OST The Graduate

The soundtrack to Mike Nichols' 1967 masterpiece, The Graduate, alternates between Paul Simon's songs and pieces of Dave Grusin's deliberately naff Swingin' Sixties score. All of the former, with the exception of "Mrs. Robinson" and a negligible solo acoustic guitar rendition of "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," are available on Simon and Garfunkel's earlier albums. Similar to Nelson Riddle's self-parodic work on Stanley Kubrick's Lolita, Grusin's instrumentals have a satiric edge that comments on the film's action.
With his film "The Graduate", director Mike Nichols created much more than the erotic inauguration of college graduate Benjamin, which won an Oscar and five Golden Globes. Both the script and the production modalities were revolutionary. For the first time, the encrusted morality of upscale American society was targeted with cinematic means, a European car was presented with an Alfa Romeo and a soundscape of already existing and successful pop titles was put together. Not much needs to be said about the music, because numbers like "Sounds of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson" and "Scarborough Fair" have become musical cultural assets at the latest since the film adaptation. What is astonishing, however, is how seamlessly the collected pieces fit into the cinematic context, as if they were tailor-made for the scenes.
Of course, this soundtrack maintains the monument of Dustin Hoffman, who played his first major role, and lifts Simon & Garfunkel to the highest pedestal of the cuddly bards. But he also recalls Dave Grusin's upbeat instrumental inserts thrown in between, which are almost forgotten during the provocative screen show.
"Packaged with Speakers Corner's usual attention to authenticity and quality, the sound is vintage analog, dynamically lively with a wonderful sense of depth to the band orchestrations." - Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, March 2008

Features:

• 180g Vinyl

Musicians:

• Paul Simon (g, voc)
• Art Garfunkel (voc)
• Dave Grusin, u.a.

Selections:

Side A
1. The Sounds Of Silence - Simon And Garfunkel
2. The Singleman Party Foxtrot - David Grusin
3. Mrs. Robinson - Simon And Garfunkel
4. Sunporch Cha-Cha-Cha - David Grusin
5. Scarborough Fair / Canticle (Interlude) - Simon And Garfunkel
6. On The Strip - David Grusin
7. April Come She Will - Simon And Garfunkel
Side B
1. The Folks - David Grusin
2. Scarborough Fair / Canticle - Simon And Garfunkel
3. A Great Effect - David Grusin
4. The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine - Simon And Garfunkel
5. Whew - David Grusin
6. Mrs. Robinson - Simon And Garfunkel
7. The Sounds Of Silence - Simon And Garfunkel