Edit: I see this story was already posted. Apologies!
I love Simon. I think he’s one of the greatest American songwriters ever. But your line about him not being a musical genius reminded me of the infamous story about him being accused by Los Lobos for literally stealing one of their songs for the Graceland album.
The Los Lobos guy said the band spent a day or two with Simon, who kept calling the zydeco a zy-decko.
Simon definitely works better with others than alone. Graceland is a masterpiece. But then listening to Seven Psalms, he has lyrics and ideas for melodies, but clearly not the ability to make a polished song.
There’s a similar flaw in the first note of “For unto us a Child is born” in Handel’s Messiah: the “For” is emphasized and lengthened. Here, that’s because he re-used his music from the duet “Nò, di voi non vo’ fidarmi”, where it’s reasonable to emphasize the “No”.
I don’t see a flaw in any of those songs or the emphasis in them. The songs are masterpieces.
Art Garfunkel doesn’t have a “nice” voice. He has one of the most beautiful lyrical voices of his time. Yes, Simon wrote the lyrics, but Garfunkel made the songs soar. Bridge Over Troubled Water still gives me goose pimples and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It is one of my favorite songs ever, and Art Garfunkel’s vocal performance is at least 50 percent of why I love it so much.
Simon after S and G did some interesting and quirky songs that I liked, but I didn’t LOVE them and stop what I’m doing to listen. I don’t pretend to know these guys, but it sounds like Simon should get the stick out of his ass and quit being such a primadonna. And calling Garfunkel a hack? Ugh.
Asked…
Answered.
I’m not even a fan, but it’s clear to me he has earned his spot at the top of the heap.
i’ve always heard it as “8th street lamp”. when i saw the lyrics i wondered why he didn’t move it over to “street”.
I think Paul’s wounded pride was a big factor. His album version wasn’t successful. The producer saw potential and remixed the track. Number 1 single.
No doubt that Paul was thrilled to cash the checks. But artistically he apparently still resents having his music altered. They were a folk group and adding electric instruments & drums shifted them into pop.
Also, Simon and Garfunkel had broken up after that album didn’t do well. Paul was already thinking about a solo career. The hit song reunited them and they continued recording albums until their arguments split the group.
Wikipedia
I strongly suspect that there are a number of musical geniuses who never became famous.
Yeah, but I’ve made peace with it.
But have they?
Don’t change the subject, we’re talking about me right now.
yep, alone in jazz about a couple of hundred …
@Stratocaster wins the thread! 
Maybe you should try a Les Paul?
I have one, it didn’t help. I suspect I’m one of those musical geniuses who won’t be appreciated in his own time, but will be revered after he’s gone. Just like, uh, you know, that other guy…
Milli or Vanilli?
The Big Bopper?
See? This is what I’m talking about. You people are making a mockery of my genius and ought to be ashamed. Shame!
Hey! We’re just giving you inspiration for your next “it will be a hit eventually, you’ll see!” song.
I can agree that these are my favorites, as well, especially Late In The Evening, which is a masterpiece of percussion thanks to Steve Gadd. I’d add American Tune to it.