120,000+ Classic Rock Album Covers Database (1948-2026): Simon & Garfunkel - Live 1969 (2008)

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Simon & Garfunkel - Live 1969 (2008) | Review, Fun Facts & Trivia

Simon & Garfunkel - Live 1969 (2008)

Tracklist front / back album art covers

Simon & Garfunkel – Live 1969 (2008): Album Review, Tracklist & Trivia

Introduction to Live 1969

Live 1969 is a live album by American folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, released in 2008.

The album captures performances from their 1969 North American tour, highlighting the duo during a pivotal moment between the release of Bookends and Bridge over Troubled Water, showcasing their live energy and folk-rock mastery.

Background and Concert Overview

Recorded during the duo’s 1969 tour, the album features:

Concerts across major U.S. venues, including Madison Square Garden
Songs spanning their entire early catalog, from Sounds of Silence to Bookends
Live renditions that demonstrate their acoustic precision and harmonies
Release in 2008 as part of a series of archival live albums for fans and collectors

This album provides a historical snapshot of Simon & Garfunkel at the height of their touring career.

Musical Style and Sound

Live 1969 includes:

Folk, folk-rock, and early pop-rock arrangements
Acoustic and electric guitar instrumentation
Signature vocal harmonies between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Audience interaction and live ambiance that highlight the authentic 1960s concert experience

The album emphasizes clarity, warmth, and the duo’s precise live performance style.

Live 1969 (2008) Tracklist

The album features 20 tracks:

Homeward Bound
I Am a Rock
Mrs. Robinson
Scarborough Fair/Canticle
For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
A Hazy Shade of Winter
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
America
The Boxer
Cecilia
The Only Living Boy in New York
Fakin’ It
El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
Kathy’s Song
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Baby Driver
Still Crazy After All These Years
Duncan
Late in the Evening
Bridge over Troubled Water

The tracklist combines classic hits, fan favorites, and Paul Simon solo material, delivering a comprehensive live experience.

Album Credits

Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon – vocals, acoustic guitar
Art Garfunkel – vocals

Backing Band

Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion

Production

Produced and remastered for release by Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings in 2008
Original recordings captured during the 1969 North American tour

The production preserves historical live sound while improving clarity and balance for modern listeners.

Reception and Legacy

Live 1969 was praised for:

Capturing Simon & Garfunkel’s peak touring performance before their breakup in 1970
Delivering authentic live interpretations of studio hits
Highlighting vocal harmonies, musicality, and stage presence

The album serves as an essential historical document for fans of folk-rock and the duo’s career.

Fun Facts About Live 1969

The album captures performances prior to the duo’s 1970 breakup, providing insight into their live dynamics.
Songs like “America” and “The Only Living Boy in New York” feature extended storytelling and improvisation.
The album was released decades later, offering fans a restored historical live experience.
“Scarborough Fair/Canticle” demonstrates the duo’s signature harmonic interplay live on stage.

Trivia

Many tracks are performed in arrangements slightly different from the studio versions, giving each song a unique live feel.
The album includes Paul Simon solo material, integrated seamlessly with duo hits.
Audience applause and interaction are preserved, emphasizing the concert atmosphere of 1969.

Did You Know?

This recording shows Simon & Garfunkel performing at the height of their touring career, just a year before Bridge over Troubled Water’s release.
The live album provides a glimpse of how folk-rock evolved in large concert venues in the late 1960s.
“The Boxer” features the famous snare drum intro performed live, which became a signature of their concerts.