Recorded - February 2, 1968
Released - April 3, 1968
#1 for weeks of June 1, 8, and 15, 1968.
Of the relative few movie soundtrack songs I have reviewed so far, very few of them can truly hold up on their own. Sometimes it is because of the movie-specific lyrics as is the case with "The Happening". Other times it is the fact that the song doesn't grab you emotionally unless you watch the movie as well, like with "To Sir With Love". Well, "Mrs. Robinson" is an unusual exception. It features lyrics that relate to past and then-current events, and is well associated with its parent film. Yet for whatever reason, it still sounds both fresh, and good on its own.
In the fall of 1967, midway through the sessions for Simon & Garfunkel's Bookends album, an early version of "Mrs. Robinson" was written by Paul Simon and recorded by for use in the movie The Graduate. Even by today's standards, the movie is fairly controversial in its themes, although it is nonetheless a classic. About two months after the movie's release, Simon & Garfunkel re-recorded a longer version of the song. Upon its release, and no doubt propelled by the success of The Graduate, the song reached #1 on the pop charts.
This 1967-1968 period saw Simon & Garfunkel experimenting with different sounds and instrumentation. It certainly was a long way from the simple guitar and vocal sound heard on their earliest work. "Mrs. Robinson" features numerous acoustic guitar parts and Latin percussion. Much of the song features Simon & Garfunkel in their trademark tight harmonies, with a few solo Simon moments during the verses. As the song progresses, there are extra choir-esque vocals added to the mix.
Some may wonder why Joe DiMaggio is mentioned in a song primarily about Anne Bancroft's famous character. Well, Paul Simon originally wrote "Mrs. Robinson" as a look at past and present historical figures. The line about the famous baseball player is all that remained in the final version. Even with a few film-specific lyrics about Mrs. Robinson's affair with Dustin Hoffman's character, the lyrics still stand on their own independently. You don't need to see The Graduate to appreciate "Mrs. Robinson".
After the release of the Bookends album which featured numerous classic Simon & Garfunkel songs such as America, the duo wouldn't release another album for nearly two years. That album, Bridge Over Troubled Water turned out to not only be their best work, but it was also their swan song. Because the album's title track hit #1 in 1970, it means that I'll be finishing up my story of this classic duo in about a month's time. Stay tuned...
Final Verdict - "Mrs. Robinson" has a laid back and musically minimal atmosphere. It is lyrically quite poetic, and features a fantastic mellow vocal performance by one of the most renowned singing duos. A well-deserved #1, and an unquestionable thumbs up from me.
Coming Up Next - "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alpert.
Until Next Time, I'm Dr. Rockinson -
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