17 JANUARY 1966
Simon and Garfunkel’s breakthrough album ‘The Sounds of Silence’ was released in the USA on this date. The UK version featured such tracks as ‘Kathy’s Song, ‘Homeward Bound’ and ‘I am a Rock’.
A more acoustic version of the title track had already been released on their 1964 debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. , which had flopped and led to their temporary break-up of the duo in early 1965. However, the song continued to receive airplay and grew in popularity. Then the Byrds had a seismic hit with 'Mr Tambourine Man', which must have influenced the decision to remix the old Simon and Garfunkel song and give it the Byrd's treatment. This even involved using the Wrecking Crew, the incredible band of session musicians behind many of the massive hits coming out from California, including 'Mr Tambourine Man'.
Without Simon or Garfunkel’s knowledge, the remix was released as a single in October 1965 and quickly climbed the charts, prompting the duo to reform and record a new album. The single ‘The Sound of Silence’ (not 'Sounds') hit #1 in the US at the beginning of 1966 and has become an undisputed classic.
The song's place in cultural history has been cemented by its use in numerous movie soundtracks since then, mostly famously in 'The Graduate' in 1968.
B-side: 'We've Got a Groovy Thing Goin''
Recorded: 10 March 1964, Columbia Studios, New York City; 15 June 1965
Released: Original recording: October 1964; Overdubbed version: 13 September 1965
Released: Original recording: October 1964; Overdubbed version: 13 September 1965
Highest chart positions: #9 (UK), #1 (US) (overdubbed version)
Length: 3:05
Label: Columbia
Writer: Paul Simon
