The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
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| "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" | |
|---|---|
 1970 release, where "The 59th Street Bridge Song" was given the A-side. |
|
| Single by Simon and Garfunkel | |
| from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme | |
| A-side | At the Zoo (1967) |
| B-side | I Am a Rock (1970) |
| Released | March 1967 1970 |
| Format | 7" single |
| Recorded | August 16, 1966 |
| Genre | Folk rock |
| Length | 1:56 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Writer(s) | Paul Simon |
| Producer | Bob Johnston |
"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" is a song by folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel, appearing on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. "59th Street Bridge" is the colloquial name of the Queensboro Bridge in New York City. The song's message is immediately delivered in its opening verse: "Slow down, you move too fast".
The studio version features Dave Brubeck Quartet members Joe Morello (drums) and Eugene Wright (bass).
Footage of Simon and Garfunkel performing the song at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is featured in the film Monterey Pop.
Simon's writing credit was added to the theme song to the American children's TV show H.R. Pufnstuf after The Kroffts were successfully sued by Simon, who claimed that the theme ripped off this song.[1][2]
[edit] Covers and performances
- A popular cover version from 1967 was recorded by Harpers Bizarre, reaching #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their version featured a harmonic choral acapella section and a wind quartet with a flute, oboe, clarinet and a bassoon.
- Former Simon songwriting partner, Bruce Woodley, recorded a cover with his band The Seekers on their 1967 album Seen in Green.
- The song was covered by The Free Design on their 1967 debut album Kites Are Fun.
- The melody was used by Nana Mouskouri in 1967 for her song "C'est bon la vie".
- The song was covered by the Boston band Jim's Big Ego on the album Don't Get Smart.
- The song appears on the album The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper.
- During live performances, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page would often include snippets of "The 59th Street Bridge Song" in the guitar solo of the song "Heartbreaker." While usually edited out of official live releases, the snippet can be heard on numerous Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings.
- Tori Amos performed the song at several of her concerts in 2005.[3]
- The Grateful Dead were known to have sampled portions of the song in their music. The most notable instance was within the performance of "Dark Star" on February 13, 1970 at the Fillmore East in New York, NY on the Dick's Picks Volume 4 album.[verification needed]
[edit] In popular culture
- "Feelin' Groovy" was used in a 2003 series of Gap commercials featuring R&B/soul singers Angie Stone and Mýa.[4]
- The song was used in the first season of US TV series Desperate Housewives, during a scene where Lynette Scavo hallucinates her own suicide.
[edit] References
- ^ PUFNSTUF (1970, U.S.)
- ^ Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 5: In Living Color – Answers.com
- ^ Tori Amos Song Summary
- ^ Mack, Ann M. (2003-02-28). "Laird's Gap Is 'Groovy' for Spring". AllBusiness.com. http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/4122359-1.html. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
