The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

Last updated

"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
BridgeSong.jpg
1971 single release, where "The 59th Street Bridge Song" was given the A-side
Single by Simon & Garfunkel
from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
Recorded16 August 1966 (1966-08-16)
Genre Folk rock
Length1:43 [1] /1:53 (later fade out) [2] [3]
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Paul Simon
Producer(s) Bob Johnston
Simon & Garfunkel singles chronology
"El Cóndor Pasa (If I Could)"
(1970)		"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
(1967)		"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her (Live)"
(1972)

"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" is a song by folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon and originally released on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme . [4] Cash Box called it a "sparkling, spirited lid". [5]

Contents

The song is named for the Queensboro Bridge which spans the East River between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens, 59th Street Bridge being a popular unofficial alternate name for that landmark whose Manhattan end is located between 59th and 60th Streets. [6] Reportedly the song came to Paul Simon during a daybreak walk across the Queensboro Bridge: the line: "Just kicking down the cobblestones" refers to the paving at the approach to the bridge's Queens end, while "Hello lamppost, what'cha knowing" refers to either of two bronze lampposts which stood at the bridge's Manhattan end; although the northern member of the pair was removed circa 1975, the southern lamppost is still in place. [7] Simon opted to entitle the song after its site of inspiration rather than its prominent hook line "Feelin' Groovy", Simon balking at labeling one of his songs with such a lowbrow turn of phrase: however "The 59th Street Bridge Song" would be tracklisted on the Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album with "Feelin' Groovy" as its parenthetical subtitle. [8]

As recorded for the Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album, "The 59th Street Bridge Song" features Dave Brubeck Quartet members Joe Morello (drums) and Eugene Wright (double bass). Although such a cheerful track might have seemed an obvious choice for single release the track's running time of 1:43 was deemed too brief to garner radio "add-ons". Simon would say of the song's brevity: "Sometimes I make a song purely an impression...When you've made your impression, stop. I don't want the [listener] to think [beyond] its [being] a happy song." [9] (Subsequent remasters, included on later reissues of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and such compilations as Old Friends , [10] Tales from New York: The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel , [11] and The Essential Simon & Garfunkel , [12] have a longer fade-out at 1:53.) The track would serve as B-side for the Simon and Garfunkel 1967 Top 20 hit "At the Zoo". In 1971 "The 59th Street Bridge Song" would have an A-side single release – with "I Am a Rock" as B-side – in several European countries. [13]

Footage of Simon and Garfunkel performing the song at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is featured in the film Monterey Pop .[ citation needed ] During his 2018 farewell tour, Simon "penalized" himself for wrongly performing the lyrics to another song by singing this song, which he confesses to hating. [14]

The theme song to the American children's television program H.R. Pufnstuf , originally composed by Sid and Marty Krofft, was found to closely mimic "The 59th Street Bridge Song" after Simon sued for plagiarism; his writing credit was subsequently added to the theme for H.R. Pufnstuf. [15] [16]

59th Street Bridge, seen from Manhattan, in 2010 Queensboro Bridge from Manhattan side.jpg
59th Street Bridge, seen from Manhattan, in 2010

Covers and performances

Related Research Articles

<i>Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.</i> 1964 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. is the debut studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Following their early incarnation as rock 'n' roll duo Tom and Jerry, Columbia Records signed the pair in late 1963. The album was produced by Tom Wilson and engineered by Roy Halee. The cover and the label include the subtitle "exciting new sounds in the folk tradition". Recorded in March 1964, the album was released on October 19.

<i>Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme</i> 1966 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is the third studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Produced by Bob Johnston, the album was released on October 24, 1966, in the United States by Columbia Records. Following the success of the re-release of their debut single "The Sound of Silence", Simon & Garfunkel regrouped after a time apart while Columbia issued their second album, a rushed collection titled Sounds of Silence. For their third album, the duo spent almost three months in the studio working on instrumentation and production.

