Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
When a retrofit of electric guitars transformed "Sounds of Silence" into Simon & Garfunkel's folk-rock entrée, the partners and their label hastily followed with a like-titled album mixing Paul Simon's acoustic folk songs with plugged-in bids for radio play. By contrast, this successor, released less than a year later, more coherently and convincingly reveals Simon's broadening horizons as a writer and the duo's nascent studio perfectionism. The title song remains a haunting signature piece, relying on acoustic guitar and harpsichord to carry its contrapuntal marriage of English ballad and antiwar plaint; such acoustic delicacy prevails throughout and has proven more durable than by-the-numbers wattage. The first great S&G album, the set includes "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," "Homeward Bound," "Dangling Conversation," and Art Garfunkel's luminous solo piece, "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her." --Sam Sutherland

Tracks:

Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Patterns
Cloudy
Homeward Bound
The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
the 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
The Dangling Conversation
Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall
A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into
For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her
A Poem On The Underground Wall
7 O'Clock News/Silent Night
Patterns
A Poem On The Underground Wall

Amazon.com essential recording

When a retrofit of electric guitars transformed "Sounds of Silence" into Simon & Garfunkel's folk-rock entrée, the partners and their label hastily followed with a like-titled album mixing Paul Simon's acoustic folk songs with plugged-in bids for radio play. By contrast, this successor, released less than a year later, more coherently and convincingly reveals Simon's broadening horizons as a writer and the duo's nascent studio perfectionism. The title song remains a haunting signature piece, relying on acoustic guitar and harpsichord to carry its contrapuntal marriage of English ballad and antiwar plaint; such acoustic delicacy prevails throughout and has proven more durable than by-the-numbers wattage. The first great S&G album, the set includes "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," "Homeward Bound," "Dangling Conversation," and Art Garfunkel's luminous solo piece, "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her." (The 2001 reissue adds a pair of unreleased demos to the original work.) --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Timelessly 'of its time'.......2007-06-13

1966, in many respects was to rock 'n roll what 1984 was to punk, with now seminal releases such as the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, The Beatles' Revolver and Bob Dylan's double Blonde On Blonde notable in an era when groundbreaking work was emerging almost monthly. No other album however, possessed the sheer sophistication of Simon & Garfunkel's third recording.

In an unlikely connection, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme has ties with Tool's sophomore release, Ænima (1996) in that both were heavily influenced by - and in both cases, dedicated to - renegade comedians Lenny Bruce (1925-1966) and Bill Hicks (1961-1994) respectively.

Through Art Garfunkel's ethereal vocals and Paul Simon's elegiac lyricism and acoustic guitar, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme is a contemplative interrogation of both high and popular culture, age and adolescence, individual and collective identity.

The album opens with 'Scarborough Fair/Canticle' a traditional English folk song and an anti-war Simon original intertwined to majestic effect, and continues with the furtive 'Patterns' and enigmatic 'A Poem on the Underground Wall' sitting comfortably alongside literary ballads ('The Dangling Conversation' and 'Cloudy') and scathing indictment of consumer culture ('The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine'). In 'A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission)' Simon snips away at various public figures, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Norman Mailer, Ayn Rand, Phil Spector and Andy Warhol. There are songs, 'hits' even, to have become ubiquitous in popular music, notably 'Homeward Bound,' 'The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)' and the celestial ballad 'For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her.'

Having abandoned sporadic attempts to sound like the Everly Brothers singing Bob Dylan on their 1964 debut Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., and The Beatles on Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme represents Simon & Garfunkel establishing a sound uniquely their own, their own vision.

The album closes with '7 O'Clock News/Silent Night,' with the duo's rendition of the Christmas carol hauntingly interspersed with an evening news bulletin from August 3rd 1966, documenting plans for Martin Luther King's controversial open housing march into the Chicago suburbs of Cicero; Richard Nixon's desire to increase the war effort in Vietnam; the trial of proto-typical mass murderer Richard Speck; and the death of Lenny Bruce. The fact that these individuals, intrinsic to the ethos of the album, having been so influential (for good or bad) in the manner in which the world has since evolved, remain figuratively pertinent in contemporary society, render the album so timeless, quite possibly more so than any other album.

