Scissors Cut
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| Scissors Cut | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 25, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | October 1980 – May 1981 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 32:10 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer |
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| Art Garfunkel chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Scissors Cut is the fifth solo studio album by Art Garfunkel. It was released in August 1981 on Columbia Records; it was his second album to miss the US Billboard top 40 (charting at 113) and his second album to contain no US top 40 singles. In the month following its release, Garfunkel reunited with former partner Paul Simon for their famous 1981 Concert in Central Park.[3]
History
[edit]In August 1981, Garfunkel released his fifth solo album Scissors Cut (US No. 113, UK No. 51). This album included the Gallagher & Lyle hit "A Heart in New York" (US No. 61). The UK version contains the track "The Romance" rather than "Bright Eyes".[4] The album was co-produced by Roy Halee, who also co-produced the Simon & Garfunkel albums, including Bridge over Troubled Water. Paul Simon makes a brief appearance on "In Cars" performing background vocals. Near the end of the song, Garfunkel sings lines from "Scarborough Fair" – an old English ballad covered by Simon and Garfunkel on the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme). The album is dedicated to his late partner, Laurie Bird, and includes a partial photograph of her on the rear cover.
Garfunkel was devastated by Bird's death in his New York apartment in June 1979 while he was in Europe filming Bad Timing. Garfunkel was quoted at the time, "Laurie was the greatest thing I ever knew in my life, now I've lost it."[5] In 1988, he added: "I took her death terribly and remained moody over it through much of the 80's." He became somewhat of a recluse following the tragedy, and wouldn't release another album until 1986's The Animals' Christmas with Amy Grant.
Track listing
[edit]- Side one
- "A Heart in New York" (Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle) – 3:13
- "Scissors Cut" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:49
- "Up in the World" (Clifford T. Ward) – 2:16
- "Hang On In" (Norman Sallitt) – 3:46
- "So Easy to Begin" (Jules Shear) – 2:56
- Side two
- "Bright Eyes" (Mike Batt) – 3:55
(Replaced with "The Romance" on UK/Japan release) - "Can't Turn My Heart Away" (John Jarvis, Eric Kaz) – 4:22
- "The French Waltz" (Adam Mitchell) – 2:12
- "In Cars" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:47
- "That's All I've Got to Say (Theme from The Last Unicorn)" (Jimmy Webb) – 1:54
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 70
|
Personnel
[edit]- Art Garfunkel – vocals
- Rob Mounsey – synthesizers (1, 10)
- Larry Knechtel – keyboards (2–4, 8, 9)
- Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (4, 7, 8)
- John Barlow Jarvis – acoustic piano (7)
- Jimmy Webb – acoustic piano (10)
- Pete Carr – guitars (1, 5, 8, 9)
- Graham Lyle – guitars (1)
- Andrew Gold – guitars (2, 5)
- Dean Parks – guitars (2, 4, 5, 8)
- Michael Staton – guitars (4, 5)
- Jeffrey Staton – guitars (4, 5)
- Chris Spedding – guitars (6)
- Roland Harker – lute (6)
- Tony Levin – bass (1)
- Joe Osborn – bass (2–4, 7–9)
- Scott Chambers – bass (5)
- Les Hurdle – bass (6)
- Russ Kunkel – drums (1)
- Rick Marotta – drums (2, 4, 7–9)
- Rick Shlosser – drums (5)
- Allan Schwartzberg – drums (6)
- Errol "Crusher" Bennett – congas (1, 5), percussion (1, 5)
- Tommy Vig – marimba (5, 9), vibraphone (5, 9)
- Ray Cooper – percussion (6)
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (1)
- Edwin Roxburgh – oboe (6)
- Lew Soloff – flugelhorn (9), trumpet (9)
- Del Newman – string arrangements (2, 7, 10)
- David Campbell – string arrangements (3)
- Teo Macero – string conductor (2, 10)
- Eugene Orloff – concertmaster (2, 10)
- Leah Kunkel – vocals (2, 5, 7, 9)
- Paul Simon – vocals (9)
- Lisa Garber – vocals (10)
"The Romance"
- Larry Knechtel – keyboards
- Pete Carr – guitars
- Dean Parks – guitars
- Joe Osborn – bass
- Rick Marotta – drums
- David Campbell – string arrangements
Production
[edit]- Art Garfunkel – producer (1–5, 7–10)
- Roy Halee – producer (1–5, 7–10), engineer, drum re-recording (6), remixing (6)
- Mike Batt – producer (6)
- Lincoln Clapp – assistant engineer
- Dave Demore – assistant engineer
- Dennis Hetzendorfer – assistant engineer
- Terry Rosiello – assistant mix engineer
- Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
- John Berg – design
- Anthony Loew – cover photography, other photography
- Michael Tannen & Associates – management
References
[edit]- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 272, 273.
