Simon & Garfunkel - Red Rubber Ball

[Babillonia]

Who r the actual singers in this audio?

[wilmaohman]

This song was cowritten by Gene Pitney in 1960,It was first released by Bobby Vee he had a top hit with it in 1961.The Seekers and S & G were great singers,but neither had any part in the penning of it.

[strato46]

@wilmaohman "Rubber Ball" recorded by Bobby Vee, in my high school years, was a completely different tune. Check it out here on You tube/ Rubber ball Bobby Vee/

[wilmaohman]

@strato46 You were right,sorry bout that.I must have been thinking about the seekers version,

You must be a couple years younger than me.

[ctwomey]

Don't be too disappointed that the Cycle sold 900,000 copies of this song, Artie. They had Red Rubber Ball, you had...what was that song's name again? Oh, yeah. Bridge Over Troubled Water. And Sound of Silence. And Homeward Bound. And...



[negritazuni]

The harmony is inventive and spot-on. Never heard this version before - it's wonderful, and thanks for posting.

[heidiberg19]

Simon didn't like I AM A ROCK cuz it was too easy. no 13th chords and slow dragging overworked overrehearsed music beaten to a pulp. I am a Rock was Lively and fresh and still is. I told him in 1984 to do something more like.... like ... like 'i am a rock'. he threw his head back and went " Uhhhhhh i HATE that song' But that's what he ended up doing. a bunch of easy 145 songs .

[DawnRainWasHere]

@heidiberg19 You talked to Paul Simon? The Paul Simon? You lucky dog!

[936412A]

I forgot all about this song it a good one too....

[auntbecky]

I just listened to all three versions and I really think I prefer this one. No one can really sing Paul's words better than Paul (with a little help from Artie of course.)

[cabmandu]

Oddly enough, one of the things I really liked about the Seekers version is that Judith's voice was in the background with the guys out front. Is there another version that has her handling the lead vocals?

[firecatforty]

I think Paul Simon's break-up songs are the best. I don't care that they're somewhat juvenile (I think Simon has actually used that word to describe I Am A Rock); when you get dumped you feel that kind of anger and pettiness. Of course his happier love songs are great too, but I just adore his "oh yeah, well f*ck you too!" kind of lyrics!

[Thearl]

Thanks for the post.

[ENACODNOM]

Shame on me!!! Until today, I only knew the Bobby Vee version that I had in a album when I was a very young man!

[Jander4031]

These guys could harmonize with a bunch owls. They can make any song sound like a classic.

[IndianaSurfGuitar]

@Jander4031 Kinda makes one wonder where all the magic has gone, in music these days, huh?

[mmmcfg]

brings back great childhood memories

[Alsan180]

wonderful. lindo lindo lindo...

é de chorar de emoção.

Simon and Garfunkel, simplesmente demais

[happysashimi]

What a fantastic idea to sing a song about a red rubber ball !! ^^

Iove simon and garfunkel's tempo !

[mmmcfg]

@happysashimi  its a great happy song when your down

[kogcc]

And i think it's gonna be alright...

[siamdarren]

For me, Art has the best male voice I have ever heard, and Judith durham the best female voice. This is nice, but far from the best S&G. Not being mean and thanks for posting this version I've never heard before, but the Seekers version IMO is the best.

[rileypam]

Paul wrote this while he was still in high school. :)

[steelersfan7238]

I have heard Neil Diamond's version and this is the first time I have heard this version.

Great song but a great duo!

[fightlol4]

Im glad Cyrkle got to it first cause theirs just isn't as good and I know their just using a guitar but still

[MrMgmtfan1]

real music



[ladbrady]

It is a sad song.

[Kathyscv]

@thesnazz YUP~ DUH its a fun song! Heard it years ago and my son was sure I never heard of it! He was so bugged though that as we laughed and sang it I got a few words wrong...woops! He is right! Think I will learn the lyrics! And have some fun with him!

[JamesTKirkCobain]

Shows how much of a difference good singers make.

[Skoomaheadmrmush]

this version shits on all the other shitty versions

[3shmigie3]

@redhot654

I'm 14^_^

[twilightseeker1]

Love the tune! It's so fun! :D

[Victorwater]

Great video. Guys, i made a cover of Homeward Bound, from a fan to another. Please listen: ?v=cM6VQGf6G3U

[GermanOperaSinger]

Personally, I prefer this to the 'Cyrkle's' version.