<i>The Paul Simon Songbook</i> 1965 studio album by Paul Simon

The Paul Simon Songbook is the debut solo studio album by Paul Simon. It was released in the UK in 1965. It was made available in the US as part of the LP box set Paul Simon: Collected Works (1981). The album was produced by Reginald Warburton and Stanley West as Columbia/CBS Records LP BPG 62579 in the UK; remastered CD Columbia/Legacy/SME CK 90281.

<i>Live from New York City, 1967</i> 2002 live album by Simon & Garfunkel

Live from New York City, 1967 is the second live album by Simon & Garfunkel, recorded at Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City, on 22 January 1967. The album was released on the Columbia Legacy CK 61513 label on 16 July 2002.

"Scarborough Fair" is a traditional English ballad. The song lists a number of impossible tasks given to a former lover who lives in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The "Scarborough/Whittingham Fair" variant was most common in Yorkshire and Northumbria, where it was sung to various melodies, often using Dorian mode, with refrains resembling "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme" and "Then she'll be a true love of mine." It appears in Traditional Tunes by Frank Kidson published in 1891, who claims to have collected it from Whitby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am a Rock</span> 1965 song written by Paul Simon

"I Am a Rock" is a song written by Paul Simon. It was first performed by Simon as the opening track on his album The Paul Simon Songbook which he originally recorded and released in August 1965, only in the United Kingdom. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, as the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, re-recorded it on December 14, 1965, and included as the final track on their album Sounds of Silence, which they released on January 17, 1966. It was released as a single in 1966, and subsequently included as the B-side of the 1971 A-side reissue of "The 59th Street Bridge Song ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Woodley</span> Australian musician

Bruce William Woodley is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. He was a founding member of the successful folk-pop group the Seekers, and co-composer of the songs "I Am Australian," "Red Rubber Ball," and Simon & Garfunkel's "Cloudy." At the National Day of Mourning on 22 February 2009 for the victims of the Victoria bushfires, Woodley unveiled two new verses for "I am Australian".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpers Bizarre</span> American sunshine pop band

Harpers Bizarre was an American sunshine pop band of the 1960s, best known for their Broadway/sunshine pop sound and their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The 59th Street Bridge Song ."

<i>The Columbia Studio Recordings (1964–1970)</i> 2001 box set by Simon & Garfunkel

The Columbia Studio Recordings (1964–1970) is the third box set of Simon & Garfunkel recordings, released in 2001 by Columbia Records. This 5-CD set contains all of their studio albums from 1964 to 1970. The CDs are packaged in miniature recreations of the original LP jackets, and an annotated booklet is also included.

<i>Collected Works</i> (Simon and Garfunkel album) 1981 box set by Simon and Garfunkel

Collected Works is the first box set released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1981. It contains all five of their Studio albums: Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., Sounds of Silence, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Bookends, and Bridge over Troubled Water. Originally released in 1981 as a 5-LP box set, it was reissued as a 3-CD set in 1990.

<i>Old Friends</i> (1997 Simon and Garfunkel album) 1997 box set by Simon and Garfunkel

Old Friends is the second box set of Simon & Garfunkel songs, released in November 1997. The three-disc anthology collects most of the duo's best-known works, as well as previously unreleased outtakes. Some of these outtakes later appeared on the reissues of Simon & Garfunkel's five studio albums, as well as the subsequent boxed set The Columbia Studio Recordings (1964-1970).

<i>Sounds of Silence</i> 1966 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Sounds of Silence is the second studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on January 17, 1966. The album's title is a slight modification of the title of the duo's first major hit, "The Sound of Silence", which originally was released as "The Sounds of Silence". The song had earlier been released in an acoustic version on the album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., and later on the soundtrack to the movie The Graduate. Without the knowledge of Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel, electric guitars, bass and drums were overdubbed under the direction of Columbia Records staff producer Tom Wilson on June 15, 1965. This new version was released as a single in September 1965, and opens the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her</span> 1966 song by Simon & Garfunkel later released as a single

"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" is a song written by Paul Simon and recorded by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel on their third studio album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966). It is sung solely by Art Garfunkel, and consists mainly of his vocals with heavy reverb and a 12-string acoustic guitar. The lyrics concern finding a lover, although Simon once characterized the subject matter as being about a "belief," rather than about a specific individual.

