Simon Garfunkel - Greatest Hits -1972- -flac- — 88

It seems you're looking for information about a specific digital music release: "Simon Garfunkel - Greatest Hits -1972- -FLAC- 88".

Here’s a breakdown of what this likely refers to and key details to know: Simon Garfunkel - Greatest Hits -1972- -FLAC- 88

Part 4: A Warning About Bootlegs and "Upscales"

When searching for Simon Garfunkel - Greatest Hits -1972- -FLAC- 88, you must be aware of the digital gray market. Not every 88.2 kHz file is legitimate. It seems you're looking for information about a

  • The Real Deal: Sourced from a vinyl rip of the original 1972 pressing using a high-end turntable (Ortophon cartridge) or a direct transfer from the original 2-track master reel by a label like Audio Fidelity or Analogue Productions. These files are massive (approx. 600-800 MB for the album).
  • The Fake (Upscale): Some pirates take a standard 44.1 kHz CD rip and use software to double the sample rate (interpolating fake data). This does not add detail; it adds artificial smoothness. You can spot a fake by analyzing a spectrogram in software like Spek—true 88.2 kHz files have musical information up to 44 kHz; upscales go blank above 22 kHz.

How to verify: Legitimate high-res releases of Simon & Garfunkel are often sold through HDtracks, Qobuz, or ProStudioMasters. The 1972 Greatest Hits in native 88.2 kHz was briefly available in 2013 via a boutique European label. Seek checksums (MD5 files) that verify the transfer. Part 4: A Warning About Bootlegs and "Upscales"

3. The Format: FLAC

  • FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec.
  • Unlike MP3, FLAC compresses audio without losing any quality — it's bit-perfect to the source CD or master.
  • File size is typically 50–60% of the original uncompressed WAV, but still much larger than MP3.

2. The Album: Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits (1972)

  • Original Release Date: June 14, 1972.
  • Label: Columbia Records.
  • Tracklist (Original LP): 14 tracks, including The Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Boxer, Cecilia, and Scarborough Fair/Canticle.
  • Significance: This was their first greatest hits compilation, released after the duo had officially split in 1970. It became one of the best-selling albums of all time (14× Platinum in the US).

5. Is This Official or a Bootleg?

  • Official hi-res releases of Simon & Garfunkel's catalog exist on platforms like Qobuz, HDtracks, and 7digital (typically 96/24 or 192/24, less often 88.2/24).
  • However, many files labeled with specific sample rates like 88 in the wild come from vinyl rips made by users (recording a pristine LP to FLAC at 88.2 kHz to avoid resampling from 96 kHz).
  • Suggestion: Check the metadata (using software like MediaInfo or foobar2000) to see if it's identified as official (e.g., catalog number, label) or a personal rip.