It’s hard to remember it now, but in the early 80s, Paul Simon’s career and personal life had hit a low. His 1983 Hearts and Bones didn’t sell well and his marriage fell apart. A bootleg cassette of South African township music would ultimately lift him out of his depression and right his career. The bootleg was titled Gumboots: Accordion Jive Hits, Volume II, and Simon got his people at Warner Brothers Records to track down the artists on the tape. They confirmed that it was either Lady Smith Black Mambazo or Boyoyo Boys. Both were from South Africa, which was trouble for Simon as recording them required breaking the cultural boycott due to the apartheid. Ultimately, Simon wrote a set of songs based largely on what he heard and recorded in South Africa. The result, of course, is Graceland, Simon’s seventh album.

Lineup:

Graceland choir: Led by Will Robertson
Danielle Sansone,
David Berkeley
Gayanne Weiss
Rhett McAllister
Jill McAllister
Micah Dalton
Brad Davidorf
Matthew Smith
Joel Nettesheim

Side A
1.The Boy In The Bubble
Micah Dalton w/ Nathan Angelo
2.Graceland
Tyler Lyle
3.I Know What I Know
Troy Bieser
4.Gumboots
Michael Westbrook
5.Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
Will Robertson, David Berkeley & Choir

Side B
6.You Can Call Me Al
Tyler Lyle
7.Under African Skies
David Berkeley
8.Homeless
Will Robertson, David Berkeley & Choir
9.Crazy Love, Vol.II
Micah Dalton
10.That Was Your Mother
Troy Bieser
11.All Around the World or the Myth Fingerprints
Dee Dee Maillian w/ Michael Westbrook