Scissors Cut

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.

Side One

1. "A Heart in New York" (Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle) – 3:13
2. "Scissors Cut" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:49
3. "Up in the World" (Clifford T. Ward) – 2:16
4. "Hang On In" (Norman Sallitt) – 3:46
5. "So Easy to Begin" (Jules Shear) – 2:56

Side Two

1. "Bright Eyes" (Mike Batt) – 3:55
   (Replaced with "The Romance" on UK/Japan release)
2. "Can't Turn My Heart Away" (John Jarvis, Eric Kaz) – 4:22
3. "The French Waltz" (Adam Mitchell) – 2:12
4. "In Cars" (Jimmy Webb) – 3:47
5. "That's All I've Got to Say (Theme from The Last Unicorn)" (Jimmy Webb) – 1:54

• 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

• 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