This 1966 Rock Classic Flopped First — Then Became a No. 1 Hit
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk to you again, the haunting song begins. The acoustic version of “The Sound of Silence,” about social isolation, didn’t grab listeners at first, but when Simon & Garfunkel’s music producer added electric guitar, bass, and drums, the deeply soulful song got a bit grittier. It became one of the most well-known folk anthems of the 1960s.
After a stutter start, things began to pick up. It was 1965 and artists like Bob Dylan were making the musical transition from acoustic to electric, which the rock listeners loved, but the folk audiences were slower to catch on to the revolution.
Going Electric to Reach Billboard Charts
Columbia Records producer Tom Wilson had an instinct about music in general and “The Song of Silence” specifically. He overdubbed electric guitar, bass, and drums into the original acoustic version, transforming it into a folk rock sensation.
The remixed version climbed the charts and eventually reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1966.
The song has longevity. On a TV interview, Simon said, “I think if any of my songs have a chance of … lasting 100 years, I think it may be that one.”
Bands that Have Covered 'The Sound of Silence'
A number of bands have covered this classic song over the years, including the punk band, The Dickies, metal band Disturbed (which Simon has publicly praised), Lorde, and Pentatonix.
Many Classic Hits from Simon and Garfunkel
The mercurial duo worked together for many years before Simon embarked on a very successful solo career.
The duo has collaborated on many hits, including:
- “The Boxer”
- “I am a Rock”
- “Mrs. Robinson”
- “Bridge over Troubled Water”
- “Cecelia”
- “A Hazy Share of Winter”
- “Homeward Bound”
These songs continue to serve as the backdrop to classic movies and our day-to-day lives, generations later.