Song of the Day 4/2: Simon and Garfunkel, “Keep the Customer Satisfied”

Paul Simon has joined the parade of aging songwriters peddling their catalogs for big bucks, selling off his entire output — over 400 songs from both Simon and Garfunkel and his solo career — to Sony for an undisclosed sum that certainly reached nine figures.

This song from “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is an upbeat version of the sick-of-the-road sentiment Simon expressed in “Homeward Bound” — he never seemed to like touring all that much — and despite its rockabilly beat and jaunty horns its only non-album release (other than a promo single for radio stations) was on the B-side of “Bridge Over Trouble Water.” That put it on a lot of jukeboxes, and I once had a co-worker who played it at least once a shift.

Before the year was out, Buddy Rich had not only recorded the tune with his big band, he used it as the title for his 1970 live album.

In 1971 Gary Puckett, who had just gone solo after his days with the Union Gap, released it as a single. It stalled at No. 71 in Billboard.

From the Song of the Day perspective, it remains to be seen how diligently Sony will police its copyright on YouTube videos, so enjoy them while you can.