Muzikland

說到 Beatles 及 Simon & Garfunkel﹐筆者覺得他們都是60年代的樂隊或組合﹐可是他們總會在70年代留有一條尾巴﹐就是在1970年出版他們最後一張專輯﹐而且還是一張很經典的唱片﹐就如 Simon & Garfunle﹐他們就有一張“Bridge Over Troubled Water”了。

論 Simon & Garfunkel 的專輯﹐這也是筆者最喜愛的專輯﹐因為最初接觸他們時﹐因為太多重覆的歌曲﹐還以為他們好歌不多﹐所以一直翻炒﹐故此一張精選唱片足夠﹐直到哥哥某天借來一張日本版的Bridge Over Troubled Water CD﹐才開始留意他們其他歌曲﹐而且還蠻好聽的呢。事實上當年 Columbia 還未在美國生產CD﹐所以有不少 Title 先由日本 CBS/Sony 出版﹐而且就算美國版CD﹐CD本身還是日本壓片製造的。當時還以為是一張精選而已﹐怎麼有那麼多收錄的歌曲﹐都可在我那張精選找到﹐只是有幾首我很喜歡的歌﹐在那張精選中﹐都是 Live Recording﹐感覺怪怪的﹐但在這裡﹐我就找到原裝的 Studio Recording 了。

Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970/Columbia) Track List:
01 Bridge Over Troubled Water [US#1(6/UK#1(3)]
02 El Condor Pasa (If I Could) [US#18]
03 Cecilia [US#4/UK#10]
04 Keep The Customer Satisfied
05 So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
06 The Boxer [US#7/UK#6]
07 Baby Driver [US#101]
08 The Only Living Boy In New York
09 Why Don't You Write Me
10 Bye Bye Love
11 Song For The Asking
2001 CD Version Bonus Track:
12 Feuilles-O (Demo)
13 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Demo Take 6)

論這張Bridge Over Troubled Water 專輯﹐雖然是他們最後一張唱片﹐不過也是知名度最高的﹐由Paul Simon﹑Art Garfunkel 及Roy Halee監製﹐在1970年1月29日出版﹐英美流行榜均取得冠軍位置﹐美國方面更是10週冠軍。單是美國銷量已有800萬張﹐全球銷量更是2500萬張﹐而且在1971年﹐這張專輯更在 Grammy Award 一舉拿下 Album Of The Year﹑Record Of The Year﹑Song of the Year﹑Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist﹑Best Contemporary Song 及Best Engineered Recording 多個獎項﹐聲勢一時無兩﹐可惜之後兩人拆夥了。

這張專輯跟 Bookends 相隔一年半﹐發行的單曲有4首﹐因為 Art Garfunkel去了演戲拍電影Catch-22﹐而製作這專輯時﹐兩人對收錄的歌曲也未能達成共識﹐Paul Simon 不肯灌錄 Art Garfunkel 喜歡的一首 Bach作品﹐而Art Garfunek 也拒絕錄唱 Paul Simon 所寫的 “Cuba Si, Nixon No”﹐最終專輯只收錄了11首歌曲﹐而且一首還是演唱會歌曲﹐翻唱他們偶像 Everly Brothers 的名作 Bye Bye Love (1957/Cadence)。另一方面﹐標題歌曲Bridge Over Troubled Water 由 Art Garfunkel主唱﹐並且大紅﹐更成為他們最暢銷歌曲﹐大家的注意力都落在 Art Garfunkel 身上﹐這點令到 Paul Simon 極為後悔﹐於是這唱片的製作不單延誤﹐也成為兩人拆夥的禍根。

2001年 Version 的 CD﹐除了原裝11首歌之外﹐還有2首 Demo﹐分別是Feuilles-O 及Bridge Over Troubled Water﹐後者可見“無添加”的原曲會是甚麼模樣的﹐感覺很不一樣。


Bridge Over Troubled Water ﹕此曲得到6星期Billboard 冠軍﹐在英國也取得3星期冠軍﹐是英美同時間的冠軍歌。編曲者是 Paul Simon 與Larry Knechtel﹐取得1971年Grammy Award 的Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist 獎項﹐至於Larry Knechtel 就是Bread 樂團在1971年加入的琴鍵手﹐此曲的鋼琴部份也是由他伴奏。此曲多年後﹐竟為香港群星翻唱了粵語版本“滔滔千里心”﹐是一首頗爛的改編歌﹐是為1991年華東水災災民籌款的合唱歌曲。
(Paul Simon)


When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.

