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Graceland

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Graceland · In the early 1980s Paul Simon was in a slump: his relationship with Art Garfunkel had deteriorated, his marriage was over and his previous album, Hearts and Bones, had been a failure. In 1984 he became fascinated by a bootleg cassette of mbaqanga, South African street music. Together with his engineer Roy Halee he recorded for two weeks in Johannesburg with South African musicians. Later came sessions in America with, among others, Los Lobos and Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters. The album was released on 25 August 1986.

Graceland became his most successful album and won the 1987 Grammy for Album of the Year. The record introduced African music to a large Western audience. There was also criticism: Simon was said to have broken the cultural boycott of South Africa because of apartheid. He said the album was a political statement about cooperation between black and white.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Gumboots and notice the cheerful accordion and the rhythm of the Boyoyo Boys. Hear how this South African sound colours the record.

Track list

  1. 1The Boy In the Bubble3:59Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Graceland4:51Apple Music ↗
  3. 3I Know What I Know (with General M.D. Shirinda & the Gaza Sisters)3:13Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Gumboots (with the Boyoyo Boys)2:45Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes5:51Apple Music ↗
  6. 6You Can Call Me Al4:41Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Under African Skies3:37Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Homeless (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo)3:48Apple Music ↗
  9. 9Crazy Love, Vol. II4:19Apple Music ↗
  10. 10That Was Your Mother (with Good Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters)2:53Apple Music ↗
  11. 11All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints (with Los Lobos)3:19Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs