Paul Simon - Graceland

25th anniversary of Paul Simon's Graceland celebrated with a 180-gram commemorative reissue!

Mastered at Sterling Sound from the original analog masters and pressed at RTI. Includes collectible poster plus download MP3s of the full album plus three bonus songs

"Prior to Graceland, the music of South Africa was largely unknown outside the country, except to a small minority of world music fans ..." — Peter Gabriel

Winner of a Gruvy Award, chosen by AnalogPlanet's editor, Michael Fremer, for vinyl records that are musically and sonically outstanding and are also well mastered and pressed. http://www.analogplanet.com/content/gruvy-awards

There are singers. There are songwriters. There is only one Paul Simon. And there certainly is nothing like Simon's landmark classic album Graceland, which is commemorating its 25th anniversary with a documentary film and a special reissue.

The universal appeal of the music of Graceland proved more powerful and enduring than the political hotbed attending its creation. In 1986, the album sold 14 million copies worldwide, and received universal praise from critics around the globe. Simon, a 12-time Grammy Award-winner, and composer of then two Grammy-awarded albums of the year (Bridge Over Troubled Water, Still Crazy After All These Years) traveled to South Africa to record with local artists. Simon and the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo subsequently performed on TV's Saturday Night Live and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. Graceland earned Simon another Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 1987 as well as Song of the Year in 1988.

The story of the making of Graceland and the controversy it created, is told in "Under African Skies," a full-length documentary from two-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger. The flim debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, kicking off the year-long celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of Simon's musical and cultural achievement with Graceland.

Simon's artistic decision to collaborate with African musicians created a new world musical fusion, combining American and African musical idioms while igniting an intense political crossfire. Simon was accused of breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime. The album generated three hit singles — in January 1987 "You Can Call Me Al" was played everywhere; while the title track won Song of the Year in 1988 — and it kept Simon and the Graceland tour on the road for five years.

Graceland continues to provide rewards to its listeners and remains a pivotal listening experience for writers, artists and fans. "Paul Simon's Graceland played a greatly significant role in removing the standoffish dread Western culture harbored toward South Africa during its internal struggle against apartheid, humanizing both a country's soul-searching hunger for liberation and its simultaneous outpouring of cathartic creative expression." — Timothy White, Billboard

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 2

10. That Was Your Mother

11. All Around The World or The Myth Of Fingerprints

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 18 person(s) rated this product.

Magnificent! posted on 01/16/2022 5 Stars Reviewer: Christian Ryan K. Smith and everyone else involved did a fantastic job on this record. I've spent a very long time with this record both on an original CD pressing, on an original vinyl pressing, and through streaming, and I can confidently say that this isn't just the best Graceland pressings, it's one of the greatest sounding records I've ever heard. Very full mix, the bass is tight, the accordion on this record especially is fantastic. My only complaint is that the inner sleeve isn't polylined, but you can just replace it. Fantastic record.

Amazing posted on 10/01/2021 5 Stars Reviewer: Marcel This record just sounds amazing pure bliss

Excellent! posted on 07/09/2021 5 Stars Reviewer: Tony Sounds excellent! Highly recommended.

Great Pressing posted on 08/09/2020 5 Stars Reviewer: 2nd Chance 25th Anniversary pressing is outstanding. Paul Simon fans will love this version. I recommend this album, a “must have” for your collection. The added download is a plus.

Best press of this great album posted on 12/15/2019 5 Stars Reviewer: Mike Of all the versions I have this is the best! I only miss some of the additional material that you get with the 24 bit download version specially the naked bass/song/background vocals version of Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes.

Excellent posted on 06/24/2017 5 Stars Very good pressing worth the price of admission.

Well done posted on 05/18/2016 5 Stars Reviewer: Randy An all time favorite

Brilliant! posted on 11/09/2012 5 Stars Really excellent rendition.

Graceland posted on 09/05/2012 5 Stars This is one of Paul Simon's finest works. I have the original issue from 25 years ago and this new pressing is a refinement of the original. They did a terrific job mastering it and the pressing is beautiful. You just can't go wrong getting this LP.

I have waited sooo long for a nice pressing. posted on 08/07/2012 5 Stars At last I have a vinyl pressing worthy of this fantastic release! Warm and relaxed for such dense music! Please do us a favor and give "Rhythm Of The Saints" (his next release) the same treatment so I can get a version of that one that honors its greatness also! Paul Simon is God!!!!!

A Must For Your Vinyl Collection posted on 08/05/2012 5 Stars Reviewer: Roger J I was floored by the 25th Anniversary Graceland on vinyl. Fans of Paul Simon will not want to miss out on this classic. Song after song gave me goose bumps on my Nottingham Space turntable.

Impressive posted on 07/22/2012 5 Stars Reviewer: Ant Simon Buy this. You won't be disappointed, even if you're not a Paul Simon fan

BRILLIANT posted on 07/12/2012 5 Stars Reviewer: Michael. Brilliant warm rich sound no background noise does full justice to Paul Simon and the African backing vocals.

1000x posted on 06/14/2012 5 Stars Reviewer: CD I have heard this record 1000 times in my life and it has never sounded so good. I can now listen to it a thousand times more. Take the original vinyl and CD and throw it away. Thank You....

Stunning! posted on 06/13/2012 5 Stars A magnificent record that has stood the test of time. This reissue sounds simply stunning!

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