Graceland is Paul Simon's seventh solo studio album, originally released in August 1986 on Warner Bros. Widely regarded as the defining record of his solo career, it brought his songwriting together with the rhythms and musicianship of South African artists.
The Music
Recorded between late 1985 and mid 1986 across studios in New York, London, Los Angeles, Louisiana and South Africa, Graceland fuses worldbeat, pop, rock and folk influences. Its songs feature South African musicians and vocalists alongside a range of guest performers, giving the album its distinctive layered sound. The record runs to around 43 minutes and includes enduring tracks such as "You Can Call Me Al", "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and the title track "Graceland".
Legacy
Graceland won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1987 and is now recognised as one of the most influential albums of its era. This edition presses the album onto 180g vinyl.