- ^ Kachejian, Brian (October 11, 2023). "Complete List Of Art Garfunkel Albums And Discography". ClassicRockHistory.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ Bonilla, Alana (October 4, 2022). "Who released the first ever CD?". Hypebot. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "Official Website". Art Garfunkel. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 121. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
Scissors Cut
View on GrokipediaBackground
Conception
Following the successes of his early solo albums Angel Clare (1973) and Breakaway (1975), which peaked at No. 5 and No. 7 on the Billboard 200 respectively and established Garfunkel's viability as a solo artist with sales of approximately 700,000 and 1 million units, Art Garfunkel sought to evolve his sound in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Amid ongoing tensions with former partner Paul Simon, including public disagreements over creative control and personal differences that dated back to the 1970 breakup of Simon & Garfunkel, Garfunkel's solo career emphasized independence and introspection. These frictions, which persisted into the 1980s with only sporadic reunions like their 1981 Central Park concert, influenced Garfunkel's focus on material that reflected his personal voice rather than commercial pop formulas.[7][8] Garfunkel shifted toward more personal and eclectic material, moving away from the grandiose productions of his initial solo efforts toward stripped-down, emotionally resonant songs that highlighted lyrical depth and his crystalline tenor. This evolution was evident in his decision to blend covers of contemporary folk-rock tunes with original compositions, prioritizing songs that allowed for vulnerable expression over broad accessibility. A key collaboration emerged with longtime associate Jimmy Webb, whom Garfunkel described as a "musical soulmate" due to their shared affinity for sophisticated, introspective songcraft; Webb provided three new originals for the album, including the title track "Scissors Cut," tailored specifically to Garfunkel's interpretive style.[9][10] Song selection emphasized thematic cohesion around love, loss, and urban longing, drawing from recent hits and under-the-radar gems. Garfunkel included the cover "A Heart in New York," originally written by Scottish duo Gallagher and Lyle, for its evocative portrayal of city life that resonated with his New York roots.[11] Similarly, "Bright Eyes," composed by Mike Batt for the 1978 animated film Watership Down soundtrack and already a major UK No. 1 single for Garfunkel in 1979, was acquired for inclusion to capitalize on its emotional impact and prior success, recontextualizing its themes of mortality within the album's intimate framework.[12]Personal Context
The album Scissors Cut was deeply influenced by Art Garfunkel's personal tragedies and emotional turmoil in the late 1970s, which imbued the project with a pervasive sense of melancholy. Central to this was the suicide of his girlfriend, actress and photographer Laurie Bird, on June 15, 1979. Bird, with whom Garfunkel had been in a committed relationship since 1974, died from an overdose of Valium in their shared New York City apartment while Garfunkel was abroad filming the psychological thriller Bad Timing in Europe.[13][2] Garfunkel returned to discover her body, an event he later described as a "terrible blow" that took him a long time to overcome emotionally.[13] This profound loss directly shaped the album's dedication to Bird, with her partial image appearing on the rear cover—a subtle, haunting tribute that underscored the record's introspective and sorrowful tone. The melancholic undertones permeating Scissors Cut reflect Garfunkel's grief, transforming the collection of ballads into a personal elegy for lost love and emotional fragility.[3][2] Compounding his struggles was the enduring fallout from his professional and personal separation from Paul Simon, which had dissolved their partnership after the 1970 release of Bridge over Troubled Water. Tensions from creative differences, scheduling conflicts, and perceived slights lingered through the decade, leaving Garfunkel navigating a solo career amid feelings of isolation and betrayal.[7] Conceived in the fall of 1980, Scissors Cut emerged during a period of reflection for Garfunkel, as he recovered from these intertwined personal hardships. His extensive travels for acting roles, including the European shoot that coincided with Bird's death, and the relational voids they highlighted, informed the album's emphasis on vulnerable, inward-looking material. This context guided selections like Jimmy Webb's title track "Scissors Cut," a poignant exploration of relational rupture that resonated with Garfunkel's lived experiences of abrupt loss and severance.[3][13]Recording and Production
Sessions
The recording sessions for Scissors Cut took place primarily at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami, Mediasound in New York City, and Wally Heider Recording Studio in Los Angeles, with mixing completed at Soundmixers in New York City.[2] These locations facilitated a collaborative environment across the East and West Coasts, allowing for basic tracking in warmer climates and overdubs in major urban hubs. The process involved producer Roy Halee overseeing much of the technical aspects, ensuring a polished sound that blended acoustic and orchestral textures.[14] Sessions commenced in October 1980 and extended through early 1981, with overdubs finalized by May 1981, enabling the album's release later that summer.[15][1] This timeline reflected Garfunkel's commitment to creative refinement, building on material developed during breaks in his live commitments.[3] A key challenge during the sessions was Garfunkel's vocal strain, experienced in late 1980, which limited his range and prompted experimentation with a softer, more intimate delivery to accommodate his condition.[16][3] This health issue necessitated careful vocal takes and adjustments in phrasing, contributing to the album's subdued emotional tone. Additionally, integrating orchestral elements required meticulous layering and balancing, as Halee and the engineering team worked to weave strings and woodwinds seamlessly with the core instrumentation without overpowering Garfunkel's voice.[3] These hurdles ultimately shaped a production that emphasized vulnerability and subtlety over powerhouse performances.Key Collaborators
Roy Halee served as co-producer on most tracks of Scissors Cut, leveraging his extensive experience from engineering and producing Simon & Garfunkel's albums, including the polished folk-pop sound of works like Bridge Over Troubled Water, to craft the album's refined arrangements.[2][17] His involvement brought a signature clarity and warmth to Garfunkel's vocal performances, emphasizing acoustic elements and subtle orchestration throughout the sessions.[18] Mike Batt produced the track "Bright Eyes," which he originally wrote and arranged for the 1978 film Watership Down, incorporating lush orchestral scoring that highlighted Garfunkel's emotive delivery with sweeping strings and brass.[2] Batt's production on this standout single added a cinematic depth to the album, blending folk introspection with dramatic swells to underscore themes of vulnerability. Jimmy Webb contributed songwriting to three key tracks—"Scissors Cut," "In Cars," and "That's All I've Got to Say"—infusing the album with his signature poetic lyricism and melodic sophistication, often drawing from personal introspection.[2] His collaboration with Garfunkel was marked by a mutual emphasis on precision and emotional nuance, with Webb noting Garfunkel's commitment to exacting vocal interpretations that elevated the material's subtle complexities.[19] David Campbell handled string arrangements for select tracks, such as "Up in the World," providing elegant swells that complemented the album's intimate balladry.[2] The string sections were led by concertmaster Eugene Orloff on tracks including "Scissors Cut" and "That's All I've Got to Say," ensuring cohesive and expressive ensemble performances that enhanced the overall textural richness.[2]Music and Lyrics
Style
