Monocled Alchemist

SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was McNamara’d Into Submission) (CBS LP 9363) Oct 1966

Simon & Garfunkel | Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was McNamara’d Into Submission) | (CBS) 1966 | I’ve had a fondness for this folk rockin’ duo ever since I started getting into music. As a teenager I used to go around my friends’ houses and play records (when their parents were out of course).

We would organize two rooms for music. One room would be devoted to 70s punk rock, the other room was a bit more eclectic. I’d bring along my Byrds, Love and Doors albums and someone was real keen on S&G.

This clever song by Paul Simon is not in keeping with their usual approach of perfect acoustics and two part harmonies. The tune has a punky fuzz bass guitar throughout that pounds away and doesn’t fail to impress.

It was hidden away on side 2 of the ’66 album ’Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme’ and never appears on any ’Best Of’s’ etc.

I also dig the lyrics. These lines in particular capture the time capsule of hot bands as well as America’s unhealthy anxiety towards communism.

’I been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I’m blind
I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, ’cause I’m left handed
That’s the hand I use, well never mind!