A Hazy Shade of Winter

When you listen to A Hazy Shade of Winter, you feel an energy that moves a bit away from what Simon & Garfunkel used to show. It was released as a standalone single on October 22, 1966, and although the recording took place during the sessions for Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme in September of that year, it didn't appear on an album until 1968, on Bookends. The song is described as having a sound closer to rock, with a clear verse-chorus structure. Its origin dates back to 1965, when Paul Simon was in England, and the lyrics paint a picture of a poet struggling with their achievements, with verses evoking the transition from autumn to winter.

In 1987, The Bangles recorded their own version for the soundtrack of the film Less Than Zero. They had already been playing this song live since 1982, giving it a harder edge. Their interpretation, produced by Rick Rubin, became a major hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the original version in popularity. For The Bangles, this recording represented a moment when they felt their sound was closer to how they sounded in their live performances.