Scissors Cut exemplifies the soft rock and adult contemporary genres, blending elements of folk pop with pop structures and light orchestration to produce an intimate and melodic listening experience.[1][20] The album's sound is characterized by its sheer aural beauty and a formal approach to pop music, emphasizing Garfunkel's rich vocal delivery over polished arrangements.[21] The instrumentation centers on acoustic and electric guitars contributed by Pete Carr, Dean Parks, Andrew Gold, and others, alongside piano-driven elements from Jimmy Webb and subtle synthesizers handled by Rob Mounsey.[2] String arrangements by David Campbell and Del Newman add layers of warmth and intimacy, supporting piano ballads and rhythmic sections featuring bassists like Joe Osborn and drummers such as Rick Shlosser.[2][18] Spanning 32 minutes across 10 tracks, the album prioritizes concise, melodic compositions that maintain a cohesive, singer-songwriter aesthetic throughout.[1]Themes
The album Scissors Cut delves into central themes of love, loss, and urban isolation, reflecting the complexities of human connections in a modern world.[21] These motifs extend to an exploration of vulnerability and renewal, intertwined with reflections on fractured relationships. The dedication to Laurie Bird adds an introspective layer following personal tragedy. Overall, the album maintains a melancholic yet hopeful tone, balancing poignant lyrics of heartache with glimmers of resilience and emotional recovery.[21]Release and Promotion
Launch
Scissors Cut was released on August 25, 1981, by Columbia Records in the United States, with initial availability in vinyl LP and cassette formats.[20][2] The album's marketing positioned it as a return to Garfunkel's more introspective solo style following experimental efforts, emphasizing tracks like "Bright Eyes," which had originated as the theme for the 1978 animated film Watership Down and achieved significant prior success in international markets.[21][22] Due to licensing restrictions on "Bright Eyes," the United Kingdom and Japanese editions substituted the track with "The Romance," an original composition by Jimmy Webb.[23][24] Promotional efforts included Garfunkel conducting interviews that spotlighted his ongoing collaboration with songwriter Jimmy Webb, who contributed key tracks including the title song and "In Cars."[21] No major solo tour was undertaken to support the album's launch, as Garfunkel instead reunited with Paul Simon shortly after for their September 1981 Concert in Central Park.[23]Singles
The lead single from Scissors Cut was "A Heart in New York", released in July 1981 with "Is This Love" as the B-side.[25][26] This track, a cover of the Gallagher and Lyle song, served as the primary commercial release to promote the album in the United States and select international markets.[27] The title track "Scissors Cut" was issued as a promotional single in limited formats, primarily for radio play in select markets, without a significant commercial push or wide retail distribution.[28] A 7-inch white-label promo version was distributed by CBS in regions including Australia, featuring the song backed by an instrumental or album edit.[28] Although "Bright Eyes" appeared on Scissors Cut as a re-recorded version of the Mike Batt composition, it was not released as a single from this album in the United States.[26] The song had previously been issued as a standalone single in 1979, tied to the Watership Down film soundtrack, where it gained notable success in the United Kingdom.[29] Promotional efforts for the singles included a music video for the title track "Scissors Cut", directed by Terry Bedford and produced in 1981 to support early airplay.[30] Internationally, additional singles such as "Hang On In" (backed by "Up in the World") were released in markets like Japan to target regional audiences.[26][31] Other limited editions, including "Scissors Cut" paired with "In Cars", further extended promotion in Europe.[26]Commercial Performance
Charts
Scissors Cut achieved modest chart success upon its 1981 release. The album peaked at number 113 on the US Billboard 200, spending a total of 8 weeks on the chart, which reflected limited radio airplay and promotion compared to Garfunkel's earlier work.[32] In the United Kingdom, it reached number 51 on the Official UK Albums Chart, where it charted for 3 weeks.[4] This performance marked a decline from prior releases, such as the 1975 album Breakaway, which peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard 200.[33] The lead single "A Heart in New York" provided the album's strongest chart showing, peaking at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 after 9 weeks on the chart.[5] It also reached number 10 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[6]| Chart (1981) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 113[32] |
