On August 25, 1986, “Warner Bros” label released “Graceland”, the seventh Paul Simon solo studio. It was recorded October 1985 – June 1986, in South Africa, New York, Los Angeles, London, and Louisiana, and was produced by Paul Simon. In 1987, “Graceland” won “Grammy Award” for “Album of the Year”. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Graceland” at number 71 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album earned Paul Simon the “Best International Solo Artist” award at “The Brit Awards” in 1987. It was certified 8 x Platinum in Australia by the “ARIA”; Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Nederlands by “NVPI”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”;Platinum in Portugal by “AFP”; Platinum in Spain by “PROMUSICAE”; 7 x Platinum in the UK by the “BPI”, and 5 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Paul Simon– lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, Synclavier, six-string electric bass
- Ray Phiri– guitar
- Adrian Belew– guitar synthesizer, guitar
- Demola Adepoju – pedal steelguitar
- Daniel Xilakazi – lead, rhythm guitar
- Sherman Robertson– guitar
- César Rosas– guitar, backing vocals
- David Hidalgo– guitar, accordion, backing vocals
- Lulu Masilela – tambourines
- Rob Mounsey– synthesizer, horn arrangement
- Alton Rubin, Sr.– accordion
- Jonhjon Mkhalali – accordion
- Forere Motloheloa – accordion
- Conrad Lozano– bass
- Alonzo Johnson – bass
- Lloyd Lelose – bass
- Bakithi Kumalo– bass
- Isaac Mtshali – drums
- Vusi Khumalo – drums
- Petrus Manile – drums
- Alton Rubin, Jr. – drums
- Louie Pérez– drums
- Steve Gadd– additional drums
- Makhaya Mahlangu – percussion
- Ralph MacDonald– percussion
- Youssou N’Dour– percussion
- Babacar Faye – percussion
- Assane Thiam – percussion
- James Guyatt – percussion
- David Rubin – washboard
- Alex Foster – alto saxophone
- Morris Goldberg– penny whistle, soprano saxophone
- Johnny Hoyt – saxophone
- Steve Berlin– saxophone
- Ronnie Cuber– bass and baritone saxophone
- Barney Rachabane – saxophone
- Mike Makhalemele– saxophone
- Teaspoon Ndela – saxophone
- Lenny Pickett– tenor saxophone
- Earl Gardner – trumpet
- Jon Faddis– trumpet
- Randy Brecker– trumpet
- Lew Soloff– trumpet
- Alan Rubin– trumpet
- Dave Bargeron– trombone
- Kim Allan Cissel – trombone
- The Gaza Sisters – vocals
- Joseph Shabalala– vocals
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo– vocals
- Linda Ronstadt– additional vocals
- The Everly Brothers– additional vocals
- Diane Garisto – backing vocals
- Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
- Roy Halee – engineer
Track listing:
- The Boy In the Bubble – Forere Motloheloa, Paul Simon
- Graceland – Paul Simon
- I Know What I Know – General MD Shirinda, Paul Simon
- Gumboots – Lulu Masilela, Jonhjon Mkhalali, Paul Simon
- Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes – Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon
- You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon
- Under African Skies – Paul Simon
- Homeless – Joseph Shabalala, Paul Simon
- Crazy Love, Vol. II – Paul Simon
- That Was Your Mother – Paul Simon
- All Around the World Or the Myth of Fingerprints – Paul Simon
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