Cecilia - Simion & Garfunkel (1970) 7/1/21

How do you follow up a masterpiece?

In early 1970, Simon and Garfunkel released their biggest hit, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," a song that would eventually reach the Top 10 in 14 countries, and #1 in 5--including the US and Canada. Billboard Magazine would go on to name it the #1 song of the year.

(We highlighted the song back on 4/11/20, and you can read about it, here: https://cuuuk8.wixsite.com/mysite/post/bridge-over-troubled-water-1970-4-11-20).

There was still plenty of "1970" left, so once the song started to fall off the charts, Columbia Records decided take a look into the rest of the "Bridge Over Troubled Water" album, and release something completely different!

"Cecilia" was born at a late night party when Paul, Art and a bunch of friends started banging on a piano bench. For some reason, they decided to record the sound, and add some reverb to give it some extra quirkiness.

Paul took it from there, writing some lyrics about an unfaithful lover and naming her Cecilia, after Saint Cecilia, the Patron Saint of Music.

The song was very different than what was normally heard on the radio in those days, but it didn't matter. Fans and radio listeners LOVED IT...sending it into the Top 10 in 8 countries. It reached #1 in the Netherlands, and #2 in Germany, Spain and Canada. In the US, it peaked at #4.

Simon & Garfunkel had another hit! It may have been the follow-up to a masterpiece, but it was still a "Great Song of 1970!"