Bridge Over Troubled Water 1970 (4/11/20)

One of the things that has always struck me about today's “Great Song of the '70s was the fact that behind the gorgeous music and beautiful sentiment, there was a whole lot of anger and resentment.

But first things first.

Paul Simon wrote the song quickly. So quickly, he surprised himself. It was based on the lyric, “I'll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in me," as sung by gospel singer Claude Jeter with his group, the Swan Silvertones, in their version of the old spiritual "Mary Don't You Weep.” Simon even paid Jeter for the inspiration.

The song was written on guitar, but was transposed to piano because Simon believed that it would have more of a Gospel “feel” to it. He also felt that Art Garfunkel should sing it as a solo. Art disagreed. He felt it was Paul's song and he should get to sing it. A compromise was struck: Art would sing most of the song, if Paul would add another verse and sing harmony with him.

The end result was a masterpiece: Top 10 in 14 countries... including #1 in the UK, France and New Zealand. It was also #1 on the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 charts.

Billboard magazine ranked it the #1 song of 1970. In 1971, it won the Grammy Awards for "Record of the Year”and “Song of the Year!” Rolling Stone Magazine has it listed at #48 on their list of the “500 Greatest Hits of All Time.”

And that's the source of all the trouble.

As the accolades poured in—for Art's masterful performance--Paul began to feel jealous and resentful for not getting the credit he felt he deserved. Understandable, but unfortunately, it was the beginning of Simon & Garfunkel's long, slow, acrimonious breakup.

Pretty ironic when you think about it.

TRIVIA: The song has been covered many times...and a few of the cuts are amazing.

In 1970, Elvis Presley recorded a version that Paul Simon confessed was incredible. Elvis made it a staple in his live performances from that point forward.

In 1971, Aretha Franklin, not only went full gospel with her arrangement, she took it to #1 on the Billboard's R&B Chart as well as #6 on the Pop Chart. It sold 2 million copies and Aretha won the 1972 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Simon & Garfunkel:

Elvis:

Aretha: