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.