Main menu
Fretplay home Submit tabs

Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel tabs Art Garfunkel discography

Channels
Guitar channel Bass channel Guitar videos Reviews

Message Forum
Guitar forum Bass forum Bands and artists Promote your band Recent discussions All categories

Fretplay.com

Art Garfunkel guitar tabs

CD reviews

Fate for Breakfast

Art Garfunkel - Fate for Breakfast Audio CD

A fair review of the Art Garfunkel "Fate for Breakfast" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Art Garfunkel reviews here, or go back to the Art Garfunkel tabs.

Band: Art Garfunkel
Title: Fate for Breakfast
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-08-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: In a Little While (I'll Be on My Way) 2: Since I Don't Have You 3: And I Know 4: Sail on a Rainbow 5: Miss You Nights 6: Bright Eyes 7: Finally Found a Reason 8: Beyond the Tears 9: Oh How Happy 10: When Someone Doesn't Want You 11: Take Me Away

I thought I would never find this on CD!

You saw the jump in Michael Jackson's Music after he died, let's support our beloved artists now, and let them know that we still love them and they have a very loyal fan base!!!
The enrichment their songs gave to our lives cannot be forgotten well as the memories, that their music brings us back to a time, when music has a message, and it touched our hearts, souls and our very lives. Many of our great Artists are disappearing, either because no one thinks that they are "marketable" any more" a note to them, we are still here, and we still love and want to buy these artists products. Today's music may do the same, but most of it (Hey, my opinion counts!) Sucks!
What we take in through our eyes, and ears not only touches our souls but shapes our hearts and our view of the world and it's people.
And classics are never out dated or out of style.
They stand the test of time.
Buy your favorite artist now, and not only let them know that we haven't forgotten them. but are still willing to by their art. And by doing so, you support them, still while they are here among us. .

Garfunkel Shines Again - Beautiful Songs and One Masterpiece
Then you have two legitimate hits, "Bright Eyes," and "Since I Don't Have You," both terrific songs, and other small gems such as the tuneful "And I Know," that fill out an impressive album. First things first: if you are an Art Garfunkel fan, this is a MUST, a beautiful collection of songs, highlighted by one masterpiece, "Miss You Nights," the best song in the collection, and worth the purchase for just this one song - beautifully arranged, sung, with lyrics that are subtle and strong - perfect. Garfunkel's vocals here are their zenith, so you have a rich, full voice giving full credit to these songs and arrangements. The only complaint, which explains the 4 stars, not 5: some of the arrangements, particularly on the poor opening number, and even on "And I Know," are overproduced, indicative of the terrible "disco era," when it seemed that you needed to submerge good vocals into overly synthesized instruments. Leah Kunkel, for instance, was one of the finest back-up vocalists of her day - and her own CD's are absolutely worth owning, please check them out - but her wonderful voice is just devoured here and it's a shame. It would almost be worth it for Art to go back and cut a couple of these beautiful songs again without the over production. They are worth it. And so is "Fate For Breakfast," despite a few flaws, another winner from Mr. Garfunkel, one of America's finest vocalists - ever! You will absolutely enjoy some of these wonderful songs, particularly "Miss You Nights," a true classic!.

A Garfunkel Gem
Art is, of course, in fine voice as usual, and contrary to some other reviewers I think producer Louie Shelton pushed all the right buttons on this project. I believe I own every Art Garfunkel CD except for Lefty and, without a doubt, Fate for Breakfast is one of my absolute favorites. Far from being sappy, the arrangements compliment Art's beautiful tenor voice. While I am hard pressed to pick a favorite song on this CD, gotta go with Miss You Nights. While I respect Cliff Richard as a vocalist of great repute, Art really hits this one out of the park, and coupled with the inclusion of Bright Eyes, Since I Don't Have You, Beyond the Tears and When Someone Doesn't Want You, this CD is a treasure and a must for any Art Garfunkel fan. .

ALBUMS FOR THE YEARS.
I HAVE HAD AND ENJOYED THIS BEAUTIFUL ALBUM, AS WELL AS , "WATERMARK," (WHICH I CONSIDER HIS BEST) SINCE THEY FIRST TIME THEY APPEARED, " WAY BACK WHEN. I AM RATHER SURPRISED TO READ, ALL THESE YEARS AFTER ITS ORIGINAL RELEASE, THAT THIS ALBUM IS CONSIDERED A FLOP BY SOME PEOPLE. " WHILE I HAVE MOVED ON TO ELECTRONICA/TRANCE MUSIC SINCE THESE ALBUMS FIRST CAME OUT, THE YEARS HAVE IN NO WAY DIMINISHED THE JOY, THRILL AND WARMTH I STILL FEEL IN LISTENING TO THEM. THESE SONGS STAYED WITH ME THOUGH TIME.

Doubt for Dessert
It is the album that contains his all-time biggest smash hit "Bright Eyes", and I can just imagine someone who heard that song go out and treat themselves to the album it's on, hoping to find more such gems on it. This is both the highpoint and the lowpoint of Art Garfunkel's solo career, and that's quite unfortunate.

They'd be utterly disappointed. I was.

Art Garfunkel is a great singer, and he has done lots of brilliant stuff over the decades. It's just that there isn't much of that on this album. The songs are bleak and easily forgotten, to the point that when you re-listen to the album every couple of years (as I do), they all seem new again. New, but still no good.

There is one exception besides "Bright Eyes", though. Just when you feel the relief of having sat through the album, along comes the last song, "Take Me Away", with instrumental work that makes it stand out and is faintly reminiscient of John Miles' "Music" (was my first love) or something like that. A good song, or at least a song good enough to stand out from all the mediocre ones that this album consists of.

But are two songs and some quite humorous cover art reason enough to buy this album? If you're a completist Garfunkel album collector, yes. In all other cases, here are my humble suggestions.

You just want "Bright Eyes" on CD? Don't try to get all intelligent, go with the flow and get yourself a Greatest Hits compilation. There are plenty more great songs on 'em. Can't miss out there.

You want to dig deeper and try for an album filled with lesser-known Garfunkel songs? Hey, I recommend that. It may not sound like it, but I'm a fan of his. By all means do order an album or two. Just don't order this one. "Breakaway", "Watermark", or "Scissors Cut" are much better bets, for instance.

You feel you won't trust me? Go ahead, order "Fate for Breakfast". It's not that expensive. Just don't come complaining, and please please do not let your probable disappointment keep you from giving Art another chance later on. He wouldn't deserve being judged by this album alone.

One star out of five, 20%. 10% for "Bright Eyes," 5% for "Take Me Away", and 5% for the cover art, especially the one on the backside that I borrowed this review's title from, strangely fitting as it is.

You can see a complete list of all Art Garfunkel discography, or go back to the Art Garfunkel tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.