Product Description

Through the mist of subsequent pale imitations, it is difficult now to recall the enormous impact of this trans-cultural album. The mould-breaking blend of rock and African rhythms is exemplified by "Homeless", an exquisitely melancholic evocation of African beauty and desolation. The stirring harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo illuminate "Homeless" and "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes". The element of humour in the latter is echoed in "You Can Call Me Al", a hit single. The lyrics are finely crafted and the result is a structure of impeccable proportions. There are angels in the architecture.

Track Listing

1. Boy In The Bubble
2. Graceland
3. I Know What I Know
4. Gumboots
5. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
6. You Can Call Me Al
7. Under African Skies
8. Homeless
9. Crazy Love Vol 2
10. All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10983 in Music
• Released on: 1986-09-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The melding of South African styles and Simon's trademark sensibility made for one of the most intriguing albums--not to mention commercial hits--of the 1980s. At once lively, thoughtful, gorgeous, and tough, Graceland acknowledges splits both in South Africa's social fabric and in Simon's personal life (the title track is a clear descendant of the earlier "Hearts and Bones", a song about the singer- songwriter's brief marriage to Carrie Fisher). Humour is hardly absent from the mix, though; witness the addled "I Know What I Know" and the fable-like "You Can Call Me Al". --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

This should be mandatory
Yes...this is easily one of the most seminal and perfectly concieved albums of all time. If you have read the other reviews you should have ordered your copy by now. I'll add my tuppence by saying that personally I feel there's moments on this album that scratch the surface of divinity itself.

perfect.

Timeless masterpiece
This seamless blend of African pop and American folk styles is one of the most exquisite musical achievements of the 20th century. The melodies are beautiful, the voices divine, and each and every one of the tracks is a classic.

The best loved songs include The Boy In The Bubble, Graceland, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes and Under African Skies, but the rest hold great charm too. The most rootsy African sounds surface on I Know What I Know with the soulful vocal infusions of The Gaza Sisters.

Paul Simon has always successfully integrated exotic sounds in his music to create great beauty: Andean flutes in El Condor Pasa, reggae in Me And Julio Down By The School Yard and in Mother & Child Reunion, and Latin/South American sounds in Rhythm Of The Saints, but Graceland is his towering achievement as a solo artist, a truly exceptional album with a power and beauty that transcends all musical boundaries.

seminal album......
Once in a while an album comes along that redefines music, and this is one of those albums. Easy to forget now, but this album was groundbreaking on its release. The marrying together of the melodies and rhythms of Africa, with the lyrics and production of Paul Simon, was unusual, but worked amazingly . Its not perfect, hence the 4 stars, but close to it.
It is album that should be in everyone's collection, and deserves a high place in the pop music hall of fame.
Highly, highly recommended.