Paul Simon - Graceland (1986) [Full Album]

Graceland is the seventh solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was produced by Simon, engineered by Roy Halee and released on August 25, 1986, by Warner Bros. Records. It incorporates genres including pop, rock, a cappella, zydeco, and South African styles such as isicathamiya and mbaqanga.

In the early 1980s, Simon's relationship with his former musical partner Art Garfunkel had deteriorated, his marriage to the actress Carrie Fisher had collapsed, and his previous record, Hearts and Bones (1983), had been a commercial failure. In 1984, after a period of depression, Simon became fascinated by a bootleg cassette of mbaqanga, South African street music. He and Halee spent two weeks in Johannesburg recording with South African musicians. Further recordings were held in the US with American musicians including Linda Ronstadt, the Everly Brothers, Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters and Los Lobos. Simon toured with South African musicians, performing their music and songs from Graceland.

Organizations such as Artists United Against Apartheid criticized Simon for breaking the cultural boycott on South Africa imposed for its policy of apartheid, while others accused him of appropriating the music of another culture. Simon responded that Graceland was a political statement that showcased collaboration between black and white people and raised international awareness of apartheid. Some praised him for helping popularize African music in the west.

Graceland became Simon's most successful album and his highest-charting album in over a decade, with estimated sales of more than 16 million copies worldwide. It won the 1987 Grammy for Album of the Year and is frequently cited as one of the best albums in history. In 2006, it was added to the US National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important".

Tracklist:
0:10 The Boy in the Bubble
4:09 Graceland
9:00 I Know What I Know
12:13 Gumboots
14:58 Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
20:46 You Can Call Me Al
25:27 Under African Skies
29:04 Homeless
32:52 Crazy Love, Vol. II
37:11 That Was Your Mother
40:04 All Around the World

Personnel
Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of this album.

Paul Simon – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 9), acoustic guitar (1, 2, 11), Synclavier (3, 4), guitars (3, 5, 7), six-string bass (6)

Additional musicians
Bakithi Kumalo – bass (1, 2, 5, 6, 7)
Adrian Belew – guitar synthesizer (1, 6, 9), guitars (7)
Rob Mounsey – synthesizers (1, 6), horn arrangements (6) [uncredited on album][citation needed]
Vusi Khumalo – drums (1, 2)
Makhaya Mahlangu – percussion (1, 2)
Forere Motloheloa – accordion (1)
Ray Phiri – guitars (2, 5, 6, 7, 9)
Demola Adepoju – pedal steel guitar (2)
The Everly Brothers – vocals (2)
The Gaza Sisters – vocals (3)
Ralph MacDonald – percussion (4, 6, 7)
The Boyoyo Boys
Jonhjon Mkhalali – accordion (4)
Daniel Xilakazi – lead and rhythm guitar (4)
Petrus Manile – drums (4)
Lulu Masilela – tambourine (4)
Barney Rachabane – saxophone (4)
Mike Makhalemele – saxophone (4)
Teaspoon Ndelu – saxophone (4)
Michelle Cobbs – vocals (4)
Diane Garisto – vocals (4)
Isaac Mtshali – drums (5, 6, 7, 9)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – vocals (5, 6, 8)
Youssou N'Dour – percussion (5)
Babacar Faye – percussion (5)
Assane Thiam – percussion (5)
Alex Foster – alto saxophone (5)
Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone (5)
Earl Gardner – trumpet (5)
Ronnie Cuber – baritone and bass saxophones (6)
Morris Goldberg – penny whistle (6), soprano saxophone (9)
Dave Bargeron – trombone (6)
Kim Allan Cissel – trombone (6)
Randy Brecker – trumpet (6)
Jon Faddis – trumpet (6)
Alan Rubin – trumpet (6)
Lew Soloff – trumpet (6)
Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals (7)
Joseph Shabalala – lead vocals (8)
Lloyd Lelosa – bass (9)
Good Rockin' Dopsie and the Twisters
Alton Rubin, Sr. – accordion (10)
Sherman Robertson – guitars (10)
Alonzo Johnson – bass (10)
Alton Rubin, Jr. – drums (10)
Johnny Hoyt – saxophone (10)
David Rubin – washboard (10)
Los Lobos
David Hidalgo – accordion, guitars, vocals (11)
César Rosas– guitars, vocals (11)
Conrad Lozano – bass (11)
Louie Pérez – drums (11)
Ralph MacDonald – percussion (11)
Steve Berlin – saxophone (11)
Steve Gadd – additional drums (11)