Eva Cassidy - American Tune

Eva Cassidy: "American Tune" (Blix Street, 2003)

The prodigious voice of Eva Cassidy, as expressive as ductile, created this incredible version. Folk and blend quite naturally in this acoustic little gem. It should be noted the slight adaptation of the original lyrics that Cassidy has made.

 

Listen the song, and a cover taken from the "Live at Pearl's (1994)" bootleg.

 

Ronnie Aldrich - Mrs. Robinson

Ronnie Aldrich & London Festival Orchestra : "This Way "In"" (Decca Phase 4, 1968)
Aldrich is one of the most important, prolific representatives of easy listening music. His uniqueness as an instrumentalist consists in the use of two pianos. In this lively version of Mrs. Robinson, besides using basic rock instrumentation, the London Festival Orchestra -also specialized in this kind of music- collaborates with him.

Acker Bilk - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Acker Bilk - "Feelings" (Sanctuary Records, 1998)/ "The Very Best of Acker Bilk" (Mastersound, 2005)
English virtuoso clarinettist Acker Bilk makes a soft, warm version of this song, the clarinet doing the beautiful melody over a background of bass, drums and strings. One of Bilk's greatest hits, collected in all compilations of his music career.

Listen this cover.

  

Erin Bode - Graceland

Erin Bode: "Over and Over" (Max Jazz, 2006)
A charming jazzy mid-tempo ballad, with piano, sax, bass and drums. Bode's mellow voice inevitably recalls the great Eva Cassidy. There is a remarkable, significant difference from the original, though retaining the vocal melody.

Listen this version.

Josh Groban - America

Josh Groban: "Live at The Greek" (Reprise, 2004)
Josh Groban has done a masterful cover with piano solo and voice, a work full of expressiveness, feeling and brilliance, inspired by different versions that Paul Simon has made ​​over the years.

The song and the video.

The Oak Ridge Boys - Loves Me Like a Rock

The Oak Ridge Boys: "The Oak Ridge Boys" (Columbia, 1974)
"The Best of The Oak Ridge Boys" (Columbia/Nashville, 1978)

Paul Simon's former collaborators, The Oak Ridge Boys recorded this country-gospel version, simply correct and a bit conservative and unenthusiastic.

Listen this sample.

A pretty weak video of the song. 

Mary Travers - Song for the Asking

Mary Travers: "Mary" (Warner, 1971)
Peter, Paul & Mary: "The Solo Recordings [1971-1972]" (Rhino/Wea, 2008)
The perfect voice of Mary Travers reaches here a point of highest quality. Outstanding performance and precise arrangements (including harp and vibes) for a gorgeous version in Travers's first album.

Listen "Song for the Asking"

Anita Kerr Singers - Simon & Garfunkel Songbook

Anita Kerr Singers: “Simon & Garfunkel Songbook” (Philips, 1971)
The American conductor and pianist Anita Kerr recorded this easy listening album, inspired by the folk and pop, really enjoyable. The Simon & Garfunkel's songs were arranged for orchestra and chorus by Kerr herself, with mostly female solo voices and strong presence of the horn section.
The whole of the album stand out for good taste, always according to the easy listening music characteristics. Highlights are the wonderful slow version of "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall", and the Bridge Over Troubled Water and "April Come She Will" lovely covers. On the contrary, a horrible version of "El Condor Pasa" arranged in Chinese style.

TRACKLIST
1. A Hazy Shade of Winter
2. The Sounds of Silence
3. Mrs. Robinson
4. El Cóndor Pasa
5. Fakin' It
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water
7. Somewhere They Can't Find Me
8. Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall
9: We've Got a Groovey Thing Goin'
10. April Come She Will
11. Scarborough Fair
        
You can see several videos on YouTube.

                                      

Charlotte Church - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Charlotte Church: " Prelude: The Best of Charlotte Church" (Columbia, 2002)
Charlotte Church's radiant soprano voice at the service of a very nice version. Besides that, it's especially interesting the use of acoustic guitar instead of piano.

Listen this cover.

Below, a brilliant live performance, with piano and orchestra.
  

              

The Parvarim - Sing Simon & Garfunkel

The Parvarim - "Sing Simon & Garfunkel" (CBS, 1972)
The Parvarim (or The Barbarians) are a magnificent folk duo, formed by Israeli singers-songwriters Yossi Hurie and Nissim Benachem.This album brings together a selection of Hebrew-translated Simon & Garfunkel songs and represents one of the best tributes to his music.
Remarkable guitarists, great arrangers and gorgeous vocalists, the reworking of these songs that makes The Parvarim is impressive, particularly when they follow the pure folk pattern.
Thus, "The Side of a Hill" -with lute and acoustic guitar- has some characteristics of Sephardic music, of which they are great specialists. Also, The Parvarim made an amazing, austere version of "The Boxer", radiating a feeling of authenticity. Likewise, "El Condor Pasa" cover, a masterpiece; "Scarborough Fair", an exquisite song whose arrangements have created a delicate medieval atmosphere; very nice versions of "A Most Peculiar Man" and "Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall", and "April Come She Will" becomes an excellent, lovely ballad with cheerful rhythm, whose arrangements incorporate Peggy-O chords. And finally, the "Feelin' Groovy", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Sound of Silence" covers are not bad at all.
In short, an essential tribute album, that you can listen here.

Tom Jones - Love and Blessings

Tom Jones: "Spirit in the Room" (Universal Island Records, 2012)
The Welsh singer is inspired by the Johnny Cash's peculiar, dying, trembling way to sing in his later works (in which he made great versions: "Bridge Over Troubled Water", for example). Moreover, it's a somewhat minimalist bluesy cover, interesting and worthy, although of lower quality than the Paul Simon's work.

Click here to listen "Love and Blessings."

Harald Winkler & Norman Candler - Mother and Child Reunion

Harald Winkler & Norman Candler: "Guitar Concerto Vol. 2" (Telefunken Germany, 1972)
The guitarist Harald Winkler, and conductor, arranger and composer Norman Candler (an alias of Gerhard Narholz) are the authors of this simple easy listening cover. The result is a conventional pop song, without the exoticism or the strength of the original theme.

You can see an odd video illustrating this version.