120,000+ Classic Rock Album Covers Database (1948-2026): Simon & Garfunkel - The Concert in Central Park (Live) (1982)

Simon & Garfunkel - The Concert in Central Park (Live) (1982)

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Simon & Garfunkel – The Concert in Central Park (Live) (1982): Album Review, Tracklist & Trivia

Introduction to The Concert in Central Park

The Concert in Central Park is a live double album by American folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on October 1982.

The album captures their legendary reunion concert on September 19, 1981, at Central Park in New York City, drawing over 500,000 people and marking a historic moment in live music history.

Background and Concert Overview

After their split in 1970 following Bridge over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel reunited for a benefit concert in Central Park, New York.

Key details:

Free concert attended by an estimated 500,000–750,000 fans
Purpose: charity for the city’s parks and recreation programs
Recorded and released as a double live album in 1982

The performance showcased classic hits, medleys, and improvised arrangements, demonstrating the duo’s enduring appeal.

Musical Style and Sound

The album features:

Live renditions of folk, folk-rock, and pop classics
Dynamic vocal harmonies in an open-air setting
Acoustic and electric instrumentation with a full backing band
Audience interaction and live energy capturing the magic of a massive outdoor performance

The sound emphasizes clarity of vocals, faithful renditions of hits, and occasional improvisation, highlighting both Paul Simon’s guitar work and Art Garfunkel’s soaring voice.

The Concert in Central Park (1982) Tracklist

The album contains 22 tracks across two discs:

Disc One

The Boxer
Homeward Bound
I Am a Rock
Scarborough Fair / Canticle
El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
Kathy’s Song
America
At the Zoo
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
Cecilia
Bridge over Troubled Water

Disc Two
12. Song for the Asking
13. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
14. Duncan
15. Still Crazy After All These Years
16. Late in the Evening
17. Slip Slidin’ Away
18. St. Judy’s Comet
19. The Only Living Boy in New York
20. Late in the Evening (Reprise)
21. Bridge over Troubled Water (Encore)
22. Farewell / Closing Medley

The setlist spans their entire career, featuring classics and solo hits from Paul Simon.

Album Credits

Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon – vocals, guitar
Art Garfunkel – vocals

Backing Band

Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, percussion, keyboards
Horn and string sections for select songs

Production

Produced by Phil Ramone and Paul Simon
Recorded live at Central Park, New York City, September 19, 1981
Released by Warner Bros. Records / Columbia Records

The album emphasizes live clarity, audience ambiance, and faithful renditions of the duo’s catalog.

Reception and Legacy

The Concert in Central Park received critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling live albums of the 1980s.

Highlights:

Celebrated as a historic reunion concert and major cultural event
Reinforced Simon & Garfunkel’s status as legendary live performers
Set a benchmark for large-scale outdoor concerts

The album remains a definitive live recording in folk-rock history.

Fun Facts About The Concert in Central Park

The concert was free to the public, drawing an estimated half a million attendees.
It included both Simon & Garfunkel hits and Paul Simon solo tracks, giving fans a comprehensive experience.
The event was filmed for television broadcast, increasing its historical significance.
The album captures spontaneous audience interaction, making it a unique live document.

Trivia

The concert helped fund Central Park restoration projects, making it one of the first major benefit concerts.
“America” featured extended live storytelling and improvisation, highlighting Simon’s narrative approach.
The recording preserves Art Garfunkel’s vocal clarity even in the large outdoor venue, a testament to careful sound engineering.

Did You Know?

The Central Park reunion marked the first time Simon & Garfunkel performed together publicly in over a decade.
The album contributed to the duo’s renewed popularity in the 1980s, inspiring future reunion tours.
The performance is remembered for its historical scale and cultural impact, influencing the format of outdoor live albums for decades.