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, Volume II
10. That Was Your Mother
11. All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints
12. Homeless (demo)
13. Diamonds On the Soles of her Shoes (Unreleased Version)
14. All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints (Early Version)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #675 in Music
• Released on: 2004-07-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .16 pounds

CD 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.

Customer Reviews

Great music, poor sound
When this album was originally released it very quickly became a classic. The fusion of African tribal and Western soft rock music works, and works well.

Unfortunately - and these comments apply solely to this remaster - the sound quality has suffered as a result of the current arms race between record labels to make their CDs as loud as possible. Whereas on the original CD release the opening track "The Boy In The Bubble" began with a soft accordian solo followed by a series of drum hits that sounded like firecrackers (and scared the life out of anyone that wasn't expecting it), here all the dynamics of this are lost in a muddy compressed version of what was once a great album.

Many other classic albums have been destroyed like this by record labels. Do yourself a favour and track down the original 1986 CD of this album on Marketplace.

For the record the original 1986 version of this is unquestionably a 5-star album.

Wow
First time I’ve been moved to make a review. Having listened to Graceland for the first time in years I thought I’d be impressed but I am stunned. Don’t wait any longer, this is an inspirational album – buy it.

The blend of African rhythm, superb vocals from Paul and amazing harmonies make Graceland a reference work. But there’s more… as I get older I find myself getting frustrated with poor engineering but Paul and Ray let the album breathe. The a cappella on homeless show just how wonderful and under appreciated the human voice can be as a musical instrument.

I have a lot to learn. If only all albums could do this to me… I’d be a pauper – but a happy one.

Good Music, Bad Production
I totally agree with Glen Richards. I have the original vinyl and CD so I bought this version as a re-mastered paper sleeve Japanese Mini LP(vinyl replica) thinking it would be an upgrade. The hiss level is overpowering on a good hi-fi system. You might as well play it as an MP3 recording. Very disappointing. Do yourself a favour, however, and try the "MINI LP/Vinyl Replica" remastered versions of "One Trick Pony", "Rhymin Simon", "Paul Simon", or "Still Crazy After All These Years". This is how it should be done.