Dated.......2006-10-17

Isn't it time that we all admit that some things from the sixties just don't age very well? The Beatles, I will give you--the better end of their efforts tend to have a more eternal quality. Bridge Over Troubled Water and Bookends, for Simon and Garfunkel are both that kind of album. This record, for several reasons, really isn't so much.

I suppose the first part of my objections to this record (which, judging by my rating, aren't THAT significant) stem from the fact that this is the last vestige of Paul Simon's whiny folk hippy trip from his time in England. It is a phase of his career that would best be forgotten. Never mind the fact that the version of "A Simple...." (quick note--any song that's title describes not even what it's about, but just what it is is probably paying a little too much attention to itself) on the record is far and away inferior to the one from The Paul Simon Songbook--it's just out-and-out dated itself. The same goes for the absolutely terrible, unnuanced Silent Night number at the end of the original record. Even Patterns seems to fall into the plaintive folk-rock whining mode of some of Bob Dylan's less remarkable offerings.

So why am I giving it four stars? Well, for starters, because the record also has a lot of good tracks on it. Much of the core of what makes Simon and Garfunkel (beyond just Paul Simon, whom I also hold a great affection for) good is on this album. Homeward Bound is a great song, and never mind the fact that it was recorded during the Sound of Silence sessions. The 59th Street Bridge Song is an excellent, fun song. I even like The Dangling Conversation to an extent, though I tend to agree that Overs (from Bookends--the better CD, if you only have the budget for one) covers the same ground more affectively and with less affectation.

If you're a Simon and Garfunkel fan, you already own this record. If you're wondering whether it's worth your money to get the reissued CD with the bonus tracks, it's not. They don't give you anything that you don't really already have. This practice of repackaging demos that sound essentially the same as the original recordings has to stop.

If you're a newcomer, or if you're just looking to get started or get "the best" Simon and Garfunkel, I'd probably steer you more towards Bookends (their best together) or Bridge Over Troubled Water (more eclectic, and one of my favorites, but still second to Bookends). If you've got the time and the money to throw around, though, this is still a great record, and one that I'd put ahead a lot of other recordings by other artists.

Simply Perfect.......2006-08-19

I Love Simon & Garfunkel and this is probably their best album simply because each and every song is great. Not something you find on alot of albums. This one contains such classics as "Scarborough Fair (Canticle)", "Homeward Bound", "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy), "A Simple Desultory Phillippic (or How I was McNamara'd Into Submission)","For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" and others. The Final Track is "7 O'Clock New/Silent Night" Which has a profound effect on anyone who hears it. Paul Simon shows his poetic skill with almost every song he writes and sings beautifully aside Garfunkel's pure angelic voice.

If you are a fan of Simon & Garfunkel or like songs with meaningful lyrics (unlike most of the [...] you hear on the radio today) you owe it to yourself to buy this album. It is a classic that should be cherished.

Tyme-less.......2006-03-11

When I was a boy of only 9 or 10 my older brothers would put music on the record player for me and my little brother to fall asleep too, of course back then in the early 70's there were no cd players, and it used to scare me when the 7'Oclock news would come on even though I had listen to it a hundred times. A truely unique group, Simon & Garfunkel have been with me my whole life, excellent disk and way before there time!

Simon and Garfunkel's Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.......2005-08-23

This CD has a lot of great Simon and Garfunkel music including some lesser known pieces. Lots of great listening here!

Average customer rating:

Incredible Song Writing!
Another All Timer for Simon and Garfunkel
A Gorgeous Mixture of Folk, Whimsy, and (Then) Topical Song
A Great Album! What More Can Say!
Lyrically brilliant

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sounds of Silence
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Bookends
Wednesday Morning, 3 AM
Wednesday Morning, 3 AM

ASIN: B0000024T5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Patterns
Cloudy
Homeward Bound
The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
The Dangling Conversation
Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall
A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission)
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
A Poem On The Underground Wall
7 O'Clock News/Silent Night

Amazon.com essential recording

Customer Reviews:

