Originally released in 1986, Graceland was Paul Simon’s 7th and most successful, multi-million selling solo studio album.
In the early 1980s, Simon's relationship with his former musical partner Art Garfunkel had deteriorated, his marriage to the actress Carrie Fisher had collapsed, and his previous record, Hearts and Bones (1983), had been a commercial failure. In 1984, after a period of depression, Simon became fascinated by a bootleg cassette of mbaqanga, South African street music. He and Halee visited Johannesburg, where they spent two weeks recording with South African musicians. Further recordings were held in the United States with American musicians including Linda Ronstadt, the Everly Brothers, Good Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters, and Los Lobos.
Graceland features an eclectic mixture of genres, including pop, rock, a cappella, zydeco, isicathamiya, and mbaqanga. Simon wrote songs inspired by the recordings made in Johannesburg, collaborating with African and American artists.
Black vinyl pressing
Track Listing
Side A:
1. The Boy In The Bubble
2. Graceland
3. I Know What I Know
4. Gumboots
5. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
Side B:
1. You Can Call Me Al
2. Under African Skies
3. Homeless
4. Crazy Love, Vol. II
5. That Was Your Mother
6. All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints
