Sounds of Silence - Definition and Overview

Sounds of Silence is an album by Simon and Garfunkel released January 17, 1966. It is commonly, and mistakenly, called "The Sound of Silence," which is actually the name of the title track.

The title song was released previously on the album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., and also on the soundtrack to the movie The Graduate. "Homeward Bound" was released on the album in the UK.

Recorded in December 1965 at CBS studios in Nashville, TN and Los Angeles, CA.

Produced by Bob Johnston, Columbia Records LP CL 2469 (mono); LP CS 9269 (stereo); CD CK 9269 (US: #21)

Personnel

• Paul Simon: lead vocals, guitar
• Art Garfunkel: lead vocals

Track listing

1. "The Sound Of Silence" (Paul Simon) (3:06) SAMPLE lyrics (http://www.medialab.chalmers.se/guitar/sounds.of.silence.lyr.html)
2. "Leaves That Are Green" (Paul Simon) (2:23)
3. "Blessed" (Paul Simon) (3:16)
4. "Kathy's Song" (Paul Simon) (3:20)
5. "Somewhere They Can't Find Me" (Paul Simon) (2:38)
6. "Anji" (Davy Graham) (2:15)
7. "Richard Cory" (Paul Simon) (2:57) (based on the poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson)
8. "A Most Peculiar Man" (Paul Simon) (2:32)
9. "April Come She Will" (Paul Simon) (1:51)
10. "We've Got A Groovey Thing Goin'" (Paul Simon) (1:59)
11. "I Am A Rock" (Paul Simon) (2:52)
12. "Blues Run The Game"
13. "Barbriallen"
14. "Rose Of Aberdeen"
15. "Roving Gambler"

The last four tracks were included as a bonus when the album was remastered and rereleased by Columbia Legacy on 21 August 2001.

There are three cover variations of the LP:

1. Original issue: SIMON & GARFUNKEL on one line; SOUNDS OF SILENCE on another, all in capital letters, no song titles on the front.
2. Second issue: Enlarged title letters, with only the first letter of the words "Sounds" and "Silence" in the album title capitalized. The first letters in "Simon" and "Garfunkel" are capitalized, but the rest are in lower-case. Song titles also included on the front.
3. Third issue: Same front cover as the second, the back cover has the copy of Tiger Beat magazine in Garfunkel's hand airbrushed out.

Released as part of the box set Simon & Garfunkel Collected Works, on both LP and CD.