When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.

Sail on silver girl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.

**********

El Condor Pasa (If I Could)﹕創作於1912年﹐由秘魯音樂人Daniel Alomía Robles根據Andean 的民謠創作而成。因為 Simon & Garfunkel 在巴黎聽到Los Incas 的演奏而大表興趣﹐之後 對方告知這是19世紀傳統民謠﹐可是當 Paul Simon 寫上新詞之後﹐卻擅自取了 Los Incas 的演奏版本作為 Backing﹐之後也引起Daniel Alomía Robles的兒子Robles Godoy控告侵權﹐事後對方明白Paul Simon 乃是得到不正確資料﹐而非蓄意優權。這單曲在美國Billboard取得18。它也曾被改編為國語版﹐乃是鄧麗君的“舊夢何處尋”(1972/樂風)。
(Daniel Alomía Robles / Jorge Milchberg / Paul Simon)


I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.

I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.

Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man grows older every day
It gives the world
It’s saddest sound,
It’s saddest sound.

I'd rather be a forest than a street.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.

I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet,
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.

**********

Cecilia﹕很特別一首敲擊節奏歌曲﹐這包括Paul 與 Garfunkel 拍打大腿﹑Paul 的兄弟 Eddie 拍打鋼琴的長凳﹐還有人拍打結他的弦線。它以單曲發行﹐得到美國Billboard 第4位及英國流行榜第10位。
(Paul Simon)


Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home

Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home

Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom (making love)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed
Someone's taken my place

Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home

Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing,
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing

**********

Keep The Customer Satisfied﹕一首很重管樂味道的歌曲﹐也是單曲Bridge Over Troubled Water的 B Side。
(Paul Simon)


Gee but it's great to be back home
Home is where I want to be.
I've been on the road so long my friend,
And if you came along
I know you couldn't disagree.

It's the same old story
Everywhere I go,
I get slandered,
Libeled,
I hear words I never heard
In the Bible
And I'm on step ahead of the shoe shine
Two steps away from the county line
Just trying to keep my customers satisfied,
Satisfied.

Deputy Sheriff said to me
Tell me what you come here for, boy.
You better get your bags and flee.
You're in trouble boy,
And you're heading into more.

**********

So Long, Frank Lloyd Wrigh﹕Garfunkel 挑戰 Paul Simon﹐打賭對方不敢寫一首關於建築師Frank Lloyd Wright的歌曲﹐最後 Paul 還是寫了此曲。
(Paul Simon)


So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
So long, Frank Lloyd Wright.
I can't believe your song is gone so soon.
I barely learned the tune
So soon
So soon.

I'll remember Frank Lloyd Wright.
All of the nights we'd harmonize till dawn.
I never laughed so long
So long
So long.

Architects may come and
Architects may go and
Never change your point of view.
When I run dry
I stop awhile and think of you

So long, Frank Lloyd Wright
All of the nights we'd harmonize till dawn.
I never laughed so long
So long
So long.

**********

The Boxer﹕歌曲的主人翁原來是 Paul Simon﹐因為早期他的作品受到抨擊﹐然而過了兩三年之後﹐人們才意識到他們不是甚麼來自英國的怪物﹐而是地道皇后區的兩個小子去唱 Rock N Roll 而已。此曲在Nashville﹑紐約St Paul Chuirch 及Columbia Studio等地灌錄﹐錄音竟多達100小時﹐而經典的“抨抨”聲原來是鼓手
Hal Blaine 在一個空置的存貯壁櫥內以粗大的鐵鍊拍打水泥地。此單曲得到美國Billboard 第7位﹑英國流行榜第6位。
(Paul Simon)


I am just a poor boy.
Though my story's seldom told,
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles,
Such are promises
All lies and jest
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.