[goldwingdwarrior]

The cyrkle were the first recorders even though they didwrite it

[mysterymac38]

This song was co written by Bruce Woodley who was with the group "the Seekers". Just thought I would bring that up since Garfunkle seemed to forget that part.

[SKAisJOY]

Streetlight Manifesto i better.

[normvb]

Wow. Art isn't singing 3rds or 5ths, but something else most of the time. Almost a different melody altogether that still fits within the framework of what Paul is singing.

[stanhope84]

@normvb I'm always amazed at the harmonies Art comes up with. Blows the mind.

[PunkxCherub]

check out streetlight manifesto's version of this song. personaly my favorite

[davethebaker1]

the seekers version sounds better. good songwriters i dont like there voices

[wwekane2468]

@davethebaker1 Garfunkle didn't really much. It's mainly Simon

[LilyHunt]

Seriously, peeps, it's a fun, bitter, bitchy song. Next time you have to bid someone farewell, forward a link to your favorite version, and change your email/addy/phone # LOL

[Heidibear76]

@LilyHunt Great IDEA! Wow! Cool. Thanx!

[TheFallguy64]

Great Arrangement of this hit song by Paul Simon

[TheJenjen78]

Love it

[iowa61]

Bruce Woodley had take legal action against EGOmaniac Paul Simon to get proper credit for this song. After that, Simon would go out of his way to denigrate The Seekers. Pathetic.

[TheTwtichy]

99 songs of Revolution did a cover of this, check it out!

[cowtipper1993]

@TheTwtichy No Streetlight Manifesto did a cover of this on that album.

[TheTwtichy]

@cowtipper1993 Thank you, right, sorry that's what i meant... poorly worded. =)

[Yourattentionplease]

I myself prefer the Streetlight Manifesto version. =]

[pabienpeur]

@DeadRobots no member of the Cyrkle participated in writing it. And personally i find their version flat and boring.

[Escal21]

Simon and Woodley of the Seekers wrote it. The Cyrkle made it a hit, then went off and are gone. Who's that Obama you're talkin' about ? Something's happening here and you don't know what it is, do you, Mr Jones ?

[rudybogado29]

wow i didn't know Paul and Art wrote this. learn something new every day.OBAMA SUCKS

[PlatinumBlondeRage]

@rudybogado29 lol idiot.

[williaml3451]

i like it :)

[Betty88ify]

@countrykimm

Come on! Maybe this song by S&G isn't one of the best, but how can you litterly hate this performence? The word hate is a pretty strong word, and if you like the other song but suddenly not this. How come? I don't want to be a pain in the as, you hopefully see my point.

[FIXIErider]

This was co-written by Paul Simon and a member of Cyrkle. This is a good version.

[grimTales1]

I thought Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley wrote it, so didnt the Cyrkle cover The Seekers' version?

[ross2343]

@grimTales1

You are correct that Paul Simon & Bruce Woodley (of the Seekers) wrote 'Red Rubber Ball', however, The Cyrkle got ahold of the song & made it their own...there was 'no cover' of anyone per se except that the credit goes to the writers who happen to be Paul & Bruce.

[TheFallguy64]

This song is just a catchy tune

The merits of this song belongs to Paul & Bruce, authors of this cool song

[normanfletcher]

Countrybumpkin, this was a one off, live performance at the Lincoln Center. Of course Paul wrote many better songs, it is different but is in no way grossly inferior to the Cyrkle hit cover version, which i also like, what an inane post! All constructive criticism, i haven't a problem with, as i stated before, post elsewhere if your sole objective is to start a petty argument .

[TheFallguy64]

Both arrangements are excellent in my opinion, even though Paul Simon is author

of this song. Any merits of this song belongs to Paul Simon, any bickering of the

quality, or who's version is better, doesn't matter

Kindly keep any negative feelings of this song to yourself.

This also applies to the song Bridge Over Troubled Water

Elvis arrangement is excellent, Art's vocal of this is excellent as well, even

though I am a devoted fan of The King.

[7beers]

If S & G had done a proper studio version of this, now THAT would have worked best.

