With his career-spanning compilation The Singer hitting stores on August 28, Art Garfunkel suggests that the two-CD set may be the last album he’ll release.  In a new interview with Spinner, the lauded vocalist describes the collection as his “swan song.”

He explains, “I’ve put together 50 years of what I did, with and without Paul [Simon], and it’s me saying, ‘While I was here on earth, this was me and music.  This is as important as my life is.  This is it.’”

The 34-track effort includes selections from the Simon & Garfunkel catalog and highlights from his solo albums, as well as two brand-new recordings.  One of those new tunes, “Lena,” can be heard online at RollingStone.com. Garfunkel chose all the songs for the project, and says he’s very pleased with the way his vocals are showcased throughout the compilation.

“When one song finishes it segues into another piece of entertaining singing,” he notes.  “I’m proud of keeping the focus on the voice and watching tune after tune present shades of a first rate singer.”

Garfunkel has been struggling with a condition called vocal paresis that kept him away from the concert stage for the last couple of years, and made it challenging for him to work on the new Singer tracks.  He tells Spinner that during the recording sessions he experienced “panic, frustration, anger,” adding, “I could have smashed my fist in to the vocal booth wall.  But you hang in, the results start to flow.”

He also admits to feeling unsure how well he can sing live, although he will test his abilities during a series of U.S. gigs he has scheduled in the coming months.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” he says.  “I do get very concerned.  I was confident when I booked these upcoming shows, but I’ll know when it’s showtime how things are.  I’m always trembling, I can tell you that.”

Here are all of Garfunkel’s confirmed upcoming tour dates:

8/24 — Meridian, MS, Riley Center for Performing Arts
9/6 — Hartford, CT, The Bushnell Belding Theatre
9/7 — Ridgefield, CT, The Ridgefield Playhouse
9/14 — Atlantic City, NJ, Music Box Theatre, Borgata Hotel
9/20 — Boston, MA, Wilbur Theatre
9/21 — Portsmouth, NH, The Music Hall
10/5 — Morristown, NJ, Mayo Performing Arts Center
10/6 — Hazelton, PA, Alice C. Wiltsie Performing Arts Center
10/11 — Tarrytown NY, Music Hall
10/12 — New Beford, MA, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
10/26 — Milwaukee, WI, Pabst Theater
10/27 — Minneapolis MN, Pantages Theatre
11/2 — Tulsa, OK, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
11/24 — Englewood, NJ, Bergen Performing Arts Center
12/1 — Skokie, IL, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts

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