Album: Angel Clare

Introduction
"Angel Clare", released in September 1973, marked the solo launching of Art Garfunkel, best called one-half of the famous folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. The album, produced by Garfunkel and Roy Halee, takes its name from a character in Thomas Hardy's novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles". Including a mix of original structures, cover songs, and partnerships with other songwriters, "Angel Clare" showcases Garfunkel's unique tenor voice and his ability to communicate deep feeling through music. Although the album did not garner the very same level of business success as Simon & Garfunkel's work, it received positive critical reviews and enabled Garfunkel to develop his own artistic identity beyond the partnership.

Album Overview
"Angel Clare" includes 9 tracks, each with its own special sound and feel. The opening track, "Traveling Boy", is a poignant ballad composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols that tells the story of a young man leaving house and the woman he loves behind. The tune features a lavish orchestral plan, intricate tunes, and Garfunkel's emotive vocals, setting the tone for the remainder of the album.

Another standout track is Garfunkel's performance of "I Shall Sing", written by Van Morrison. The upbeat, reggae-inspired tune uses a spirited contrast to the more mournful and reflective songs on the album. "I Shall Sing" ended up being a hit single and remains one of Garfunkel's the majority of widely known solo works.

Garfunkel teams up with songwriter Jimmy Webb on the tracks "Another Lullaby" and "All My Love's Laughter". The former is a tender lullaby that showcases Garfunkel's skyrocketing vocal abilities, while the latter, including a haunting piano arrangement, explores the darker side of romantic love.

"Angel Clare" likewise consists of a version of "Down in the Willow Garden", a standard Appalachian murder ballad, and "Mary Was an Only Child", penned by Jorge Milchberg, Juan Carlos Calderón, and Albert Hammond. 2 original structures by Garfunkel, "Feuilles-Oh" and "Barbara Allen", complete the diverse mix of songs.

Legacy and Critical Reception
"Angel Clare" received usually positive reviews from critics, who praised Garfunkel's singing efficiency and the album's varied musical designs. Wanderer's Jon Landau wrote, "Garfunkel's very first solo album is a remarkable and rewarding record. It is music that is completely Garfunkel - something that would have been hard to develop until now". William Ruhlmann of AllMusic likewise described the album as "an art piece, a collection of thoroughly organized recordings including Garfunkel's skyrocketing, choirboy voice". Regardless of its creative achievements, the album peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart and sold fewer copies than Simon & Garfunkel's releases.

However, "Angel Clare" set the phase for Art Garfunkel's solo career, which has actually spanned more than four years and included many seriously acclaimed albums. While his partnership with Paul Simon remains an integral part of his musical tradition, the release of "Angel Clare" enabled Garfunkel to prove that he might stand as a particular artist, acknowledged for his unique skill and contributions to popular music.