![]() Lyrically, Simon wanted to avoid politics and keep what was already an incredibly complex and fraught situation as straightforward as possible. If their story is to be taken as truth, then Simon effectively stole “ All Around The World” from American/Mexican band Los Lobos knowing they would struggle to challenge him legally, with a similar claim coming from Rockin’ Dopsie for “ That Was Your Mother”, both cases naturally disputed by Simon. Simon was accused of plagiarism over the questionable origin of the final two tracks. But several tracks were not quite so joyously conceived. Many spawned from jam sessions such as “ The Boy In The Bubble” or “ I Know What I know” – footage of the recording session for which bears more resemblance to a toddler’s birthday party than a multi-million dollar record, which is absolutely wonderful to watch. L-R Bakithi Kumalo, Isaac Mtshali, Paul Simon, Ray Phiri and Joseph ShabalalaĪlmost all of Graceland’s eleven tracks has an interesting origin story, from potential outright thievery to on the spot genius. With nearly a hundred performers recorded in South Africa, London and the USA, it is remarkable how neatly the songs compliment one another, not just in spirit but also in sound. It also ventures into pop, contemporary rock and even Louisianan zydeco, all cleverly tied up with the common instrument of the accordion. Yet despite a majority of South African artists on the record and against popular perception, Graceland is not purely South African music. The nucleus of the band were Ray Phiri on guitar, Bakithi Kumalo on bass, and Isaac Mtshali on drums, bolstered by various African and later American horn players, as well as a host of female and male vocalists. In order to convince the musicians he wanted to work with he offered triple NYC union rates and arranged transport to and from the studio just to avoid public and police harassment, before shifting later sessions closer to home. Simon went against apartheid and the UN’s cultural boycott to record in South Africa, a move which angered the African National Congress who believed his intentions were misguided. ![]() But even in order to get here, significant controversies had already arisen. The song that piqued his attention was soon reworked into “ Gumboots” and the band who recorded it, the Boyoyo Boys, became part of a long list of African musicians to enter Graceland’s roll of honour. Accordion Jive Hits Vol II, the catalyst for the sound of Graceland, given to Simon by Heidi Berg in 1984 After a few phone calls to his label (Warner Bros) to find the source, he was put in touch with South African record producer Hilton Rosenthal and the following summer found himself in a studio in South Africa with the very people who played on the tape, riffing on ideas together. Graceland’s initial spark lay in a cassette tape of mbaqanga music given to him several years earlier which he was absolutely fascinated by. Going into production he was not only dealing with the collapse of his marriage to Carrie Fisher, but also the failure of his most recent record, so when it was released to acclaim it was not only a shot in the arm for pop music, but also for Simon himself. Graceland gifted him success he has always been able rest his hat on during a rough patch, as he found himself in at the time. Ever synonymous with South Africa, Graceland’s history is a messy, vibrant tale featuring hundreds of names, places and claims, yet Simon’s career was arguably never better for it. The sound in question, Paul Simon’s Graceland, is 35 years old today, and remains the most successful effort to re-package African music for a western pop audience. Gradually a small crowd found themselves gathered to listen to a tantalisingly new sound. Encouraged by this couple’s success a few more strangers asked the same. After a few tracks they were approached by a nearby couple who, having not heard anything like it before, asked if they could sit and join them to hear it properly. His boss and wife had taken a portable stereo away with them and were playing a brand new album on a beach one afternoon. My twin tells a great second hand story about his boss’ holiday in late summer 1986. 35 years of Paul Simon’s controversial hit album Graceland’s iconic cover, a 15th century Ethiopian harag depicting St George, taken from a 1978 Peabody Essex Museum exhibition
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