The best of Simon & Garfunkel years

The sound of silence (1964)

Simon was only 22 when he composed this mystical epic, which bombed on release but is now a classic.

America (1968)

Moving from intimacy to symphonic lushness, a song about lovers looking for their nation’s soul.

The Boxer (1969)

An inspiring parable of defiance with a furious folk-rock impetus, co-written with Art Garfunkel.

Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

Transcendent anthem about receiving succour in a time of need.

Fifty ways to Leave Your Lover (1975)

There’s a lot of humour in Simon’s work, and this song is delivered with the timing of a New York stand-up.

Still Crazy After All These Years (1976)

Poignant, jazzy ballad celebrating old romance.

Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War (1983)

Surrealism meets doo wop, with sublime results.

The boy in the Bubble (1986)

A dense masterpiece of modern bewilderment, set to an elastic, African-inspired rhythm.

Graceland (1986)

All aboard for a very hummable trip to the heart of the American dream.

Wristband (2016)

Simon’s comical tale of being locked out of his own concert becomes a metaphor for the divides in modern America.