When I left my home
And my family,
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station,
Running scared,
Laying low,
Seeking out the poorer quarters
Where the ragged people go,
Looking for the places
Only they would know.
Lie-la-lie.....

Asking only workman's wages
I come looking for a job,
But I get no offers.
Just a come-on from the whores
On Seventh Avenue
I do declare,
There were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there la la la…
Lie-la-lie.....

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York City winters
Aren't bleeding me,
Leading me,
Going home.

In the clearing stands a boxer,
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame,
"I am leaving, I am leaving."
But the fighter still remains ooh…..
Lie-la-lie.....

**********

Baby Driver ﹕它是單曲 Boxse 的 B Side﹐也曾跟 Boxer 作雙A Side 單曲發行﹐不過只得到Billboard 第101位。
(Paul Simon)


My daddy was the family bassman
My mamma was an engineer
And I was born one dark gray morn
With music coming in my ears
In my ears.

They call me Baby Driver
And once upon a pair of wheels
Hit the road and I'm gone ah
What's my number
I wonder how your engine feels
Ba ba ba ba
Scoot down the road
What's my number
I wonder how your engine feels.

My daddy was a prominent frogman
My mamma's in the Naval reserve
When I was young I carried a gun
But I never got the chance to serve
I did not serve.

My daddy got a big promotion
My mamma got a raise in pay
There's no-one home, we're all alone
Oh come int my room and play
Yes we can play.

I'm not talking about your pigtails
But I'm talking 'bout your sex appeal
Hit the road and I'm gone ah
What's my number
I wonder how your engine feels.
Ba ba ba ba
Scoot down the road
What's my number
I wonder how your engine feels.

**********

The Only Living Boy In New York﹕這是Paul Simon 抱怨 Garfunkel去了Mexico拍戲﹐留下他孤單為此專輯寫歌錄音時有感而發的創作﹐它的合音絕美。它也是單曲Cecilia的 B Side。翻唱版本有 Everything But The Girl﹐ 收錄於“Home Movies” (1993/Warner) 精選輯中。
(Paul Simon)


Tom, get your plane right on time.
I know your part'll go fine.
Fly down to Mexico.
Da-n-da-da-n-da-n-da-da and here I am,
The only living boy in New York.

I get the news I need on the weather report.
I can gather all the news I need on the weather report.
Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile.
Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da here I am
The only living boy in New York

Half of the time we're gone but we don't know where,
And we don't know here.

Tom, get your plane right on time.
I know you've been eager to fly now.
Hey let your honesty shine, shine, shine
Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da
Like it shines on me
The only living boy in New York,
The only living boy in New York.

**********

Why Don't You Write Me (Edited Short Version)﹕它是單曲El Condor Pasa (If I Could) 的 B Side。
(Paul Simon)


Why don't you write me
I'm out in the jungle
I'm hungry to hear you.
Send me a card,
I am waiting so hard
To be near you.
(La, la, la)
Why don't you write?
Something is wrong
And I know I got to be there.
Maybe I'm lost,
But I can't make the cost
Of the airfare.
Tell me why
Why
Why
Tell me why
Why
Why

Why don't you write me,
A letter would brighten
My loneliest evening.
Mail it today
If it's only to say
That you're leaving me.
(La, la, la)

Monday morning, sitting in the sun
Hoping and wishing for the mail to come.
Tuesday, never got a word,
Wednesday, Thursday, ain't no sign,
Drank a half a bottle of iodine.
Friday, woe is me
Gonna hang my body from the highest tree.
Why don't you write me?



筆者相關貼文﹕
Simon & Garfunkel - Old Friends Live On Stage
Simon & Garfunkel - Wednesday Morning, 3 AM. (1964)
Paul Simon - Paul Simon Song Book (1965)
Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence (1966)
Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)
Simon & Garfunkel / Dave Grusin - Graduate OST (1968)
Graduate (1967) - 畢業生
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)



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