The Graduate (soundtrack)

The Graduate
Soundtrack album by
Simon & Garfunkel
ReleasedJanuary 21, 1968
Recorded1967
GenreFolk rock
Length36:48
LabelColumbia Masterworks
ProducerTeo Macero
Simon & Garfunkel chronology
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
(1966) 		The Graduate
(1968) 		Bookends
(1968)
Singles from The Graduate
  1. "Mrs. Robinson"
    Released: April 1968

The Graduate is a 1968 album of songs and music from the soundtrack of Mike Nichols' movie The Graduate. It includes five songs from the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, including "Mrs. Robinson", a work in progress which Simon adapted to fit the movie, along with several instrumental pieces by Dave Grusin. Released January 21 on Columbia Masterworks, the album was produced by Teo Macero. In March of the following year, Simon and Grusin won the 1968 Grammy Award for "Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special". "Mrs Robinson" received the Grammy for "Record of the Year",[1] whilst Simon & Garfunkel collected the "Best Contemporary-pop Performance, Vocal Duo or Group" award.[2][3]

Although the album features two versions of "Mrs. Robinson", neither is the full version as featured on Bookends, which was composed later.[4] The first consists of relentless, sharp guitar chords, with the "dee-de-dee-dee" sung motif, while the second includes a chorus, before tapering off as it does in the film.[4] The other major song of the album, the 1965 hit "The Sound of Silence", is used three times in the film. Both songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (in 1999 and 2004 respectively).[1]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
Pitchfork6.2/10[5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."The Sound of Silence" (Remix[a])Paul SimonSimon & Garfunkel3:06
2."The Singleman Party Foxtrot"Dave GrusinDave Grusin2:52
3."Mrs. Robinson" (Version 1)SimonSimon & Garfunkel1:12
4."Sunporch Cha-Cha-Cha"GrusinDave Grusin2:53
5."Scarborough Fair/Canticle" (Interlude)Traditional, arranged by Paul Simon and Art GarfunkelSimon & Garfunkel1:41
6."On the Strip"GrusinDave Grusin2:00
7."April Come She Will"SimonSimon & Garfunkel1:50
8."The Folks"GrusinDave Grusin2:27
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
9."Scarborough Fair/Canticle" (Extended version)Traditional, arranged by Paul Simon and Art GarfunkelSimon & Garfunkel6:22
10."A Great Effect"GrusinDave Grusin4:06
11."The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine" (Alternate version)SimonSimon & Garfunkel1:46
12."Whew"GrusinDave Grusin2:10
13."Mrs. Robinson" (Version 2)SimonSimon & Garfunkel1:12
14."The Sound of Silence" (Alternate version[b])SimonSimon & Garfunkel3:08
Total length:36:48

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1968) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 1
Dutch Album Chart[7] 10
Spanish Albums Chart[8] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 3
US Billboard 200[10] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[11] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[12] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[14] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b McPhate, Tim (May 15, 2017). "'Mrs. Robinson,' 'The Graduate' Soundtrack: 3 GRAMMY facts". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "1968 Grammy Winners". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  3. ^ O'Neil, Thomas (1999). The Grammys: The Ultimate, Unofficial Guide to Music's Highest Honor (Revised ed.). New York: Perigree. p. 143–144, 146. ISBN 0399524770. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ a b Morris, Chris (January 19, 2018). "'The Graduate' Soundtrack Turns 50: How 'Mrs. Roosevelt' Became No. 1 Hit 'Mrs. Robinson'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018.
  5. ^ M. Deusner, Stephen (June 16, 2018). "Simon & Garfunkel: The Graduate (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book (1940-1969). Australian Chart Book. p. 271. ISBN 0646444395. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  7. ^ "Soundtrack / Simon & Garfunkel - The Graduate". Dutch Charts. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  9. ^ "The Graduate". Official Charts. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  10. ^ "Top LP's" (PDF). Billboard. April 6, 1968. p. 60. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  11. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Simon And Garfunkel – The Graduate". Music Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Les Certifications depuis 1973: Albums". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved February 8, 2020. (select "Simon & Garfunkel" from drop-down list)
  13. ^ "British album certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – The Graduate". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "American album certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – The Graduate". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  1. ^ Often listed as the "Electric Version"
  2. ^ Often listed as the "Reprise"