Originally published January 21, 2025 at Albumism.

Happy 55th Anniversary to Simon & Garfunkel’s fifth & final studio album Bridge Over Troubled Water, originally released January 26, 1970.

In 1970, we witnessed the dissolution of two of the most renowned musical groups in the world. Although the Beatles’ breakup was a gradual process spanning their last couple of years, the final album, Let It Be, remains a cherished gift to their global fanbase.
Unlike the Fab Four, the other group to split up took the music world by surprise. Simon & Garfunkel ended their union with Bridge Over Troubled Water, a landmark album that as recently as 2021, was designated #172 in Rolling Stone’s list of the Top 500 albums of all time. The album not only highlights the duo’s flawless harmonies, but also shows the depth and complexity of Paul Simon’s songwriting and the broad, genre-bending production that made it timeless. When this album dropped, Simon & Garfunkel were no longer simply a folk duo; their music resonated with a generation. They were one of the biggest pop acts in the world. Bridge Over Troubled Water experimented with elements of gospel and South American music, which Simon would explore further in his ensuing solo work.

Playing the album was like hearing a farewell. The subtle tensions in the music suggested an imminent split. Perhaps it’s just hindsight, but this record is steeped in a melancholic atmosphere, heavy with a sense of longing. The events of the previous two years had a lot to do with that. 

When November 1968 arrived, Simon & Garfunkel were at the top of their game with two consecutive #1 albums (The Graduate soundtrack and Bookends). Art Garfunkel took the role of Captain Nately in Mike Nichols’ 1970 film, Catch-22, which coincided with the beginning of the recording sessions for Bridge Over Troubled Water. Filming, which began in January 1969, stretched over eight grueling months, significantly delaying the album’s recording. The once-strong bond between the duo shattered, signifying the bitter end of their collaboration.

While Simon meticulously crafted the songs and arrangements, he sensed the sessions wouldn’t be complete without Garfunkel’s contributions, his voice and creative input essential to their success. In the 2024 MGM+ documentary series In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, he explained the deterioration of his relationship with Garfunkel.

“The movie ran over,” explains Simon. “‘You have to come back.’ ‘No, I can’t because we have to shoot this week in Mexico. Send me down what you did, and I’ll give it a listen,’ ‘No, that’s no good. You have to change this and this.’ It was like, everything got disrupted. It was a recipe for the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel.”
From the outside looking in, one would not expect a band at the peak of their career, artistically and commercially, to unravel the way Simon & Garfunkel did. Simon’s breaking point came about when Garfunkel took yet another acting role in Mike Nichols’ next film, Carnal Knowledge (1971). Simon found out through a third party and confronted Garfunkel. In a 2023 interview with Howard Stern, Simon recalled the conversation. “‘I was afraid if I told you, you would stop working on Bridge Over Troubled Water,’” Simon remembers Garfunkel saying. “And I thought, ‘I’ve got to get out of here. ’”
Having finally made their way back to the studio, the pair poured all of their creative energy and passion into their music, and the result was a stunning masterpiece. Garfunkel’s incredible vocal performance on the title track perfectly captured the emotional depth and complexity of the song. The orchestration builds to an almost spiritual climax, making it a timeless anthem of comfort and resilience. With this song, Simon & Garfunkel were the first musicians to use 16-track recording.
The rest of the tracks on the album show a noticeable departure from their previous style, showcasing a clear shift in their creative approach. “The Boxer” is poetic storytelling that is introspective and epic, reflecting themes of struggle and perseverance.
With its playful energy, “Cecilia” is a standout track that not only adds a much-needed vibrancy to the album but also showcases Simon’s adventurous approach to combining percussion and melody, revealing his impressive experimental abilities.

“El Condor Pasa (If I Could)” is a hauntingly beautiful blend of traditional Andean folk music and modern sounds, emphasizing the album’s global influences.

My personal favorite, “The Only Living Boy in New York” is a piece Simon wrote while Garfunkel was filming in Mexico. It was about the isolation he experienced while recording the album without his partner.

More than just an album, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water is a cultural landmark. The soothing melodies and poignant lyrics linger in the memory long after the music fades, a testament to its enduring power. Its beauty and timeless appeal transcend the listener’s experience, captivating both longtime devotees and those encountering it for the very first time; its relevance remains undeniable.

What sets Bridge Over Troubled Water apart from its contemporaries is the seamless interplay between folk, rock, and gospel influences, a display of Simon and Garfunkel’s versatility as artists. The album garnered multiple GRAMMY Awards as well as cementing the duo’s place in cultural history. Bridge Over Troubled Water ushered their fans out of the sixties and into the equally turbulent seventies.