Paul Simon’s return to the stage prompts a wave of Simon & Garfunkel albums and singles to return to … More
For years, it seemed like fans had seen the last of Paul Simon playing live. The singer-songwriter, who announced his retirement from the road back in 2018, appeared content to step away from the spotlight. But following the 2023 release of Seven Psalms, the superstar has decided to take one final bow — or at least what feels like it — with a quiet but meaningful run of shows across the U.S. and Canada.
The tour, dubbed A Quiet Celebration, started in early April, and it may be having a profound effect on the music charts in the United Kingdom. Simon’s catalog, both solo and with his former partner Garfunkel, constantly rack up sales and streams in the United Kingdom, but this frame is especially impressive, as several of his most beloved albums and singles are enjoying a resurgence.
Simon & Garfunkel Albums Reappear
Five classic Simon & Garfunkel albums return to the same U.K. chart. It’s not necessarily odd for a legacy act to break back onto a ranking with a classic, or, in special weeks, more than one. But a quintet of projects on the same roster shows a huge surge in interest in a short span of time, and with a large number of people.
Bridge Over Troubled Water leads the way, reentering the Official Album Downloads chart inside the top 10, settling in at No. 7. It’s followed by Greatest Hits (No. 11), The Best of Simon & Garfunkel (No. 29), Live 1969 (No. 62), and The Concert in Central Park (No. 88).
Three Simon & Garfunkel Hit Singles Chart Again
The renewed attention around the duo’s work isn’t limited to full-lengths. A trio of Simon & Garfunkel’s most recognizable tracks also rebound. “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “The Boxer” all return to the Official Singles Downloads chart this frame. This time around, the three cuts land at Nos. 75, 86, and 98, respectively.
Many Simon & Garfunkel Smashes Are Still Relatively New
While these returning releases are certainly well-known, most of them haven’t spent much time on the downloads-only rankings. Of all the albums, only Greatest Hits has enjoyed any real staying power, as it’s now spent 54 frames on the Official Album Downloads chart. The three singles, meanwhile, have each managed just two appearances on the Official Singles Downloads tally, including their comebacks this week.
Paul Simon’s Solo Work is Growing Too
It’s not just the duo’s discography benefiting from Simon’s tour. His own solo material is also climbing, with The Ultimate Collection gaining on two different U.K. charts.
On the Official Albums Streaming tally, the set jumps from No. 88 to No. 79, as people keep pressing play on his most familiar singles. It also claws its way back onto the primary Official Albums chart, just making the cut at No. 95.
