Graceland [ECD] - Paul Simon > Reviews > It'll give you months of miracle and wonder...

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	11 tracks of splendour
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Originally released in 1986, "Graceland" was created after Paul Simon heard the album "Gum Boots: Accordion Jive Hits - Volume II". This album was full of extremely happy up tempo music which Simon immediately fell in love with. It turned out that the music came from Soweto, South Africa. So guess where Simon went?

As many of you will be aware, the groupl "Ladysmith Black Mumbazo" featured in this album, and have later gone on to the acclaimed fame of doing a baked bean advert. What you may not know is that they were not the only South African group to feature on the album. In fact, three other groups appeared, these being: the Boyoyo Boys Band (used on the "Gum Boots" album), Tao Ea Matsekha, and General M.D. Shirinda and the Gaza Sisters.

The music on the album is second to none, and there is not a single track that lets the album down as a whole. The album consists of these tracks:

1: The Boy in the Bubble
2: Graceland
3: I know what I know
4: Gumboots
5: Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
6: You can call me Al
7: Under African skies
8: Homeless
9: Crazy Love Vol II
10: That was your mother
11: All around the world
or
The myth of fingerprints

The album weighs in at just over 43 minutes.

The booklet that comes with the album contains all the lyrics for the songs, so you too can soon be singing along in Afrikaans. Aslo included is a four page introduction by Paul Simon, written in 1986.

I was first introduced to the album about seven years ago, when I was doing a project at school (we had to storyboard a video for "You can call me Al") and a friend taped me a copy. I immediately fell in love with it and it was played and played until the tape got worn down. I then had to buy the album for myself. And I did. It still hasn't lost its splendour for me, but nowadays I mainly only play it when I want to relax.

This is a great album and I cannot recommend it too highly.