Maps of Music

Scissors Cut (1981)

Where the lyrics of Scissors Cut take you, and where it was really made.

The album was made in the months after Art Garfunkel lost his partner Laurie Bird, and its rear cover carries a partial photo of her.

Key places

Vocals recorded in Miami (1981)

Recording site Criteria Studios — Vocal parts for the album were recorded at Criteria in Miami, Florida. The Miami studio is listed among the album's recording locations. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Basic tracks in New York City (1981)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The basic tracks were recorded at Mediasound in New York City. The point marks the city center, not the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Overdubs in Los Angeles (1981)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Overdubs were recorded at Wally Heider in Los Angeles, California. The point marks the city center, not the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Scissors Cut: fifth solo studio album by Art Garfunkel
• Released August 1981 on Columbia Records
• Second album of his to miss the US Billboard top 40 and second to contain no US top 40 singles
• Co-produced by Roy Halee, who also co-produced the Simon & Garfunkel albums
• Dedicated to his late partner, Laurie Bird
• In the month after release, Garfunkel reunited with Paul Simon for the 1981 Concert in Central Park

Background

• Bird died in Garfunkel's New York apartment in June 1979
• At the time Garfunkel was in Europe filming Bad Timing
• He was devastated by the death and became somewhat of a recluse afterward
• His next album was not released until 1986, The Animals' Christmas with Amy Grant

Recording

• Credits say the album was made from October 1980 to May 1981
• Basic tracks were recorded at Mediasound in New York City
• Overdubs were recorded at Wally Heider in Los Angeles
• Vocals were recorded at Criteria in Miami
• Mixing was done at Sound Mixers in New York City
• Mixed using the Mitsubishi Digital Audio Systems
• Paul Simon makes a brief appearance on 'In Cars' with background vocals

Cover

• The rear cover includes a partial photograph of Laurie Bird
• Cover photography by Anthony Loew
• Design by John Berg

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Arthur Ira Garfunkel, born November 5, 1941 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.
• Met Paul Simon in sixth grade at PS 164, both cast in an elementary school play, Alice in Wonderland.
• Performed as Tom & Jerry in the late 1950s, imitating the Everly Brothers' close two-part harmony; "Hey, Schoolgirl" reached number 49 on the pop charts in 1957.
• Studied at Columbia University, earning a bachelor's in art history in 1965 and a master's in mathematics education in 1967.

Career

• Simon & Garfunkel reformed in 1963; "The Sound of Silence" reached number one on the Billboard pop charts in 1965 after producer Tom Wilson added electric backing.
• Hits included "Mrs. Robinson" (written for The Graduate, 1967), "Scarborough Fair", "The Boxer" and "Bridge over Troubled Water".
• The duo split after Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), then reunited occasionally, including for "My Little Town" (1975) and The Concert in Central Park (1981).
• Solo: Angel Clare (1973), Breakaway (1975), Watermark (1977), and Fate for Breakfast (1979), which gave him his first UK number one with "Bright Eyes".
• Acted in Mike Nichols films Catch-22 (1970) and Carnal Knowledge (1971); nominated for a Golden Globe for the latter.
• Earned eight Grammy Awards in total, and he and Simon were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
• Reunited with Simon for a 2003 world tour, followed by a 2004 free concert at the Colosseum in Rome.
• Released Father and Son with his son Art Garfunkel Jr. in 2024; on April 10, 2023 he cancelled his remaining concert dates.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released August 1981 on Columbia Records as Garfunkel's fifth solo studio album
• Charted at US No. 113 and UK No. 51 in the months after release
• Described as his second album to miss the US Billboard top 40, following the earlier solo release that also failed to chart there
• Also his second album to contain no US top 40 singles
• Includes 'A Heart in New York', a Gallagher & Lyle hit, which charted as a single in the US at No. 61
• The UK version contains 'The Romance' rather than 'Bright Eyes', so the two editions differ by one track
• Ten songs in total, five per side; Jimmy Webb is credited with three of them, including the title track and 'In Cars'
• Co-produced by Roy Halee, who also co-produced the Simon & Garfunkel albums, including Bridge over Troubled Water
• Released in the same month Garfunkel reunited with former partner Paul Simon for the 1981 Concert in Central Park

Records

• Album chart position: US No. 113
• Album chart position: UK No. 51
• Single 'A Heart in New York' reached US No. 61
• Album dedicated to his late partner, Laurie Bird
• Credited musicians include Larry Knechtel, Pete Carr, Dean Parks, Joe Osborn and Rick Marotta, among others
• Paul Simon sings background vocals on 'In Cars', near the end of which Garfunkel sings lines from 'Scarborough Fair'

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album is dedicated to his late partner, Laurie Bird, and a partial photograph of her appears on the rear cover.
• The UK and Japanese releases use 'The Romance' in place of 'Bright Eyes' and swap the first two tracks.
• The release came with a custom printed inner sleeve that adds extra photos and credits.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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