Graceland [Remastered & Expanded]

by Paul Simon

Overview

With Graceland, Paul Simon hit on the idea of combining his always perceptive songwriting with the little-heard mbaqanga music of South Africa, creating a fascinating hybrid that re-enchanted his old audience and earned him a new one. It is true that the South African angle (including its controversial aspect during the apartheid days) was a powerful marketing tool and that the catchy music succeeded in presenting listeners with that magical combination: something they'd never heard before that nevertheless sounded familiar. As eclectic as any record Simon had made, it also delved into zydeco and conjunto-flavored rock & roll while marking a surprising new lyrical approach (presaged on some songs on Hearts and Bones); for the most part, Simon abandoned a linear, narrative approach to his words, instead drawing highly poetic ("Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"), abstract ("The Boy in the Bubble"), and satiric ("I Know What I Know") portraits of modern life, often charged by striking images and turns of phrase torn from the headlines or overheard in contemporary speech. An enormously successful record, Graceland became the standard against which subsequent musical experiments by major artists were measured. [A 2011 remastered version added bonus tracks.] ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	10/24/2011
Label:	Legacy / Sony Music
UPC:	0886978425027

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 Fingerprints
12. Homeless
13. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
14. All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints [Early Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paul Simon   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Synclavier,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background),6-String Electric Bass
The Twisters   Primary Artist
Ladysmith Black Mambazo   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Los Lobos   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Stimela   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
The Boyoyo Boys   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Miriam Makeba   Primary Artist
General MD Shirinda & The Gaza Sisters   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Hugh Masekela   Primary Artist
Rockin' Dopsie & The Twisters   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Adrian Belew   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Synthesizer)
Randy Brecker   Guest Artist
Linda Ronstadt   Guest Artist,Vocals
Ronnie Cuber   Guest Artist,Sax (Bass),Sax (Baritone)
Jon Faddis   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Alan Rubin   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Youssou N'Dour   Guest Artist,Percussion
The Everly Brothers   Guest Artist,Vocals
Bakithi Kumalo   Bass
Joseph Shabalala   Lead Vocals,Vocals
Earl Gardner   Trumpet
Lew Soloff   Trumpet
Jonhjon Mkhalali   Accordion
Louie Perez   Drums
Rob Mounsey   Synthesizer
Ralph McDonald   Percussion
David W. Bargeron   Trombone
Petrus Manile   Drums
Diane Garisto   Vocals (Background)
Daniel Xilakazi   Guitar,Rhythm,Lead Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Assane Thiam   Percussion
Johnny Hoyt   Saxophone
Ronald E. Brecker   Trumpet
Vusi Khumalo   Drums
Makhaya Mahlangu   Percussion
Isaac Mtshali   Drums
Alton Rubin   Drums,Accordion
Sherman Robertson   Guitar
Steve Berlin   Saxophone
Steve Gadd   Drums
Lulu Masilela   Tambourine
David Rubin   Washboard
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Mike Makhalemele   Saxophone
Leonard Pickett   Sax (Tenor)
Bakiti Kumalo   Bass
Kim Allan Cissel   Trombone
Teaspoon Ndlela   Saxophone
Lloyd Lelose   Bass
Demola Adepoju   Pedal Steel
Babacar Faye   Percussion
Jim Blashfield   Director
Gary Weis   Director
Sonti Mndebele   Vocals (Background)
Conrad Lozano   Bass
Cesar Rosas   Guitar,Vocals
General M. D. Shirinda   Featured Artist
Ethan Russell   Director
Michael Lindsay-Hogg   Director
Alton Rubin Jr.   Drums
Bagithi Khumalo   Bass
Alonzo Johnson   Bass
Gaza Sisters   Vocals,Featured Artist
David Hildago   Guitar,Vocals,Accordion
Michele Cobbs   Vocals (Background)
Nobambo Fazerkerley   Vocals (Background)
Nomsa Caluza   Vocals (Background)
Jonhjon Mkhaladi   Accordion
Chikapa "Ray" Phiri   Guitar
Morris Goldberg   Soloist,Penny Whistle,Sax (Soprano)
Alex Foster   Sax (Alto)
Forere Motloheloa   Accordion
Barney Rachabane   Saxophone
David Hidalgo   Guitar,Vocals,Accordion

Technical Credits

Bakithi Kumalo   Musician
Bill Inglot   Transfers,Reissue Supervisor,Transfer Assistant,Release Preparation,Preparation for Release
Jonhjon Mkhalali   Composer
Mark Miller   Assistant Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Peter Thwaites   Assistant Engineer
Ruggiero   Mixing,Editing
Marc Cobrin   Assistant Engineer
Mike Reilly   Engineer
Miriam Makeba   Composer
Steven Strassman   Assistant Engineer
Isaac Mtshali   Musician
Tony Cedras   Musician
Paul Simon   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Liner Notes,Original Album Producer
Lulu Masilela   Composer
Roy Halee   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Remixing
Dani Barnard   Project Manager
Kim Champagne   Design
John Alberts   Post Production
Rachel Gutek   Design
Jim Blashfield   Producer
Dan Ricci   Mixing,Editing
Eddie Simon   Management
Isaac Assante   Musician
Harrison Funk   Photography
Andrew Fraser   Assistant Engineer
Ian E. Hoblyn   Producer
Mike Rose   Musician
Clarence E. Quick   Composer
Gretchen Brennison   Project Manager
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Remastering
Francis Fuster   Musician
General M. D. Shirinda   Composer
Joseph Shabalala   Composer,Lyricist
John Selolwane   Musician
Jeri McManus   Art Direction
Geoff Gans   Design,Package Design,Reissue Art Director
Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff   Art Direction
Daniel Hersch   Mastering
Steve Berkowitz   Producer,Reissue Supervisor,Release Preparation,Preparation for Release
Rob Klein   Photography
Mandy Eidgah   Marketing,Project Director
Isaiah Wyner   Photography
Jennifer Lebeau   Session Producer
Rich Ruggiero   Mixing,Editing
Mark Cobrin   Assistant Engineer
Jennifer Feinberg   Marketing,Project Director
Chris Fortis   Producer
Niles Siegel Org   Producer
Jennifer Lebreau   Session Producer
Nigel Siegel Org   Producer
Jonhjon Mkhaladi   Composer
Chikapa "Ray" Phiri   Arranger,Musician
Jeff Kramer   Management
Forere Motloheloa   Composer
Barney Rachabane   Musician
Hugh Masekela   Composer