"Bridge over Troubled Water" is the fifth and final studio album by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, released in January 1970 on Columbia Records. It features some of the duo's best-known tracks such as "Bridge over Troubled Water," "The Boxer," and "Cecilia," all of which became hit singles.
The album followed a tumultuous period for the duo and was recorded as the personal differences between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reached a peak. Despite these issues, the album was a great commercial success and the title track in particular brought the pair global acclaim. It topped the charts in over ten countries and received two Grammy Awards, while the album itself was awarded Album of the Year in 1971.
The album, characterised by its divergent styles, ranges from rock to R&B, Gospel, and world music. It marked a big stylistic change for Simon & Garfunkel as Paul Simon’s songwriting evolved from folk-inspired style to a more varied and expansive one. It’s considered a benchmark in recording engineering, pioneering new techniques in overdubbing and mixing, which would later influence many future records.
Despite being the end of Simon & Garfunkel as a recording entity at their peak, "Bridge over Troubled Water" remains one of the most successful and highly regarded albums of the duo’s career, reaffirming their place as one of the top folk rock acts of the era. Since its release, it has had numerous reissues and was certified eight-time platinum by the RIAA.
