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 coincidental, as the song is an elegy upon the murder of John Lennon just one year earlier.
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Reviews
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.
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.
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.
As one who attended this show, let me say that the video is a terrific testement to one of the best concerts I ever attended. Where else can 300,000 people gather for a musical event and there not be one incident, not one arrest and at the end, the fans clean it all up themselves. That's what happened on the late summer night in 1981. From Ed Koch's introduction to the soul stirring finale, this reunion concert is packed with hits from Simon & Garfunkle, as well as from Paul Simon's solo career.