[unclebobunclebob]

The artist always sounds better singing his or her own stuff and this is awesome. Never heard it before. Way Way Way Way better than the Cyrkle, even though they did an admirable job of it too.

[TheOdderOne]

I don't know about that, ever hear Bruce Springsteen's version of "Blinded By The Light"?

[STU676]

Cyrkle version is the best,,,,,,thats a fact jack

[cutis1000]

No, it's not a fact, jack! Since the Cyrkle was a one hit wonder, and S&G were WAY BEYOND one hit wonders. It's apples and oranges. The Cyrcle is forgettable. S&G's contribution to American music is eternal.

[NickUhWush]

i agree with all the streetlight manifesto fans commenting this

streetlights cover will be the best

they kinda stole my bands idea tho, we were guna cover Mrs Robinson

and we were guna think wed be original by covering Simon and Garfunkel

but noooooooo

streetlight HAD to get there before us...

<3 u tomas lol

[IDLERACER]

If it's of any interest, the picture that accompanies this tune has been doctored. Originally, there was a cigarette between Paul's fingers, and billows of smoke coming from it. When the record company asked if they could use this image for the cover of the box set, Simon replied, "Only if you can photoshop that bad habit I once had out of it."

[normanfletcher]

Both versions of the song are excellent, why argue the realitve merits of the two, if you feel the need to debate them, please be civil to each other. I hate the unnecessary amount of abuse that people post on the internet. Please just enjoy this and the cyrkle's or even the seekers version, if you want to have an argument about something trivial, then post somewhere else. Rant over!

[Raida7]

AMEN!

[4Pints4Me]

Amen, again! I think we all need to be reminded of this more often. The other reminder would be the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything".

With regard to the song, I like every version of it that I've heard, albeit for different reasons. This one is imperfect, but a great treat!

[MVillani1985]

@normanfletcher For some reason, people get a thrill over starting unnecessary arguments over the internet (usually about American politics, even if doing so is completely off-topic). I don't get it either.

[katewinslet1912]

@normanfletcher Heard the Seekers version first (hey im only 33) and thats the one im so used too. But Love the work of S+G so really enjoyed just hearing this song. The talent of those boys is incredible.

[redhot654]

@katewinslet1912

lmao buddy I'm only 16 (:

[robertn556]

the song was written by

Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley of THe Seekers. The Seekers version is outstanding with the amazing voice of one Miss Judith Durham - Cyrkle good, Seekers MUCH better!!

[grumben123]

OK, enough of this. Its clear to anyone who has ever heard it that the Diodes have the best cover of this song.

[RdSoxFan618]

In a few months it'll be Streetlight Manifesto with the best cover.

[SquintsBigMove]

Did 99sor leak? I'm just wondering how you knew this was going to be on there a month before everyone else

[bigpapajosh1]

They put clips up very recently, it's on it. There is no leak, I'd know. lol

[RdSoxFan618]

I read it on a forum that someone emailed Tomas for one song (via contact us page on their site I think), and Tomas said this song. Of course, he could be lying...and they did put up clips at the NJ (and just checked and holy fuck, 6 clips are up)

[pclrrr]

Lighten up, dradfromthebu.

[facelesshorseman]

I go to bands like Simon and Garfunkle for reasons obviously alien to you. If I reacted like I did, it's because this was the last comment I ever expected to be called a cunt about. When I saw the in box, I really expected to share a memory of hearing "Red Rubber Ball" or "Turned Down Day" with someone.

Go to your friends. I'm sure they're great. Just get out of my life.

[facelesshorseman]

You dug all the way into this set of comments for that?

So, now I suppose you're sitting and mellowing out to "Bridge Over Troubled Water?"

They were on the radio when I was about eight. I didn't learn about them by being an edgy fanboy.

I've forgotten more rock than any teenybopper Skatepunk Magician (?). HAH!

Add mime to your resume, you'll really get the girls!

[facelesshorseman]

Ah! At last I hear the boys do it!

I loved the Cyrcle version!

There's a great Bluegrass version somewhere that I heard once.

[choppedstick]

Wow, are you kidding? This version is twice as good as the Cyrkle version, which sounded quite emotionless in my opinion. There's a reason why Red Rubber Ball was their only 'hit'. It's a shame S&G didn't record it, but they probably wouldn't have if the song wasn't a hit.

