By John M. Crossett III
When Simon & Garfunkel broke up, most of the attention was paid to Paul Simon’s career. But Art Garfunkel wasn’t about to slide quietly off the stage, and he began his own solo career.
This album, “Watermark,” was one of the highlights of said solo efforts. No, Art never got the publicity Paul got - Art wasn’t the songwriter Paul was. But what Art had, and still does is that superb voice. Yes, it works much better playing off Simon’s, but albums like this show it could stand perfectly well on its own.
Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio with that great Muscle Shoals backing group of Barry Beckett, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins and David Hood, the cast of additional musicians is just as impressive -- The Chieftans, Paul Desmond, David Crosby, Stephen Bishop, Bill Payne, Leah Kunkle, Joe Farrell and Jimmy Haskell among others. And on the song “What A Wonderful World,” Art is joined on vocals by Simon and James Taylor, with musicians like Hugh McCracken, Tony Levin, Steve Gadd, Ralph McDonald, and others, so we know the musicianship is top notch.
This album was also mastered by the great Bob Ludwig, so you know it’s going to sound as good as possible. And good sells this album short. It sounds great. The creamy smoothness of Garfunkel’s voice is superbly rendered. If you’re like me, you can’t have too much of Art's vocals. He’s that special. I think that despite the wonderful album Paul Simon recorded on his own, the world is a poorer place for the loss of the duo of Simon & Garfunkel. Pick this LP up is you can. Highly recommended. You can follow John M. Crossett III at his Facebook page, Aural Musings.
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