Paul Simon

Graceland - CBS 1986

Tracks: 1. The 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. II / 10. That Was Your Mother / 11. All Around The World Or The Myth Of The Fingerprints

Comments:

"Graceland" from 1986 is by far Paul Simon's most successful and accomplished; both commercially and artistically. It is also probably the most controversial Paul Simon album, partly recorded in South Africa during the apartheid regime and while Nelson Mandela was still imprisoned. Many South African musicians are featured on the album and most of the songs are heavily inspired by African music. Simon has succeeded in combining his own melodic songwriting with African rhythms and harmonies and his intelligent lyrics make it all come together in a higher unity.

Moreover he has managed to create songs that are so catchy that they could do well on singles charts around the world. Especially "You Can Call Me Al" is a classic and it became one of Simon's biggest hits with almost spoken verses, a very catchy chorus, a great horn theme and a great beat. Slightly in the same genre are two other singles "The Boy in the Bubble" and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes", which did not reach the same high rankings on the charts, but still did well. "Graceland" is a less obvious choice for a single, with its complicated rhythms and tricky theme. The number also did reach the charts in certain places. Least successful was the final single from the album, "Under African Skies". It was one of the most folkish and quiet tracks on the album, and a song where Simon vocallly get the support from Linda Ronstadt; and like the other four singles a great number.

Among the other tracks, I think the upbeat "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints" stands out positively. Here Simon is backed up nicely by Los Lobos, who also helped create the song. "Crazy Love vol II" also deserves to be mentioned. Very African inspired verse and catchy chorus.

All in all, an album one can listen to over and over without getting tired of it. For many reasons; not least the fine tunes and the exciting infectious rhythms.

Back to Band pages