Incredible Song Writing!.......2005-01-06

When I first listened to this album, I was at a difficult period in my life, hating my home situation and everything around me. At the time it was common for me to sit down and write poetry to get through things. I remember when I first started listening to this album I was amazed by its lyrics and absolutely beautiful song writing. I had never heard anything by Simon and Garfunkel before this, but began exploring their music more and more after listening to this album. Each song, in itself was a jewel to discover; excluding "Simple Desultory Phillippic" and "Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" which are still fun. The two songs that made the biggest impact on me in terms of writing poetry were "Dangling Conversation" and "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her". These two songs changed my life at the time and will always have a place in my heart. However, almost every song on this album is great to listen to and relax with. So whether you can personally relate with this album or Simon and Garfunkel in general, give this album a lsiten. After that, I suggest listening to "Sounds of Silence" and "Bookends" as well as their other material as a group.

Another All Timer for Simon and Garfunkel.......2002-10-19

This collection is another gem in the cannon of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. The vocal harmonies are at an all time high. Everyone loves the title track and the 59th Street Bridge Song but Flowers Never Bend In The Rainfall and Cloudy are hidden gems. Heck almost every song has a beautiful melody. The Poem On The Underground Wall is a possible exception but the lyrics are somewhat captivating. And the Seven O Clock News/Silent Night rings so true with the violence and controvesy of the sixties. With some of the recent issues in the Middle East, it echoes to our troubles today.

Anyway, this music has heart, soul, and feeling with a gentle acoustic flair. The second one to get after Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

A Gorgeous Mixture of Folk, Whimsy, and (Then) Topical Song.......2001-03-03

Some of the songs are very tied to the sixties, but at its best it's too beautiful for words. I'm a sucker for "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," which, like Dylan's "Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," overlays an antiwar message on a Child ballad (but far more subtly), and "For Emily Whenever I May Find Her." And how can anyone who has been outdoors in the spring under sprays of cirrus clouds not like "Cloudy"?

As for pretension...come on, folks, you wouldn't say that Harriet Beecher Stowe favored slavery because Simon Legree was a slaveholder, would you? "Dangling Conversation" makes fun of pretentious, angst-ridden humanities majors, getting so totally over the top with the timpani riffs punctuating "Yes, we speak of things that matter/With words that must be said/Can analysis be worthwhile?/Is the theater really dead?" that it's hard to see how Simon could have sung with his tongue stuck that far in his cheek. He may have counted himself among his targets, but we can chuckle along with him.

A Great Album! What More Can Say!.......2001-02-22

I have all of the records released by Simon and Garfunkel. This particular one has to be my second favorite. The opening piece is truly amazing. The way they mixed two songs together is genious. Every track on this record is awsome, I like all of them. If you're looking to get into Simon and Garfunkel then you should definetly start with this one or Bridge Over Troubled Water. If you're a music lover definetly buy this CD. You'll regret it if you don't.

Lyrically brilliant.......2000-08-13

Lyrical Magnificence

Paul Simon is one of the greatest lyricists of the last fifty years, in any musical genre. His words are sheer poetry and this art is exemplified on this magnificent album. Some people curiously dismiss Simon and Garfunkle as "passe" or "dated," but they obviously haven't listened to this record.

What's interesting is that the hit songs from this disc (Scarborough Fair, Feelin' Groovy and Homeward Bound) are not as good as some of the sleepers. Listen to the simple poetic beauty of "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall" and "The Dangling Conversation." Another incredibly catchy tune is "Cloudy," which never got any airplay but which is classy as any song Simon ever wrote.

Tracks:

Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Patterns
Cloudy
Homeward Bound
Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
Dangling Conversation
Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall
Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into ...)
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
Poem on the Underground Wall
7 O'Clock News/Silent Night

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000BHZMR
Release Date: 2003-12-23

Tracks:

Scarborough Fair/Canticle
Patterns
Cloudy
Homeward Bound
Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
Dangling Conversation
Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall
Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into ...)
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
Poem on the Underground Wall
7 O'Clock News/Silent Night

Album Description

Full title - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme. Japanese reissue of 1966 album, packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve, features 14 tracks including 2 bonus tracks, 'Patterns' (Demo) & 'A Poem On The Underground Wall' (Demo). SME. 2003.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

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