| UK Albums Chart | 51[4] |
| US Billboard Hot 100 ("A Heart in New York") | 66[5] |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary ("A Heart in New York") | 10[6] |
Sales
Scissors Cut achieved modest commercial performance upon release, with sales described as disappointing compared to Art Garfunkel's earlier solo albums. The album's strongest markets were the United States and the United Kingdom, where it benefited from existing fan interest in his post-Simon & Garfunkel work. It received no RIAA certifications, having failed to meet the gold status threshold of 500,000 units in the US.[34][8] The limited chart success of its singles, such as "A Heart in New York" and "Scissors Cut," which failed to reach major positions on the Billboard Hot 100, contributed to subdued physical sales, as did competition from Paul Simon's concurrent solo releases like One-Trick Pony in 1980.[35] Following its 1981 launch, Scissors Cut maintained steady catalog sales into subsequent decades, often boosted by inclusion in Garfunkel's greatest hits compilations, including the 1984 release The Art Garfunkel Album. In the streaming era, the album saw a modest resurgence, amassing approximately 2.5 million streams on Spotify as of October 2025.[3][36]Critical Reception
Contemporary Reviews
Upon its release in August 1981, Scissors Cut received mixed to positive reviews from contemporary critics, who generally commended Art Garfunkel's vocal prowess while noting inconsistencies in the album's pacing and material. In a three-star review for Rolling Stone, Ken Tucker highlighted the album's "typically tasteful, understated effort" that "showcases his angelic voice to good effect," particularly praising the poignant title track by Jimmy Webb and the emotional depth of the cover "A Heart in New York." However, Tucker critiqued the record for its "lack of energy and variety, with too many ballads that blend into one another" and an overall production that "feels dated," positioning it as a solid but unremarkable entry in Garfunkel's solo discography.[21] Cash Box offered a more favorable assessment in its album review section, describing Scissors Cut as a showcase of Garfunkel's "soft, lilting style" reminiscent of his early collaborations with Paul Simon, who makes a guest appearance on the track "In Cars" for a "touching look at the past." The publication emphasized the album's focus on soft ballads well-suited to Garfunkel's voice, calling it a "pleasing package" across all formats.[37]Retrospective Views
In later assessments, AllMusic characterized Scissors Cut as a transitional album in Garfunkel's solo career, highlighting his strong vocals as a standout feature amid otherwise weak material, and awarded it 2 out of 5 stars.[1] Archival and fan perspectives, drawn from Garfunkel biographies and official retrospectives, often appreciate the album's personal depth, viewing it as a poignant reflection of the artist's grief following the suicide of his girlfriend Laurie Bird, to whom it is dedicated, lending an authentic emotional layer to its introspective folk-pop sound.[14]Track Listing and Composition
Standard Tracks
The standard tracks on the original US edition of Scissors Cut, released on vinyl by Columbia Records in 1981, are divided across two sides for optimal playback on LP format, with Side One emphasizing introspective ballads and Side Two incorporating more varied tempos to maintain listener engagement throughout the album's runtime.[2] Side One- "A Heart in New York" (Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle, 3:11)[38]
- "Scissors Cut" (Jimmy Webb, 3:49)[39][38]
- "Up in the World" (Clifford T. Ward, 2:16)[39][38]
- "Hang On In" (Norman Sallitt, 3:47)[39][38]
- "So Easy to Begin" (Jules Shear, 2:56)[39][38]
- "Bright Eyes" (Mike Batt, 3:55)[39][38]
- "Can’t Turn My Heart Away" (John Jarvis, Eric Kaz, 3:22)[39][38]
- "The French Waltz" (Adam Mitchell, 2:41)[39][38]
- "In Cars" (Jimmy Webb, 3:11)[39][38]
- "That’s All I’ve Got to Say" (Jimmy Webb, 2:49)[39][38]