Simon & Garfunkel - Old Friends, Live on Stage

Rating:
Summary: Too much audience
Review: First, let me say that I've been an S&G fan since I first heard "Sounds of Silence" in the early 60s. For me, they were the only ones who equaled The Beatles in quality (if not quantity) of brilliant songs. I was hoping for a recording in a more intimate setting befitting their music. From the moment I heard the rowdy audience reception for "Old friends," I knew this wasn't to be. It's Simon and Garfunkle, people, not ACDC! One reviewer claimed this DVD is better than the "Central Park" concert, but I disagree. I don't know if it was editing and production or a more respectful audience, but the "Central Park" concert seems vastly more intimate and satisfying. Don't get me wrong, if you're a fan you should purchase this DVD. S&G perform brilliantly, and it's a joy for this old timer to see them again 40 years later. I just think the rowdy audience spoils the mood of the music, and I wish a more appropriate venue had been chosen as a record of this historic reunion.

Rating:
Summary: Two old friends indeed!!
Review: I am a musician/collector of all genres of music and I can truley say that this is an incredible DVD. I wasn't able to see S+G on this tour, so owning this DVD is a real treat. It's hard to believe that it's been over 2 decades since they toured. They sound like they've never been apart. This concert showcases Simon and Garfunkel as both excellent singers/musicians. They are also backed by an equally excellent band. This is a must own DVD for any music fan.

Rating:
Summary: It's good, but they should do an acoustic soundstage show..
Review: I like it better than the Central Park concert, but I also like it better when it's been the 2 of them and just a guitar and would've loved to have seen them do a VH1 "Storytellers" together or the types of shows The Eagles, Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac put out a while back for home video...

The songs sound great, and include a lot of songs that weren't included on the "Central Park" concert (that seemed to have more solo material than it should have) which makes this truly worthwhile. It's also great to see them with the Everly Brothers...

I'd pick up the CD/DVD combo pack, but if I had to choose between just the video and CD, I'd pick the video. There are slight differences between both (the DVD has a few songs not on the CD, and the CD has "Citizen of the Planet", not on the DVD).

Most of the songs have held up well over the years, even if their voices aren't what they once were, it still sounds like people got their money's worth nonetheless just from the harmonies alone. But it was definitely geared towards the baby boomers more than their kids (and grandkids... must be weird for a 60-something to be singing a song like "Feelin' Groovy"), but I can't see why all generations wouldn't enjoy it.

I do hope that they can put out more of the 60s era footage though, as they did do a TV special around 1969 (parts of which are on the DVD, they should've put the whole thing on!) and made TV appearances a lot around that time.

But do check out "Live in New York 1967" released 2 years ago on CD and the long lost "Paul Simon Songbook" which Paul released (more like caved in) not too long ago. Hopefully there will be more archive releases.

Maybe we'll see them together again, but if not, this is a great farewell to a duo who put out some great music in a short period of time that is still being enjoyed 40 years later.

Rating:
Summary: A warm and satisfying evening.
Review: It amazes me how some people just don't get it. I went to shows 12/2,4, & 8, 2003 and they were all equally awe inspiring, emotional, and for lack of a better word...PERFECT! Some person is stating that the crowd was rowdy and the show "wasn't to be" and that is a very selfish statement. The crowd was very well behaved and reacted with genuine honesty to a long overdue reunion. This person also states that the Central Park Album in comparison had a "more respectful audience" than MSG or Cont. Arena. Clearly this reviewer didn't notice the loud bursts by audience members cheering and singing along, or Paul thanking "Ed Koch and the people selling loose joints...etc" as the crowd ROARED.

There is no rule stating that Folk Rock shouldn't ROCK! Hey buddy, if you want a respectful audience, go play B.I.N.G.O. This was a concert, a NEW YORK CITY CONCERT!!! Lighten Up huh?

It was a very intimate evening with a flawless performance by two seasoned "Old Friends". As I said before, I was at 3 shows and each was as good as the one prior. If you watch the DVD you can clearly see that Art and Paul appreciate the receptive audience. It wasn't at all rowdy like an AC/DC show. It was quaint and personable, beautifully arranged with strictly acoustic numbers and others that utilized the "top notch" band behind them that created a sound exceeding perfection.

As always there are anal reviewers who feel the need to profess their elitist expectations to downgrade a high quality performance. Don't believe it. Don't believe them. The show was fantastic! We should be so lucky to have them perform let alone look and sound great! Madison Square Garden was a perfect venue for them to play and the Continental was a good time as well.

If you love Simon and Garfunkel and are interested in seeing how perfectly well they still perform during this even later chapter of their lives then buy this DVD! It is a perfect addition to every music lover's concert video library.

I have one gripe about the editing and that is they cut out the "59th Street Bridge Song" from the CD version as well as "Wake Up Lil' Susie" and "Dream" w/ the Everly Bros. Other than that, this show goes in my top five favorites.


Rating:
Summary: Tremendous concert DVD
Review: It came Tuesday, and after dinner I suggested to my lovely wife that we should take a look at it. She is not quite the big Paul Simon fan that I am, and wasn't really in the mood, but agreed to watch a song or two.

