound like perfect studio takes. Yes, a couple might not sound as good as those original studio recordings but some – thanks to the great backup band here – sound even better than the originals! Best of all, there are no “clunkers” in this group.

The boys looked a bit smug, but when you can draw literally hundreds of thousands of fans to a concert, I guess it’s hard to be humble. They were real superstars of their music era.

5 Stars Excellent evening of harmony
This cd is a collection of the finest the two have done both collectively and solo. It brought a whole new appreciation for Neil Simon and the talent that seems so effortless to him. A nostalgic piece of work.

4 Stars great show in central park
had the vhs version and got the dvd when available. great musicians and great music. the slight tension between S and G is amusing and believable.

5 Stars Great tunes revisited
Hit the spot with memories of my teen angst and truly beautiful poetry by Paul Simon with music to match. Great to see Simon and Garfunkel together. I have already enjoyed this many times over.

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