NewYork Mayor Edward Koch was a man of few words on Sept. 19, 1981, as headdressed the throng gathered in Central Park: “Ladies and gentlemen, Simon andGarfunkel.” With that the two minstrels walked onstage, still youthful and behavingas if no time had elapsed since their separation in 1970.
TheConcert in Central Park was considered a landmark LP and footage from theconcert was broadcast on HBO during the infancy of cable. The film has now beenreleased on DVD in a package with the CD for an aural and visual record of theevent. All these years later, what’s striking is how good the duo still wasdespite their sporadic working relationship since their ‘60s glory years. Theirvoices had lost nothing, neither individually nor in harmony, and the material (whichdrew from Simon’s ‘70s solo career as well as their ‘60s collaborations) wasclassic.
Therenditions on that September day as late afternoon slipped into evening weregood even if they did not exceed the original recordings. Simon and Garfunkelgathered a band of orchestral size for the occasion, with many musicianssitting behind stands with sheet music. Some of the greatest moments, however, werethe quietist, in songs such as “Scarborough Fair” and “April Comes She Will”where the focus was on Simon’s guitar and a pair of great voices.