We ended up watching the whole thing. And last night, much to my suprise, she wanted to watch it again, so we did.

It is a wonderful concert. In many ways the best performances of these songs that I've heard. Paul's guitar has always been a key part of his best work, and it comes across loud and clear here as he plays his beautiful signature Martin in most of the songs.

There are all kinds of nice twists. Art talks quite a bit, and he is a nice counterweight to the generally more serious Simon. Art sings Kathy's Song, which was a treat that I had never heard before. Paul played a new intro to Sounds of Silence that was stunning.

The next to last song was what Art said was their first performance of "Leaves That Are Green" since 1967. Paul sang "I was 21 years when I wrote this song, I'm 22 now, but I won't be for long." Boy, that's for sure. How a lifetime flashes by.

Rating:
Summary: Highest rating possible !
Review: S & G have outdone the Central Park Concert with this one. We didn't think it possible, but this dvd is at the top of the list. Content and technical quality absolutely fabulous.


Rating:
Summary: My musical inspiration
Review: Simon and Garfunkel were the group that inspired me to pick up a guitar at the age of 10. Now at 23, I can still say they are one of my favorite groups, the other being the Beatles. I am eternally grateful for my father's influencing me to appreciate . . . no not only appreciate (that's an understatement if I ever wrote one) . . . for exposing me to the wonderful, intuitive, creative, and meaningful music of the 60's and 70's - what I recognize as true art and and not the commerical crap that riddles the radio these days.

Ever since I watched the Concert In Central Park for the first time, with my father, I knew Simon and Garfunkel were something special. They have such a beautiful melodic and harmonic style. Paul Simon is an intuitive songwriter. Garfunkel has a wonderful voice and is nothing but an asset to the duet. Neither of them would have made it without the other. Paul Simon inspired me to pick up the guitar at 10 years-old and I've been playing ever since. Simon and Garfunkel were the key inspiration in my being a musician, before any other group, and that is something I hold dear in my heart and is undoubtedly what augments my appreciation of them. Cheezy it may very well sound, but oh so true.

Now about the DVD! I think it's great that the Old Friends show is being released! I saw Simon and Garfunkel in Ft. Lauderdale at the Office Depot Center almost a year ago already, and they were amazing! They couldn't have selected a better list of songs to perform, and they performed them so well. 'The Boxer' is my personal favorite, a masterpiece in my opinion.

Simon and Garfunkel . . old friends, pop culture icons, legends . . . my first muse for playing and writing. Before them, there was no music in my life. Since I woke up to them, I've never been without their legacy.

If you appreciate beautiful melodies, wise words, and just good ol' 60's folk rock, this DVD is a must have!

Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag
Review: This DVD experience is a mixed bag of frail Paul Simon voice, bohemian style musicians strutting around the stage, Art Garfunkel minimized, few words from the performers Simon & Garfunkel, but a satisfactory job on 80% of the familiar songs. The guitar work of Simon is incredible as it sounds like the studio productions. Hard to comprehend only one man can make a guitar sound like this. Frankly, the appearance of the Everly Brothers was a highlight with their strong vocals and snappy guitars. I would not be surprised, looking closely at the duo, if this is their last DVD concert release. An ambitious effort, Paul looking like he is now a weight lifter and Garfunkel still as we remember him. More dialogue between and about the songs would have been nice. All in all, this one is for hardcore S&G fans and those familiar with their early years. At one point the long known rift between the two performers was explained, albeit in jest so we don't know for sure. The most touching moment was Paul's explanation of his song to Art called Only Living Boy in New York.

Rating:
Summary: Would Have Been a 5-Star Except for the Usual Suspects
Review: Why can't these amateur, wanna-be, no talent editors keep their good-for-nothing hands off this stuff? Here you have 2 gentlemen who have impacted the very society we live in getting together to entertain us, just like they did a lifetime ago, and the editors and post-production folk get hold of it and edit it the way THEY want it to be. Is anyone really interested in crowd shots? Fantastic concert. This dvd is wonderful musically. It's much more difficult to edit mistakes from a video, moreso than the audio. But this is live and mistakes should ALWAYS be left in. And they are. I found this show to be much more enjoyable than the 'A Summer's Evening with Simon & Garfunkel" in 1983 (august 1983, Grant Field, Georgia Tech). The renewed interest that the 1981 central park show created had worn off by 1983, insomuch that Simon erased Garfunkel's vocals off 'Hearts & Bones'. They weren't getting along then and it was obvious. It is clear that these two wonderful men have grown apart and they really don't enjoy each other's company, at least on an extended basis. I'm sure we all had very close friends that we no longer enjoyed their company, and vice-versa. Someimes, not always, but sometimes it happens. But it is nice that they can put away their differences every few decades and tour. We can all agree that nothing of worth by Paul and Artie will be played on the radio (no money in it....that's why radio stinks), but I'm sure satellite will play it. And people will buy it, just as they are buying this wonderful new collection from their 2003 tour. Regardless of your age, you will absolutely love this dvd. Just remember, the garbage editing is not their fault.