The Concert in Central Park

This pleasant documentation of the 1981 reunion of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel is a must-see for die-hard fans, of course, but it's likely to please the more casual listener also. The duo's much-ballyhooed get-together shows that even though the partners may have been unequal in songwriting talent, there was still something special about them when they reunited to harmonize on their classics. Simon's post-Garfunkel compositions work well too, and a highlight is his "Slip-Slidin' Away," in which his soaring voice on the chorus wraps beautifully around Artie's. "Late in the Evening" is a standout also, showcasing the band of top-notch New York musicians assembled for the occasion, including Steve Gadd and Richard Tee.

I have the VHS version, which I enjoy on regular occasions. I just purchased the DVD version, and (at the time) there was a new song played called The Late Great Johnny Ace. In fact, Paul Simon said so just before performing it. Now this seems to be missing from the DVD. And it doesn't seem to be hidden anywhere. Does anyone out in music land have any idea what happened to this? Anyway, this will go down in history as one of the best outdoor concerts ever performed, especially coming "10 years after" (does that name ring a bell?) the duo split up to pursue solo careers. S&G sound just as good here as they did when they first joined up. This is an absolute must-have for any serious baby-boomer music fan like me.

Someone recently told me that he thought Paul Simon is generally underrated as a songwriter.

I responded that most would regard him as the top tier of great songwriters. He is in the list of one of the all time best.

The duo of Simon and Garfunkel split up after the recording of the album Bridge over Troubled Water in 1970.

The split was acrimonious but in 1981 they reunited for a one off concert to raise money for the restoration of Central Park itself.

Over half a million people attended to watch this two performers reunite. Belting out classics such Mrs Robinson, Homeward Bound, The Sounds of Silence. There were a few solo hits and an a fan interrupted the performance.

Art attempted some humour that the drug dealers would donate half their proceeds to the restoration fund.

I did find the performance was a little subdued, maybe they needed to have rehearsed a bit more.

Also the constant shaking of hands and putting their arms around each other looked a bit forced. I think the simmering tensions never went away.

It was the dawn of a new decade and Simon and Garfunkel showed that their songs were still relevant. This concert brought them a new audience.

This concert film had some fun moments, but it never felt like a full-fledged Simon and Garfunkel reunion. Simon's solo numbers (which make up slightly more than half the set) all get big, lush arrangements, while the S&G songs sound spare and sloppy and tossed-off. What a shame. The duo does shine on 'Mrs. Robinson' (a great opener) and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', as well as on Simon's then-fairly recent 'Late in the Evening'. Unfortunately, Garfunkel gets to perform only one of his solo songs, 'A Heart in New York'. It doesn't help matters that, up until the last several numbers of the concert, these old friends seem pretty tense around one another. If you're a fan of Simon and Garfunkel or of Paul's solo career (or both), you'll enjoy "Concert in Central Park" to some degree. Still, you'd be much better served by getting the "Old Friends Live On Stage" DVD that was just released. The duo was spectacular throughout their 2003-04 tour, and the concert on the new DVD (well, the set is actually culled from *two* concerts) is much longer.

You don't have to be a S&G fan to enjoy this concert film, showcasing the singer/songwriter and his harmonizing companion after almost ten years of professional separation.

Some of the highlights are: Bridge Over Troubled Water, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Out in the Evening, Kodachrome, and "The Graduate" standards, of course.

I can't think of a better way to unwind or relax or if you just want to listen/watch some good music.