Graceland (album)
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| Graceland | ||
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| Studio album by Paul Simon | ||
| Released | August 12, 1986 | |
| Recorded | October 1985-June 1986 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 44:43 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. | |
| Producer(s) | Paul Simon | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Paul Simon chronology | ||
| Hearts & Bones (1983) |
Graceland (1986) |
The Rhythm of the Saints (1990) |
Graceland is an album released in 1986 by Paul Simon. The title track was inspired by a visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley's estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Simon, in the Graceland Classic Albums video, has said that he considers it the best song he has ever written.
Coming at a time when Simon's musical career was at something of a low ebb following the disappointing public response of Hearts and Bones (album), the project was originally inspired by Simon's repeated listening to a cassette of the Bhundu Boys instrumental "Gumboots", given to him by a friend. He later wrote lyrics to sing over a re-recording of the song, which became the fourth track on the album.
Much of the album was recorded in South Africa and featured many South African musicians and groups. Simon faced accusations that he had broken the cultural boycott imposed by the rest of the world against the apartheid regime in South Africa. This view was not supported by the United Nations Anti-Apartheid Committee, as the album showcased the talents of the black South African musicians while offering no support to the South African government. The worldwide success of the album introduced some of the musicians, especially the vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to global audiences of their own.
Simon included American 'roots' influences with tracks featuring Zydeco and Tex-Mex musicians. The Everly Brothers sing harmony on the title track. Linda Ronstadt appears on the track "Under African Skies", the second verse of which Simon wrote based on her childhood experiences. The group Los Lobos appear on the last track, "All Around The World or The Myth Of Fingerprints." A popular music video starring Simon and Chevy Chase was made for the hit song "You Can Call Me Al".
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- "The Boy In the Bubble"
- "Graceland"
- "I Know What I Know"
- "Gumboots"
- "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes"
- "You Can Call Me Al"
- "Under African Skies"
- "Homeless"
- "Crazy Love Vol II"
- "That Was Your Mother"
- "All Around The World or The Myth Of Fingerprints"
[edit] Chart performance
[edit] Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Billboard 200 | 3 |
| 1986 | UK chart | 1 |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Graceland | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 38 |
| 1986 | Graceland | Billboard Hot 100 | 80 |
| 1986 | Graceland | Billboard Hot 100 | 81 |
| 1986 | You Can Call Me Al | Adult Contemporary | 14 |
| 1986 | You Can Call Me Al | Billboard Hot 100 | 23 |
| 1987 | The Boy in the Bubble | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 |
| 1987 | The Boy in the Bubble | Billboard Hot 100 | 85 |
| 1999 | You Can Call Me Al | Billboard Hot 100 | 41 |
[edit] Grammy Awards
| Year | Album/Track | Award | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Graceland (album) | Album Of The Year | 6697 |
| 1987 | "Graceland" (song) | Record Of The Year | 7061 |
[edit] Rankings
- Voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll.
- In 1998, Q magazine readers voted it the 56th greatest album of all time.
- In 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at #84.
- It was also ranked #84 in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.
- It was ranked #5 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.
- It is #81 on the list of Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
- The song "Graceland" was voted #485 in the list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
