 |   Format : Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC Publisher : 20th Century Fox Company : Fox List Price: Our Price: $4.52 You Save: $5.46 (55%) Used Price : $3.45 |
Product Description
Simon & Garfunkel perform live in New York City's Central Park.Amazon.com
What started as a suggestion for Paul Simon to play a concert in New York's Central Park blossomed, on September 19, 1981, as a full-blown Simon and Garfunkel reunion after an 11-year hiatus, and now proves a priceless snapshot of two of America's greatest folk-rock performers. (It's also the rightful bookend to Simon and Garfunkel's acoustic Live from New York City, 1967.)Performed with a who's-who of East Coast session aces before a record-setting crowd of half a million fans, The Concert in Central Park finds its stars just shy of their 40th birthdays and very much in their primes, their voices sweet and pure and their playing relaxed, perfectly in tune and in synch. The show features a mix of S&G and solo Simon tunes, including all the songs that appear on the CD, with the addition of a reprise of "Late in the Evening" and the first live performance of Simon's "The Late Great Johnny Ace." This is classic material from start to finish, 87 minutes of unmitigated beauty. --Michael Mikesell
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Customer reviews
Desrves more than 5 stars! 
by .. ()
This video was recored live in Central Park on September 19, 1981. I think it deserves more than 5 stars. I think is the greatest video that ever was. Simon and Garfunkel sing infront of 500,000 people. It contains 2 extra songs that were cut from the album; The late great Johnny Ace, and Late in the evening(reprise). Durring The Late Great Johnny Ace, a duranged fan jumps on stage after Paul sings about John Lennon being shot. Paul gets real scared and the bouncer comes and grabs the kid and takes him away. The highlight of the evening I think is when Paul sang 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Art sings an OK version of Bridge over troubled water. Paul and Art play with an amazing backing band too. Also much of the dialogue that was cut from the record, is restored on the tape. Things such as intro's of songs, Paul introduces the band, and Paul had a speech about fireworks. I think it is great and you should buy it. You can't be considered a Simon and Garfunkel fan without it.
"Great" Doesn't Even Come Close to a Fair Description! by .. (East Hartford, CT United States)
A Simon & Garfunkel fan since 1965, I was thrilled to see this concert on HBO back in '81. Everyone who has reviewed it has said the music was fantastic, and it was. It was a reunion concert that left the audience completely satisfied. My reason for writing this review is really to comment on S & G's actions towards each other. They never spent much time looking at each other in ANY concert that I ever saw, so I didn't expect them to do so in Central Park. Some other reviewers have mentioned that, and stated, essentially, that they let petty bitterness show through. I never had that impression at any point. Several smiles were exchanged between them, as well as some of what I presumed to have been friendly comments between songs. During The Boxer, Art Garfunkel put his arm around Paul's shoulders a couple times...and let's not forget the easy way they each slung an arm around the other at the end of the show. I think they were, and are, true professionals who have more class than to display personal problems to their audience(s).
What's not to like by .. (Boston, MA USA)
I don't agree with any of the quibbles with this video. My impression was that, while certainly it is clear there is tension between Paul and Art, both put their heart and soul into this performance. The versions of Sounds of Silence, Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme, American Tune, America, and other songs are fabulous. The back up band is outstanding. Most remarkable of all is how Paul and Art, even though they rework the rhythm of many of the songs, sing in absolute synch without even looking at each other, as if they are two halves of the same soul. Both men are in fine voice, the audience is totally enthralled, and Paul and Art even appear to warm up to each other towards the end. I could have done without the reprise of Late in the Evening and the Simon song Late Great Johnny Ace (my own quibbles!), but these are trivial in the context of this great concert.
Ladies and gentlemen "Simon and Garfunkel" by .. Anthony Accordino (Massapequa Park, New York United States)
To the 1/2 million people that attended this historic central park concert, the sound of Mayor Ed Koch introducing Simon and Garfunkel was the was the beginning of a very special evening. Both Paul and Art are native new yorkers, who will always have a special rapport with the NY crowd as seen in this spectacular DVD. Long overdue, this DVD of the central park show, has both adequate sound and picture quality. The audiophiles out there, might not be happy with the lack of super-sonic surround sound, but who cares? Simon and Garfunkel never sounded better, and they are backed by an all-star session band including, Steve Gadd, the late Richard Tee, Grady Tate, Anthony Jackson, and Pete Carr to name a few. Some of the live cuts actually sound better than the original studio versions. "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover" has a down right jazz funk feel to it and "Mrs. Robinson" is more upbeat than the original studio version. I was one of those lucky people in Central Park that evening, but this DVD gives me a better view, then I ever had that night and lots of great memories as well. At $10 dollars, this disc is a steal and should be in every baby boomers music library.
the concert to own! by .. D. Pawl (Seattle)
This reunion concert with Simon and Garfunkel in Central Park, recorded in 1981, was historically, a very important event for many of their fans fortunate enough to be present for the performance, as well as the rest of us who caught it on PBS, as part of one of their more successful pledge drive efforts. Though, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel had split over artistic and [no doubt] personality differences, this concert really was the bridge made over their troubled waters, to reacquaint two old friends together through the music that had brought them so close in the past.
Even twenty-six years later, you can feel the real passion that these two men have for music, and for the best songs from their repertoire. Paul Simon penned many great hits, during his time spent recording with Garfunkel in their musical partnership. They include songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water," their interpretation of the traditional folk ballad, "Scarborough Fair," "America," "Mrs. Robinson," "Wake Up Little Susie," and a slew of other tunes. Those two have a haunting quality to their performances that truly sounds like a throwback to the era of minstrels from the middle ages, yet, the arrangements fuse "old" together with "new," sustaining their fanbase that they acquired in the 1960s, as well as newer listeners drawn in by the more modern arrangements. You will truly enjoy this concert, and its a great recording that you could easily watch over again numerous times, without losing interest.