"The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" is a 1966 song by Paul Simon released on Simon & Garfunkel's album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, and as a B-side of "The Dangling Conversation", which charted at number 25 on Billboard's Hot 100. It is a commentary on advertising.

<i>20 Greatest Hits</i> (Simon & Garfunkel album) 1991 compilation album by Simon & Garfunkel

20 Greatest Hits is the third compilation album of greatest hits by Simon & Garfunkel, released in Australia and Asia in August 1991.

"April Come She Will" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their second studio album, Sounds of Silence (1966). It originally appeared on the solo album The Paul Simon Songbook. It is the B-side to the hit single "Scarborough Fair/Canticle". It is included on The Graduate soundtrack album and was additionally released on the "Mrs. Robinson" EP in 1968, together with three other songs from The Graduate film: "Mrs. Robinson", "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", and "The Sound of Silence".

"Cloudy" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their third studio album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966). It was co-written by Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley of the Seekers; that band later covered it on their 1967 album Seekers Seen in Green. The Cyrkle released a version of the song on their 1966 debut album, Red Rubber Ball. The title track, Red Rubber Ball, was also written by the duo of Woodley/Simon.

<i>Simon & Garfunkel: The Complete Albums Collection</i> 2014 box set by Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel: The Complete Albums Collection is the fifth box set of Simon & Garfunkel recordings. This 12-CD Set contains all five of their studio albums from 1964 to 1970, as well as the soundtrack album from The Graduate from 1968, the 1972 Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits compilation album, and four previously released live concert recordings. The CDs are packaged in miniature recreations of the original LP jackets, and an annotated booklet is included.

References

  1. ↑ "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme – Simon & Garfunkel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Tales from New York – the Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel". Spotify . 28 March 2000.
  3. ↑ "The Essential Simon & Garfunkel". Spotify . 14 October 2003.
  4. 1 2 "Simon & Garfunkel – The 59Th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy): Comentarios de canciones". AlohaCriticón (in European Spanish). 27 October 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 4 March 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) – 59th Street Bridge, New York". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "A proud lamppost guards the Queensboro Bridge". 7 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Leigh, Spencer (2016). Simon & Garfunkel: Together Alone. Carmarthen United Kingdom: McNidder & Grace. ISBN   978-0857161505.
  9. ↑ New Yorker September 2 1967 "On the Road With Simon & Garfunkel: the music duo discusses poetry, popularity, and pain" by James Stevenson
  10. ↑ "Simon & Garfunkel – Old Friends | Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic .
  11. ↑ "Simon & Garfunkel – The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel: Tales from New York | Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic .
  12. ↑ "Simon & Garfunkel – The Essential Simon & Garfunkel | Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic .
  13. ↑ "45cat – Simon And Garfunkel – The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) / I Am A Rock – CBS – Germany – 7169". 45cat.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Paul Simon wraps up farewell tour back home". CBC News. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "NameBright – Coming Soon". Kiddiematinee.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "H.R. Pufnstuf (1969–1970): Trivia", IMDB.com. Accessed Sept. 16, 2017.
  17. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 111.
  18. ↑ "Television Scout: King Gable Comes to Video; Best Bets". The Pittsburgh Press. March 5, 1968. p. 51. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  19. ↑ Malvinni, David (28 February 2013). Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation. Scarecrow Press. ISBN   978-0-8108-8348-2.
  20. ↑ "Tori Amos Setlist Database". Toriset.org. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Rojas, Anita (20 June 2017). "La música de Chespirito". La Rata (in Spanish). p. larata.cl. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  22. ↑ "S5E10: Pfeiffer's Choice – The Wonder Years Soundtrack". Tunefind.com. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  23. ↑ Mack, Ann M. (28 February 2003). "Laird's Gap Is 'Groovy' for Spring". AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  24. ↑ Mark Pentleton (2 May 2015). "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)". Markpentleton.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  25. ↑ Cook-Wilson, Winston (17 April 2017). "In season 3 of the Leftovers, everyone is waiting around to die". Spin . Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  26. ↑ "Paul Simon And Stephen Colbert Are 'Feelin' Groovy'". YouTube. 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.