GRACELAND

The making of a masterpiece

Paul Simon

There was a truly wonderful and fascinating programme on tv last night about the making of Paul Simon's 'Graceland' album in the Classic Albums series shown on BBC4 which we have discussed and mentioned before. I had many arguments about cultural appropriation that actually were a part of this album's great influence for me but this programme concentrated  on the writing and composing process and what happens when a group of people who do not know each other make some extraordinary kind of connection. . . . . . oh and yesterday was his birthday! born October 13 1941 Paul Fredric Simon in Newark, NJ. Happy 77th Birthday, Mr Simon!!

Get it while you can . . . . . 

BBC Classic Albums - GRACELAND

Auntie says: Since its release in 1986, Paul Simon's Graceland has had an enormous impact on rock music with its blend of rock and African rhythms. Simon and engineer Roy Halee demonstrate the multi-tracking and mixing of the album and reveal the inspiration behind the songs, and composer Philip Glass assesses the album's place in musical history. Featuring interviews with major artists involved in the album, including Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and guitarist Ray Phiri, who shatter the myth about their relationship with Simon

Without this album I would not have known who Ray Phiri was, or Ladysmith Black Mambazo or the extraordinary bass player Batithi Kumalo . . . . if you are going to break apartheid this is how to do it


If you wondered well this is WHY