The lead single for Simon &
Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water (which would not be released until
almost a year later in January 1970), “The Boxer,” was released on 21 March
1969.
It took almost 100 hours to
record the song, due to Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and producer Roy Haylee
experimenting with different techniques in 3 different studios, including
recording the drum kit in front of an open elevator shaft, and placing 7
microphones around Fred Carter Jr.’s guitar.
Carter played 5 different guitars
on the song, and his audible breathing.
“The Boxer” was Simon &
Garfunkel’s first single since “Mrs. Robinson” and it charted in the Top Ten in
9 different countries, peaking at #7 in the US.
The song is frequently interpreted
as being about Bob Dylan, although Simon has always claimed it was mostly
autobiographical. Dylan recorded the song almost a year later (3 March 1970)
for his Self Portrait album, which also included Fred Carter Jr. on guitar.