Graceland

Graceland

by Paul SimonPaul Simon

Overview

With Graceland, Paul Simon hit on the idea of combining his always perceptive songwriting with the little-heard mbaqanga music of South Africa, creating a fascinating hybrid that re-enchanted his old audience and earned him a new one. It is true that the South African angle (including its controversial aspect during the apartheid days) was a powerful marketing tool and that the catchy music succeeded in presenting listeners with that magical combination: something they'd never heard before that nevertheless sounded familiar. As eclectic as any record Simon had made, it also delved into zydeco and conjunto-flavored rock & roll while marking a surprising new lyrical approach (presaged on some songs on Hearts and Bones); for the most part, Simon abandoned a linear, narrative approach to his words, instead drawing highly poetic ("Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"), abstract ("The Boy in the Bubble"), and satiric ("I Know What I Know") portraits of modern life, often charged by striking images and turns of phrase torn from the headlines or overheard in contemporary speech. An enormously successful record, Graceland became the standard against which subsequent musical experiments by major artists were measured.

Product Details

Release Date: 06/05/2012
Label: Sony Legacy
UPC: 0886919841220
catalogNumber: 198412
Rank: 4471

Tracks

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paul Simon   Primary Artist,Acoustic Guitar,Vocals,Background Vocals,Synclavier,6-string Electric Bass
Ladysmith Black Mambazo   Vocals
Adrian Belew   Guitar,Synthesizer Guitar
Everly Brothers   Vocals
Linda Ronstadt   Vocals
Ronnie Cuber   Baritone Saxophone,Bass Saxophone
Jon Faddis   Trumpet
Rob Mounsey   Synthesizer
Barney Rachabane   Saxophone
Alex Foster   Alto Saxophone
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Steve Berlin   Saxophone
Steve Gadd   Drums
Earl Gardner   Trumpet
Diane Garisto   Background Vocals
Morris Goldberg   Soprano Saxophone,Penny Whistle,Soloist
Conrad Lozano   Bass
Isaac Mtshali   Drums
Youssou N'Dour   Percussion
Sherman Robertson   Guitar
Cesar Rosas   Guitar,Vocals
Alan Rubin   Trumpet
Alton Rubin   Accordion
Joseph Shabalala   Vocals
Assane Thaim   Percussion
Vusi Khumalo   Drums
Makhaya Mahlangu   Percussion
Ronald E. Brecker   Trumpet
Babacar Faye   Percussion
Johnny Hoyt   Saxophone
Lloyd Lelose   Bass
Petrus Manile   Drums
Lulu Masilela   Tambourine
Forere Motloheloa   Accordion
Teaspoon Ndlela   Saxophone
Leonard Pickett   Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Xilakazi   Guitar,Rhythm Guitar
Louie Pérez   Drums
Bakithi Kumalo   Bass
Chikapa "Ray" Phiri   Guitar
David W. Bargeron   Trombone
David Rubin   Washboard
Mike Makhalemele   Saxophone
Demola Adepoju   Pedal Steel Guitar
Kim Allan Cissel   Trombone
Lewis Michael Soloff   Trumpet
Bakiti Kumalo   Bass
Ronald E. Cuber   Baritone Saxophone,Bass Saxophone
Alton Rubin   Drums
Alonzo Johnson   Bass
Gaza Sisters   Vocals
Michele Cobbs   Background Vocals
David Hildago   Guitar,Accordion,Vocals
Jonhjon Mkhaladi   Accordion

Technical Credits

Paul Simon   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Liner Notes,Original Album Producer
Roy Halee   Engineer
Bill Inglot   Transfer Assistant
Joseph Shabalala   Composer,Lyricist
Lulu Masilela   Composer
Forere Motloheloa   Composer
Jeri McManus   Art Direction
Gary Heery   Back Cover Photo
Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff   Art Direction
Chikapa "Ray" Phiri   Arranger
Eddie Simon   Management
Steve Berkowitz   Producer
Jeff Kramer   Management
Mike Reilly   Engineer
General M. D. Shirinda   Composer
Mandy Eidgah   Marketing
Jennifer Feinberg   Marketing
Jonhjon Mkhaladi   Composer

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