[ef200]

While I agree that the S&G version is better, "Red Rubber Ball" was not the Cyrckle's only hit. They had another chart-topper called "Turn Down Day."

[choppedstick]

Oh, didn't know that. So a two-hit wonder.

[hcchasemagic]

your right in a way there was no reason to record it after the cyrkle had such a big hit with it. and S&G had plenty of hits without it.

[hcchasemagic]

Simon & Garfunkel never recorded it. paul simon wrote it the soul and essence is him not the band that performed in a studio.

[polarisknight]

i listen to both versions and my personal opinion is that simon and garfunkel did a better job

[luxyaltz219]

The Seekers version of this is exellent

[minivanmonkey]

@thesnazz,

It is for those reasons you mention that I personally LIke this version better than cyrkle.

[thesnazz]

Hands down........THE CYRCLE VERSION

beats anyones version.

[annachestnut]

true dat! even though Simon wrote it. The Cyrcle kids look like the kids at the college where I work!

[Gftpunk]

you both spelled the cyrkle wrong.

[joshuajethro]

this is a live recording, it's hardly fair to compare.

[takealisten9]

Neil Diamond? Come on!

[stanleykenvin]

I thought Neil Diamond wrote this????

[joshuajethro]

well you are wrong stanley

[nvr46]

Puppydoug is right. Seekers sang this song the best.

[hollywoodhottie19]

Al fin y al cabo que ni queria :op

[hrothgleas]

I dare you to sing along with the chorus, especially if you can hit the high harmony, and not feel better about almost anything.

[snapcurry]

RP50: I stand corrected on the "Bridge Over Troubled Water" pianist -- thank you. I think I saw Jimmy Webb accompany Art Garfunkel on a TV performance of the song -- maybe it was on the telecast of the Grammy Awards, when "Bridge" won Song of the Year (which goes to the composer, if I'm not mistaken).

Hollies65: I prefer the Cyrkle's version of "Red Rubber Ball," too!

[arcticcat136]

Great Song!!!!

[pcsbeat]

lovely

[puppydoug]

I attended a Paul Simon press conference in Sydney in either 1979 or 1980. He was an arrogant arsehole! So it doesn't surprise me that he demanded full songwriting credits for the songs he co-wrote with Bruce Woodley. The Seekers version of this tune is superior to any other. The reason it wasn't a hit for them is that, quite simply, they never released it as a single!

[maida1982a]

some things never change and neither has paul-

[hollies65]

Well...maybe...I have a hard time believing anyone could top the Cyrkle's version.

[genisis2307]

sure he is arrogant but he has a right to be

[wwekane2468]

@puppydoug I don't get why people talk about the Seekers verson. I looked it up and it sounds bland and not well recorded.

[journeybabe215]

i like simon & garfunkle a heck of a lot better than them freakin cyrkle dudes. that would have ticked me off soo so bad. if simon & garfunkle didn't record this song yet, i think they should, cuz i love this song, & it's done best by them!!!!

[sippy1111]

I heard previously that this was the case but had never listened to Bruce confirm what Paul Simon said .

[sippy1111]

Paul Simon offered Bruce Woodley royalties for this provided it was credited only to Simon . He didn't want anyone to know he was co writing with any one else .

[520sno]

someone was just watching spicks and specks!

[gmtobehere]

okay let's get this right --- first of all, he gave it to the cyrcle, secondly he said on colbert he basically didn't want anyone to know that he wrote the song because he only did it for money --- you may be thinking of cloudy, i'm not sure about the story there

[snapcurry]

Re the "Bridge Over Troubled Water" discussion, are you (and beink) familiar with Aretha Franklin's version? She makes it sound as if it was meant to be a gospel song. Still, it's hard to say that it's actually "better" than the original, with Jimmy Webb's unrivaled piano accompaniment. It's a matter of opinion anyway, I suppose. There are some covers that I feel surpass the originals (I have a list), but it's probably inappropriate to start expanding this subject beyond the song in question.

[RP50]

Actually, the piano on the original was played by Larry Knechtel.

[phishyjo]

who cares who wrote it. it is a beautiful song

[LashBridges]

Unfortunately, Artie was a bit misleading. Yes, Paul wrote this song, but not alone. After the flop of the debut album after their breakup (the first time), Simon went to Britain and found a new partner...a songwriting partner. And out of that brief partnership with Bruce Woodley of The Seekers came 'Red Rubber Ball'. But after the mess concerning 'Cloudy' (another Simon/Woodley authored tune recorded by both S&G and The Seekers), Simon ceased to mention Woodley (and obviously Artie does too).

[beink]

I'm going to respectfully disagree regarding "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Art Garfunkel's version remains the gold standard. Elvis' is great, but doesn't define the song like Art's. Art brings a magic, subtlety and passion to the song that Elvis doesn't quite deliver.

[AndreTheGigante]

Well if Paul and Art had a full band with percussion and such behind them, im sure it would sound better =)

[pam101dalmatians]

how do i make my own video like you have done here?...i want to make a thingy of 10 songs i remember as a teenager

[vetteel]

Who Knew? I've never heard this before, but it's much better than the Cyrkle's version.

[lyrialzander]

I've never heard their version of this, thanks for posting! The Cyrkle have this crisp happy feel to their track that I think I prefer. Simon & Garfunkel ROCK though!

[Sola174]

Art's speaking voice is so sweet!!

[redhot654]

@Sola174

It's so nice and easy to listen to :D

[Snabbelkrab]

they can sing so f!@W#Ecking nice together!

[HeuteKunst]

After all these years to find this out. How cool is that!!!

[Hindasound]

No wonder I love this song! I also never knew it was Paul's! But it totally sounds like him, doesn't it?

[foodeater398]

you are a boob, j/k but seriously i think this is beter than the cyrkle.

[buffspringfield]

Never knew Paul wrote this what a bobo I am

[rhythm61]

Thank you for posting this, I have looked for this for a long time.

I believe that Simon and Woodley wrote this while Cyrkle, Seekers, and S&G were on tour. Neither Simon or Woodley felt the song was a hit and gave it to Cyrkle. The Seekers version was not as successful and then Cyrkle opened for the Beatles. I like Cyrkle's version best. I was at a camp where a troop leader sang the song every year at a talent show. It was also the song for one of my weirder relationships.

Thanks again.

[CINGO25]

I know this song from Neil Diamond, I thought...

I´ve looked for 20 years, and now it´s S&G ???!!

[Snabbelkrab]

it is :D

[ghostfanX2]

Actually Neil did record it -- I don't know if it has ever been released on a CD but I still have my LP (gee, I'm old) with this song...

[LashBridges]

It's a shame Artie didn't recognize Woodley as co-writer. Oh well, bad blood there. So much so that Woodley's co-writing credit is left off "Cloudy" from the 'Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, & Thyme' album (however both Simon and Woodley are given credit on The Seeker's version of "Cloudy on the 'Seen in Green' album-which I prefer over S&G's version, mostly because of Durham's vocals and keyboards). Great post. Never heard Simon do this before. It's a shame Simon & Woodley split. Great songwriters!

[tomlynntigard]

i never knew paul simon wrote this!

he should have spent more studio time on it instead of selling it to cyrcle, but i imagine such are the breaks for the hungry-struggling artists of the 60's. maybe it sounded too much like his "hazy shade of winter".

[SinoYank]

Simon must have written (co-written, actually) this during a rare moment of cheerfulness and optimism. Something about S&G's voices that make me expect the speaker to jump off a skyscraper or get run over by a subway train just after the sun finally rises like a red rubber ball.

[tuneinat]

maybe it sounded to much like puff the magic dragon

[SinoYank]

An excellent song for the Cyrkle to sing. Simon's red rubber ball surely must be inflated with compressed angst.

[AcousticUplift]

Haha, love the skyscrapper comment! I think this is a great example of Simon's songwriting genius. So many of his songs are angst-written and full of loss or woe. Yet a hauntingly cheery melody eg. 'You can call me Al' 'The Boxer' belies the agony, somehow never detracting from the serious message conveyed. Red Rubber Ball is defiant...as if 'Yeah, I'm P'O'd but I'm damned if I'm going to let you get the better of me'.

[Chadarnuke]

Simon and Garfunkel Rock.