You’re here for one reason: you want the definitive, no-nonsense, all Simon and Garfunkel studio albums list. Forget wading through forums and fragmented articles. At Vinyl Gold UK, we live and breathe this stuff. We’re talking about a discography that charts the evolution of folk music into a global phenomenon. This isn’t just a list; it’s a journey through the five studio LPs that cemented Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel as generational poets and melodic geniuses. Let’s drop the needle on their incredible, albeit brief, studio career.
The Raw Beginnings: Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964)
Before the stadium tours and legendary status, there was just a duo with a guitar and two perfectly harmonised voices. Their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., is the purest distillation of their folk roots, recorded before the electric revolution took hold of their sound.
A Purely Acoustic Statement
Released in October 1964, this album is stark, beautiful, and almost hauntingly simple. It features Paul Simon on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Art Garfunkel on vocals. That’s it. There are no drums, no electric bass, just the raw talent that got them signed to Columbia Records in the first place.
The album is a mix of Simon’s original compositions, including the first-ever recording of “The Sound of Silence,” and a selection of traditional folk covers. It’s an intimate listen, feeling less like a studio production and more like a private performance. At the time, it was a commercial dud, selling so poorly that it initially prompted the duo to split up, with Simon heading to England to pursue a solo career.
“Of all the early folk albums, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. is perhaps the most untouched by the commercial machine. You can hear the ambition, but it’s wrapped in a beautiful, almost naive, sincerity.”
Tracklist and Why It’s a Must-Own
For any serious collector, this album is ground zero. It’s the foundational text for everything that came after. Hearing “The Sound of Silence” in its original acoustic form is a revelation, a completely different emotional experience from the hit version we all know.
- Side One:
- You Can Tell the World
- Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
- Bleecker Street
- Sparrow
- Benedictus
- The Sound of Silence
- Side Two:
- He Was My Brother
- Peggy-O
- Go Tell It on the Mountain
- The Sun Is Burning
- The Times They Are a-Changin’
- Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
Want to own a piece of folk history? The vinyl pressing of this album is essential. You can feel the space in the recording, the analogue warmth that digital formats just can’t replicate.
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The Electric Jolt: Sounds of Silence (1966)
The story of Simon and Garfunkel’s breakthrough is one of the most famous accidents in music history. While the duo was effectively broken up, producer Tom Wilson, who had worked with Bob Dylan, noticed that “The Sound of Silence” was getting some regional airplay in 2025.
The Overdub That Changed Everything
Without the duo’s knowledge or consent, Wilson took the original acoustic track from their debut and overdubbed electric guitar, bass, and drums, essentially creating the folk-rock genre in a single session. The result was a number-one hit single in the US. Columbia Records immediately demanded a new album.
Paul Simon, still in Europe, was blindsided by the news. He returned to the States to find himself a star, and the duo hastily recorded new material and re-recorded some songs from Simon’s solo UK album, The Paul Simon Songbook, to build an LP around their massive new hit. This quick assembly resulted in the Sounds of Silence album, a record that defined their new sound and set the stage for their international stardom.
Tracklist and its Folk-Rock Identity
This album is a fascinating mix. On one hand, you have the powerful, electric title track. On the other, you have beautifully sparse acoustic tracks like “Kathy’s Song.” It captures a band in transition, finding their footing in a new sonic world.
- Side One:
- The Sound of Silence (Electric Version)
- Leaves That Are Green
- Blessed
- Kathy’s Song
- Somewhere They Can’t Find Me
- Anji
- Side Two:
- Richard Cory
- A Most Peculiar Man
- April Come She Will
- We’ve Got a Groovy Thing Goin’
- I Am a Rock
This is the record that made them household names. Owning it is owning the moment folk music plugged in and took over the charts. For context on the UK music scene at the time, check out our deep dive into the UK Number 1 Singles of 1965, the year right before this explosion.
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The First Masterpiece: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)
Released just nine months after Sounds of Silence, this is the album where Simon and Garfunkel truly arrived as artists. With more time and creative control, they crafted a cohesive, brilliantly produced, and thematically rich record that stands as one of the greatest albums of the 1960s.
Intricate Arrangements and Lyrical Depth
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is a quantum leap forward in production and song writing. The arrangements are layered and complex, weaving together harpsichords, intricate guitar lines, and the duo’s immaculate harmonies. Paul Simon’s lyrics matured, tackling themes of alienation, love, and social commentary with a newfound poetic grace.
The album flows beautifully, from the medieval-sounding counter-melody of “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” to the jaunty, carefree vibe of “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).” This wasn’t just a collection of songs; it was a complete artistic statement. It demonstrated a level of studio craftsmanship that few of their peers could match.
Tracklist: A Flawless Run
There isn’t a weak moment on this LP. Every track is a gem, contributing to the album’s overall mood of contemplative, melodic folk-pop. It’s the perfect album for a rainy Sunday afternoon and a good hi-fi system.
- Side One:
- Scarborough Fair/Canticle
- Patterns
- Cloudy
- Homeward Bound
- The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine
- The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
- Side Two:
- The Dangling Conversation
- Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall
- A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara’d into Submission)
- For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her
- A Poem on the Underground Wall
- 7 O’Clock News/Silent Night
This album is an absolute cornerstone for any vinyl collection. Its warmth and detail are best appreciated on a quality turntable.
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The Complete All Simon and Garfunkel Studio Albums List
For any collector, having the complete run of studio LPs is the goal. It’s not just about owning the music; it’s about holding a physical timeline of the duo’s artistic growth. Here at Vinyl Gold UK, we believe the all Simon and Garfunkel studio albums list is one of the most rewarding and achievable collections in popular music.
Why This Specific all Simon and Garfunkel studio albums list Matters for Vinyl Collectors
Collecting these five specific albums on vinyl is a unique experience. You’re not just getting the songs; you’re getting the artefacts of an era. The large-format artwork, the liner notes, and the distinct sonic character of each pressing tell a story.
When you’re hunting for these records, pay attention to the pressings. An original 1966 mono pressing of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme will have a punchier, more direct sound than a 2026 180-gram stereo reissue. Neither is “better,” but they offer different listening experiences. The mono mixes were often done with more care in the 60s, as stereo was still a novelty.
When buying second-hand, always check the record’s grading (from Mint to Poor) and inspect the sleeve for wear and tear. A well-cared-for original can be a fantastic investment. Of course, to truly appreciate the nuance in these recordings, you need a decent setup. A great vinyl collection deserves to be played on equipment that does it justice, and you don’t have to break the bank to get started with some of the best turntables under £300 in the UK.
The Concept Album: Bookends (1968)
By 2026, Bookends is rightly regarded as a landmark achievement. It’s an album of two distinct halves. The first side is a concept piece tracing the journey of life from childhood to old age, while the second side is a collection of singles and unused tracks from the soundtrack to the iconic film The Graduate.
From Innocence to Old Age
The first side of Bookends is breathtakingly ambitious. It uses song fragments, sound collages (including recordings of old people talking), and poignant tracks like “Old Friends” to create a powerful narrative about the passage of time. It’s a sombre and deeply moving suite of music that showcases Paul Simon’s ability to write with profound empathy.
The album’s connection to The Graduate can’t be overstated. The inclusion of the smash hit “Mrs. Robinson” propelled Bookends to number one on the charts, cementing Simon and Garfunkel as arguably the biggest musical act in the world at that moment. The history of this soundtrack’s creation is a fascinating topic, well-documented by sources like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which details their cultural impact.
“Bookends wasn’t just an album, it was a cultural event. It captured the anxieties and the searching spirit of a generation, all while pushing the boundaries of what a pop record could be.”
Tracklist and Cinematic Scope
This album feels like a film. It’s a listening experience that demands your full attention, rewarding you with its depth and emotional resonance.
- Side One:
- Bookends Theme
- Save the Life of My Child
- America
- Overs
- Voices of Old People
- Old Friends
- Bookends Theme
- Side Two:
- Fakin’ It
- Punky’s Dilemma
- Mrs. Robinson
- A Hazy Shade of Winter
- At the Zoo
Bookends is a high-water mark for the duo, a complex and beautiful record that sounds as fresh and innovative in 2026 as it did in 1968.
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The Epic Swan Song: Bridge over Troubled Water (1970)
It’s the ultimate paradox: the album that became their biggest success was also the one that tore them apart. Bridge over Troubled Water is a blockbuster, a perfectly crafted collection of songs that sold in staggering numbers and won a fistful of Grammy Awards. It was also their final studio album.
A Monumental and Fractured Finale
The recording of this album was famously fraught with tension. Art Garfunkel was pursuing an acting career, and Paul Simon was left to handle the bulk of the song writing and production. This led to creative differences and personal friction that ultimately proved insurmountable. You can read more about their dynamic in their official Britannica biography.
Despite the turmoil, or perhaps because of it, they created a masterpiece. The album is incredibly diverse, moving seamlessly from the soaring, gospel-infused title track to the playful, Peruvian-influenced rhythm of “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)” and the raucous rock and roll of “Cecilia.” Simon’s songwriting had reached an apex of emotional and melodic sophistication, evident in personal tracks like “The Only Living Boy in New York,” written about Garfunkel’s absence.
Tracklist: A Grand Statement
Every song on this album feels like a potential classic. It’s a record full of confidence, ambition, and timeless melodies. It’s the perfect, poignant end to their studio journey.
- Side One:
- Bridge over Troubled Water
- El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
- Cecilia
- Keep the Customer Satisfied
- So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
- Side Two:
- The Boxer
- Baby Driver
- The Only Living Boy in New York
- Why Don’t You Write Me
- Bye Bye Love
- Song for the Asking
Bridge over Troubled Water is more than an album; it’s a cultural touchstone. No serious music collection is complete without it.
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Essential Listening Beyond the Studio
While the five studio LPs form the core of their legacy, a few other releases are essential for any fan wanting the full picture. These compilations and live albums add crucial context to the all Simon and Garfunkel studio albums list.
The Quintessential “Greatest Hits”
Released in 1972 after their split, Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits is one of the best-selling compilation albums of all time for a reason. It collects all the major singles, but what makes it special is the inclusion of previously unreleased live recordings of tracks like “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her” and “Kathy’s Song,” which many fans consider to be the definitive versions. It’s an incredible entry point for new listeners.
The Legendary Reunion: The Concert in Central Park
After more than a decade apart, the duo reunited in 1981 for a free concert in New York’s Central Park, attended by over 500,000 people. The resulting live album, The Concert in Central Park, is electric. It captures the magic of their partnership, with stunning performances of their classic songs, often with a full band that gives the material a new energy. It’s a joyous, essential document of their enduring power as performers, perfectly capturing the magic of a massive live music venue.
Building your collection is a journey. It starts with their five flawless studio albums and can expand from there. Each record tells a part of their story, from two kids in Queens to global icons. Their music has endured for a simple reason: it’s brilliant. The melodies are unforgettable, the harmonies are perfect, and the lyrics speak to timeless human experiences. So go on, start your collection. Drop the needle and get lost in the sound of Simon and Garfunkel.