Art Garfunkel - Fate for Breakfast

A Garfunkel Gem

I believe I own every Art Garfunkel CD except for Lefty and, without a doubt, Fate for Breakfast is one of my absolute favorites. 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. 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. February 10, 2008

ALBUMS FOR THE YEARS.

I AM RATHER SURPRISED TO READ, ALL THESE YEARS AFTER ITS ORIGINAL RELEASE, THAT THIS ALBUM IS CONSIDERED A FLOP BY SOME PEOPLE. 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." 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. September 17, 2005

Doubt for Dessert

This is both the highpoint and the lowpoint of Art Garfunkel's solo career, and that's quite unfortunate. 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.

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. February 5, 2005

an average album from a 5-star performer

This album and Everything Waits to Be Noticed were in a tie for my least favorite Garfunkel album (which isn't saying they're not good, since the others get 5 stars from me), but the reinclusion of Bright Eyes, which originally was only in European pressings, lifted it up a notch.

Some of these songs would have sounded much better had Art sung them in a lower pitch, which he used on the following album, Scissors Cut, and made it sound as serious and classy as the tux he wore in the cover photo.

Sail on a Rainbow is a good example of this; I appreciate it much more when I imagine it being sung in a lower key.

To me, the album's mood changes too abruptly. That which Beyond the Tears creates is shattered 10 seconds into the next one, the chirpy Oh How Happy, which earns the distinction of being my least favorite Garfunkel song, out of the 100 or so I've committed to memory.

In a Little While I'll Be on My Way (so hold on baby, just-a one more da-ay, in a little while I'll be on my waaa-haaaAAAY - to you!) was actually a SINGLE?? I'd really like to see him back in the top 5 again, but sometimes someone needs to take you by the hand and keep you from going down the wrong path - friends don't let friends record mushy songs. Because this record bombed we probably got Scissors Cut, and Roy Halee back as a producer, so in a way this recording may have been a good thing.

But Garfunkel is probably one of my 20 favorite singers, and the rest of the songs here aren't too bad. Bright Eyes was deservedly a number one smash in Britain, and should have been here also. Miss You Nights would have been as good as the Cliff Richard original if he had sung it a bit lower also.

Someone apparently talked him into doing some frothy pop-disco stuff and he listened. He never went wrong with Jimmy Webb and I'm glad he used some of his material on later albums again. March 30, 2004

The Art of it all

Artie strikes again in 79 with this love it or leave it album. This is my favorite album by Mr. Garfunkel, though it is critically seen as a flop. From the hip (for Art at least) opening song, "In a Little While I'll be on My Way", to the electric guitar riddled "Take Me Away", everything here is done well, though it seems to contradict itself at times. Also present are some of Art's 50's remakes including the classic "Since I Don't Have You" and the lighthearted "Oh how Happy." Though the American album is missing the GREAT "Bright Eyes" Fate for Breakfast will always stay on my turntable. By the way, I'm 20. Strange? Possibly. Also note, the cover photos are wonderful, though a little confusing. We see a quite bald Garfunkel making a mess of dinner and sporting a blacked out tooth. I'm not sure what to think, he always looks so serious and mean. Ah well. I LOVE IT. December 2, 2001

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