Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.
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Paul Simon celebrated birthday #85 last month. He was born October 13, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Queens, New York when his family moved there four years later. He met his future duo partner-Art Garfunkel-when they were both 11. Two years later, they started singing together. By 1957, they had recorded together under the moniker, Tom & Jerry. By 1964, they were signed to Columbia Records by Clive Davis who officially named them Simon & Garfunkel.
After their debut album failed to sell, Simon moved to London where he released his solo debut album in August 1965, The Paul Simon Songbook. He also met a young American singer/songwriter named Jackson C. Frank & produced his only album, released in December 1965. Simon’s self-titled sophmore album was not released until January 1972. In between those records, his partnership with Art Garfunkel produced four albums following their 1964 debut record.
The duo also contributed four songs to the 1967 film, “The Graduate”: “The Sound of Silence”, “Scarborough Fair”, “April Come She Will” and “Mrs. Robinson”. Growing up in a Yankee family, I could not help but feel seen thanks to the lines “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you” from “Mrs. Robinson” (It won the Grammy for Record Of The Year in 1969. It was also nominated for Song Of The Year as well).
In 2025 Simon was one of the many guests to appear in the 50th anniversary show for “Saturday Night Live”. He has been a frequent host & musical guest on the long running skit program since it started-24 appearances at last count-hosting the second show 51 years ago in October 1975. He met his third wife-singer Edie Brickell-when she appeared on the show with her band, The New Bohemians, in November 1988. She & Simon were married in 1992 and share 3 children. And 40 years ago, when he released his seventh solo album Graceland in August 1986, he recruited his SNL buddy, Chevy Chase, to join him in the video for the lead single.
Art Garfunkel (L) and Paul Simon (R) circa 1968. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Simon circa 1979. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Simon circa 2010. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Another artist who turned 80 this year is also part of a duo. Richard Lynn Carpenter was born October 15, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. His family moved to Downey, California in 1963 to help him pursue a career in music. Two years later, he formed The Richard Carpenter Trio along with his sister, Karen. By 1969-when they were officially known as The Carpenters-they were signed to A&M Records and released their debut album, Ticket to Ride. A year later they released the one that proved to be their breakthrough record, Close To You. That was followed by album #3, their self-titled one, released 55 years ago in May 1971.
The duo had an incredible wave of success thanks to Karen’s incredibly beautiful voice and Richard’s talents as a pianist, keyboardist, harmony vocalist, arranger, producer and songwriter. I wish their story had a better ending than her untimely death on February 4, 1983 at age 32. But their story is part of ours because of Richard’s driving force behind their music.
Richard (L) and Karen Carpenter (R) circa 1971. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Janis Joplin’s posthumous album Pearl was released 55 years ago in January 1971, just three months after her death in October 1970. It produced the biggest hit of her career, a song written by Kris Kristofferson, which was #1 for two consecutive weeks in March 1971.
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Led Zeppelin IV was released 55 years ago on November 8, 1971. This was the album that introduced their signature tune, a mystical ode to “all that glitters is gold”, an epic eight minute anthem that stands as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
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Bob Seger started performing in bands in Detroit 65 years ago begining in 1961. By 1969, he was recording as The Bob Seger System and they released three albums from 1969-1970. His first solo record-Brand New Morning-debuted 55 years ago in October 1971. His 1975 album-Beautiful Loser-received some moderate airplay thanks to the title track & another song, “Katmandu”.
But it was Seger’s next studio album-his ninth-that brought him commercial success. Night Moves was released 50 years ago on October 22, 1976 and produced three singles: The title track, “Main Street” and “Rock and Roll Never Forgets”. A decade later, he was a musical superstar and spent that year promoting his 13th studio album-Like A Rock-released 40 years ago in March 1986.
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Paul Simon: “Mother and Child Reunion” (1972, written by Paul Simon).
Paul Simon: “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” (1975, written by Paul Simon).
Paul Simon: “You Can Call Me Al” (1986, written by Paul Simon).
The Carpenters: “(They Long to Be) Close to You” (1970, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David).
The Carpenters: “Rainy Days And Mondays” (1971, written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams).
The Carpenters: “Superstar” (1971, written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell).
Janis Joplin: “Me and Bobby McGee” (1971, written by Fred Foster and Kris Kristofferson).
Led Zeppelin: “Stairway to Heaven” (1971, written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant).
Bob Seger: “Night Moves” (1976, written by Bob Seger).
Bob Seger: “Like A Rock” (1986, written by Bob Seger).
Stay safe & well.
