Argentina versionApr 3 1968 US LP - Columbia LP KCS 9529; CD CK 09529 (US: #1)
Bookends was a #1 hit on Billboard's (North America) Pop Albums chart, as well as in the UK. Four singles charted: "A Hazy Shade of Winter," "At the Zoo," "Fakin' It" and "Mrs. Robinson," which peaked at #13, #16 and #23 and #1, respectively.
In 2003, the TV network VH1 named Bookends the 93rd greatest album of all time.In 2003, the album was ranked number 233 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Releases
LP: Columbia KCL-2729 (mono)/KCS 9529 (stereo) - This was the last Simon and
Garfunkel album to be released in both mono and stereo. The mono version was
pressed in a limited quantity and is considered a rare item amongst record collectors.
The mono release also has many sonic differences, most noticeably Paul Simon's
trailing echo on "Fakin' It." The song has been released on the 1999
CD compilation The Best of Simon and Garfunkel.
CD: Columbia CK 09529; Remastered CD: Columbia 66003
The songs
The album begins softly, but takes a heavier turn with the second track, "Save
the Life of My Child," which uses the sounds of a distorted synthesizer
and is a noted departure from the softer sound that was the signature of the
duo. "Save the Life of My Child" also features a sample from their
single "The Sounds of Silence." The album also features the single
"Mrs. Robinson," which was famous for its inclusion in the film The
Graduate.
"Overs," "Punky's Dilemma," and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" were also written by Simon for The Graduate soundtrack, but the film's producers rejected them.
A harder-edged cover of "A Hazy Shade of Winter" was performed by The Bangles for the soundtrack to the 1987 film Less Than Zero. During their 2004 tour, Simon and Garfunkel used a similar sound with electric guitars during their own performances of the song.
A 2001 CD reissue of the album includes two bonus tracks: "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" (originally issued as a B-side to the "Fakin' It" single) and a demo version of "Old Friends."
The "Bookends Theme" was featured during the opening scene of the film Girl, Interrupted.
Track listing
All songs by Paul Simon, except where noted.
Side one
"Bookends Theme" (Instrumental) – 0:32
"Save the Life of My Child" – 2:49
"America" – 3:34
"Overs" – 2:14
"Voices of Old People" (Art Garfunkel) - 2:09
An audio collage recorded by Art Garfunkel in various locations in New York
and Los Angeles. The original liner notes credit the United Home for Aged Hebrews
and the California Home for the Aged at Reseda, where they were likely recorded.
"Old Friends" – 2:36
"Bookends" – 1:16
Side two
"Fakin' It" – 3:14
"Punky's Dilemma" – 2:10
"Mrs. Robinson" – 4:02
"A Hazy Shade of Winter" – 2:17
"At the Zoo" – 2:21
Bonus tracks (2001 CD reissue)
"You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" – 2:19
"Old Friends" (Demo)
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
| 1968 | Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) | 1 |
Personnel
Art Garfunkel - Vocals, Producer
Paul Simon - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
Hal Blaine - Drums, Percussion
Joe Osborn - Bass
Larry Knechtel - Piano, Keyboards
John Simon - Production Assistant
Roy Halee - Producer, Engineer
Jimmie Haskell - Arranger, Arrangement Preparation
Bob Johnston - Production Assistant
Jim Marshall - Photography
Produced by Paul, Art & Roy Halee.
Tracks 2, 4, 8 & 9: John Simon, production assistance.
Tracks 11 & 12: Bob Johnston production assistance.
Released as part of the box set Simon And Garfunkel Collected Works,
on LP and CD. 
Released as part of the box set Columbia recording 1964 -1970 