The times they were a-changin’
AMERICAN music duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel ended in perfect harmony 50 years ago with the release of classic album Bridge Over Troubled Water. The album came out on January 26, 1970, and became one of the bestselling offerings of the year, topping the charts in 10 countries and spending a staggering 285 weeks in the UK charts.
Millions of copies were sold worldwide with the title track and album winning Grammy Awards for record of the year and album of the year.
Elvis Presley did a cover version for his 1970 album That’s The Way It Is.But the international success of Bridge Over Troubled Water was bittersweet for fans as the duo announced they were splitting up.
Paul went on to concentrate on solo work while Art took a break from music to work as a maths teacher in Connecticut.
He later said: “It was a weird stage of my life, to leave Simon & Garfunkel at the height of our success and become a maths teacher. I would talk them through a math problem and ask if anyone has any questions and they would say ‘What were the Beatles like?’”
The Beatles themselves parted company 50 years ago as Paul McCartney revealed the band were splitting up during a press conference for his debut solo album, McCartney, made with his wife Linda.
He said there were no plans for a new Beatles album or single and when asked “Will Paul and Linda become a John and Yoko?” replied “No, they will become Paul and Linda”.
Diana Ross and the Supremes also performed for the last time together at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, American band The Doors played their final live concert with frontman Jim Morrison and Mike Nesmith announced he had left The Monkees for good.
He later pointed out: “There is a certain logic to events that pushes you along the path that feels the most true, and most according to the principles that are guiding you, and that’s the way decisions are made.”
There was a lot of quality music around at the start of the year with the release of singer-songwriter Van Morrison’s third studio album, Moondance. It came out to critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic and established Van as a musical heavyweight.
He once explained: “I think when you get past your second album, it all becomes something of a routine, so you have to struggle against that, find a way of making what you do sound fresh and new.”
Aretha Franklin’s This Girl’s In Love With You album came out the same month as did country and western star Glen Campbell’s Try A Little Kindness.
David Bowie tied the knot with American Angela Barnett and brought out album The Man Who Sold The World.
Some of the biggest hit singles of 1970 included ABC by the Jackson 5, I Think I Love You from The Partridge Family and Cracklin’ Rosie by Neil Diamond.
Rufus Thomas also had everyone on the dance floor with Do The Funky Chicken.
The music world also said a sad farewell to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. They were both 27 when they passed away in 1970.
Legendary guitarist Hendrix was found dead in a London flat on September 18 while singer Janis died of a heroin overdose on October 4.
Hendrix once said: “When I die, I want people to play my music, go wild and freak out and do anything they want to do.”
Meanwhile, the sounds of 1970 continue to resound down the decades and strike a chord with new generations.
Simon Cowell gathered together performers such as Stormzy, Robbie Williams, Roger Daltrey and Rita Ora for a charity version of Bridge Over Troubled Water in 2017 to help the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
It went to number one in the UK singles charts.
Simon & Garfunkel have returned to perform together again over they years since their split following the release of their biggest album.
Singer Art, now 78, who had a massive solo hit with Bright Eyes, once said: “When Paul and I were first friends, starting in the sixth grade and seventh grade, we would sing a little together and we would make up radio shows and become disc jockeys on our home wire recorder... and then came rock and roll.”
Paul Simon has enjoyed solo success with songs like Graceland, You Can Call Me Al and 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, but has said he has no idea where the inspiration for Bridge Over Troubled Water came from.
He once said: “I think Bridge Over Troubled Water was a very good song. Artie sang it beautifully.”
Bridge Over Troubled Water was released 50 years ago... and Simon & Garfunkel announced they were splitting up. MARION McMULLEN looks at the music hits and upheavals of 1970