“Bridge Over Troubled Water” #1 2/28/1970

Billboard’s top single of 1970, one that spent six weeks at #1 - and at first the guy who sang lead didn’t want to! When Paul Simon wrote this, he had Art Garfunkel in mind to do the primary vocals. Art originally declined but came around; Simon later had a few regrets about giving that one away. The Wrecking Crew handled the music in L.A. (the vocals were done in NYC), with Larry Knechtel’s marvelous piano. Knechtel went on to join the band Bread and appeared on most of their 70’s hits. Joe Osborn played the bass parts and Hal Blaine was on drums, including the thundering ending. Just an absolute, iconic masterpiece.