Album review: GARFUNKEL & GARFUNKEL – Father and Son

October 29th, 2024 by jason

BMG [Release date 08.11.24]

The legendary Art Garfunkel teams up with his son, Art Jr. to produce an album of covers. As Art. Jr. explains, “This one is truly a father-son project, it’s all about this unique connection. We recorded a dozen of our most cherished songs. I brought more of the 80s influences into the project, and my father brought more of the Great American Songbook – wonderful songs from the 1940s and so on.”

It is a big sounding album, full of lush orchestral parts and as the Garfunkel’s explained, “We were going for a real modern orchestral vibe, with lots of strings.” In the studio, they enlisted producer Felix Gauder (Pet Shop Boys, Jimmy Somerville), string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay, Alicia Keys) and studio wizard Ash Howes (Kylie Minogue, Ellie Goulding).

Eagle eyed Art Garfunkel fans will spot the album cover’s nod to his 1979 album artwork ‘Fate For Breakfast’.

Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Old Friends’ is one of two stand outs on the album. The orchestral arrangement on this one is top notch. The album’s title track, a Cat Stevens cover, would bring a tear to the eye of even the most hardened music fan.

Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ was released as the lead single. A song that highlights both Art’s singing perfectly. Art Jr. has a higher register, whilst his dad may have lost a little of his higher range, he still possesses a vocal that brings joy to the listener.

Art Garfunkel sounds wonderful on the jazz standard ‘Once In A While’, with Art Jr. adding in backing vocals to good effect. Don McLean’s ‘Vincent’ is a good choice as it has plenty of ebb and flow, both musically and in the two Garfunkels.

The 80’s hits are fun, especially Eurthymics ‘Here Comes the Rain Again’, which had a string filled sound originally, and perhaps a less obvious choice Ph.D.’s ‘I Won’t Let You Down’.

Can’t help thinking they missed a track not covering one of Art Garfunkel’s most famous songs ‘Bright Eyes’, but then the original is a classic and untouchable!

My dad was a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel and Art Garfunkel’s solo career, not so much Paul Simon’s! So, the biggest complement I can pay this album is that it would have been the perfect gift for my dad and he’d doubtless love it. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)