“Hazy Shade of Winter” was written and recorded by folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, and included on their 1968 album, Bookends. One of my all-time favorite LPs, Bookends is brilliant from beginning to end. There are the familiar “Mrs. Robinson,” “America,” and “At The Zoo,” of course, but some real magic reveals itself in tracks like “Save The Life Of My Child,” “Overs,” and “Punky’s Dilemma.”

Turning attention back to “Hazy Shade of Winter,” the single was the first to be pulled from Bookends, but Simon & Garfunkel made it to just #13 on the charts with the song.

In 1987, the Bangles recorded the song for the film, Less Than Zero (starring Andrew McCarthy). The soundtrack’s producer, Rick Rubin, had asked a few artists to cover songs from the ’50 and ’60s, rounding up the Bangles, Aerosmith, Poison, and Slayer to contribute. The Bangles landed on “Hazy Shade of Winter” after thinking back to old favorites they’d once included on their setlists.

Those familiar with the Simon & Garfunkel tune will notice that some lyrics are missing in the Bangles’ version of “Hazy Shade of Winter” (left on the ground next to the song’s “patch of snow,” perhaps). Though signed to the same label that Simon & Garfunkel had once recorded for, the group was directed by Columbia Records to remove the line, “Drinking my vodka and lime.” Thus, following the bridge, an entire verse was excised.

Strange that after 20 years had passed, there would be more sensitivity to what is a pretty benign reference to alcohol. Even stranger when you consider that this new “Hazy Shade of Winter” was to be featured in a film all about excessive drug use. (Legend has it that the Bangles sent Paul Simon a basket of limes and a bottle of vodka as an apology.)

Sans the offending stanza, The Bangles’ amped-up version of “Hazy Shade of Winter” still bested the original, reaching #2 on February 6, 1988:

Purchase The Bangles’ “Hazy Shade of Winter” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.