Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32138 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-05-05
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 75 minutes

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
English
Region 0
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo

Synopsis
A look at the making of the groundbreaking album by singer/songwriter Simon, as told by the musicians that know and have worked with him. Features the songs from the eponymous album, including "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (with Ladysmith Black Mombazo) and "Under African Skies," as well as footage from several of Simon's music videos.

From the Back Cover
Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland is a landmark record. Recorded in New York and South Africa, Graceland not only sold 14 million copies and was named Album of the Year at the 1986 Grammy Awards, but it also brought the sound of South African music to audiences around the world. Graceland soared to number three in the US album charts and topped the UK and South African charts for many weeks.
The dramatic story of Graceland is told here in Paul Simon’s own words along with electrifying footage of Simon performing songs from the album including the title track Graceland, Under African Skies (with Miriam Makeba), Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo), plus footage from the distinctive videos of You Can Call Me Al and Boy In The Bubble. This acclaimed film shows how a career setback for Paul Simon precipitated the inspiration for Graceland, how he learned so much from the South African musicians he met and how by collaborating with them a triumphant album was created. In Paul Simon’s own words: "That was what Graceland had – an unusual degree of understanding amongst people who had just met".

Subtitles: Dutch, German, Italian, Portugese, Spanish, French, English

Customer Reviews

A fascinating glimpse into the world of a song writing genius...
A Rockumentary about a land mark album made by one of the finest song writers of our time, featuring input and comment by Paul Simon, guest musicians and commentators cannot fail to be entertaining.

The Classic Album shows have one notable difference from the average programme of this genre. The Classic album series is not just a collection of cheap thrown away programmes dominated by a cheesy commentary over a string of fuzzy repeated images with bad quality sound bites and quotes. The series has excellent production values featuring original footage, which centres around getting the old multi track tapes out, and separating out the parts (and in some cases playing along to them or performing the demo version) to demonstrate how the finished product was arrived at. It is this is invaluable part of the show that demonstrates Paul Simon's song writing ability and imagination, and his ability for building the performances from locally recorded live performance tapes to the final polished product. What is also interesting is a reminder of how the music being made reflected social attitudes and issues of the time particularly with regard to social oppression in South Africa.

My appreciation of Graceland has grown since watching this DVD. This DVD is a reflection by those involved in the creation of the album, and a fascinating insight into the making and production of the end product, and contains valuable interviews with Paul Simon, the Everly Brothers, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and other local musicians who contributed. We learn that the Bass Solo during `You can call me Al, is in fact a solo of two halves, the second half being part one looped backwards, we hear that Paul Simon describes the Album's title track as `the best song he has ever written' with only one lyric he would change, and how the accordion used in `Boy in the bubble' was only able to be recorded in the key the musician played it on because that was how he played it!

There are many more revelatory moments in the show which a true fan is guaranteed to enjoy. I am, I did and so will you.

In depth look at the making of Paul Simon's masterpiece
The 'Classic Albums - Paul Simon - Graceland' DVD is a great buy for anyone interested in the music and lyrics of Paul Simon. In the DVD he explains his thought processes in the making of the Graceland album. His guitar/singing demonstrations are brilliant and make the viewer feel really priviledged to be let into the secrets of the music. Roy Halee, Ray Phiri and Joseph Shabalala (along with the other featured musicians) really make it look like making an album is seriously good fun. The footage of the Africa Concert and TV performances bring the songs to life and show the brilliant musicianship of the featured musicians.

A real insight
A great DVD (especially combined with the African Concert DVD) it provides a real insight into the production of the album with interviews with Paul Simon, the producer, and some of the African musicians who performed on many (if not all) of the tracks.
Loved to hear how they describe putting together the music and playing one intrument off against another. DVD also inculdes vision/tracks from the African concert so if you can only buy one of the two get this one - otherwise lash out & get both - I did.
Its the sought of music you can put on for some background atmosphere, or crank it right up - and get down with the rythm.