Paul Simon - Graceland

Mass

Graceland is a wonderful album.

Rotf, but you can call me Al.

PS - Babes in the Wood by Mary Black is an album with very high production standards and SF Sorrow by The Pretty Things always seemed very well produced to me - but I'm not sure either exceeds Graceland in this respect.

Mass,

Since you provoked me with Paul Simon, I'd venture that Hearts and Bones and One Trick Pony, in terms of production values, are better than Graceland. I loved Graceland whe in it was originally released, and still give it a spin. Paul Simon has been accused of plagiarism for that record and rhythm of the Saints, but I think he opened eyes to the possibilities of southern african music, for a lot of people. I was lucky to have seen the Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints tours.

Thumbs up from me too!

That bass guitar break in Call Me Al! Woah! One to test the old system.

"Under African Skies" and "Diamonds....."

Two of the best songs out there IMO.

Jonathan

Adventures in Radioland by John McLaughlin. I like to use it show off my system to new people. When the bass comes in they never fail to jump up in suprise

Tough for me to pick a Paul Simon album that isn't great. Graceland certainly is fantastic. If you have not heard them, the remastered versions of Simon's solo albums, including Graceland, are definite improvements over the originals (as are the remastered versions of the S&G albums). If Graceland, Rhythym, etc., are on your list of favorite albums, check out the remasters.

Mike

Graceland is one of my favourite albums. In terms of production though, I always feel that (like remastering) it's a job that, when done well, shouldn't be noticed. All I'm aware of with Graceland is that it sounds great, which I suppose means the producer did his job.

Peter, I would be interested to hear the details of the plagiarism.

regards, Tam

At the time it came out I was writing for an African music magazine. There was a huge amount of controversy about Graceland in the pages. It was mainly because he was using South African musicians during the cultural boycott. People were also complaining about the fact that he used Hugh Masakela as an adviser. I think the main problem was that Paul Simon and Hugh Masakela were popular in the states and europe. Jealousy can be a terrible thing. There was also the point that in making african based music that was popular was opening up a clique and lets face it we all like to think that trhe stuff we like is special and we feel that little bit important because other people don't know about it

quote:

John McLaughlin

Thanks Guys and Gals. I shall look out for some of your recommendations as they are not in my collection.

quote:

Originally posted by Tam:

Peter, I would be interested to hear the details of the plagiarism.

regards, Tam

Tam,

I know that I didn't think anything of it at the time. let's face it, in th eearly 80s (Graceland was '87, IIRC) there wasn't much (easily) available in the US. I'd bought Juluka'a scatterlings of Africa, which I'd much enjoyed. jcs_smith has explained the nub of what I was referring to, I'd never bothered to go into any great detail. I also bought the Hugh masekala dic (Tommorrow ?) at the same time, but now find I don't enjoy it very much.

I/all of my family loved 'Graceland' when LP of it just appeared in record-shop windows - original CD of it passable too, but I agree that recent-ish remasters probably do improve all of the 9 PS albums, and probably the S&G CD-versions likewise.

Apart from being about most played album (with a couple of other Simon records) in this house, 'Graceland' is the one I remember Linn (apart from Tracy Chapman-Sade) using at decent record-dems at Bristol in the 80s.

Back then, Paul Simon said he did not like digital-processes and much preferred analogue vinyl ...

Possibly Simon etc might have for some been a bit naughty as regards African/S.American music, but I'm convinced he benefitted many Africans etc. I actually found the first Ladysmith BM album (produced by Simon) publicised over here boring without Simon's vocals/etc. Probably 'Graceland' is one of the very top rock-ish albums. Occasionally I play vinyl Graceland just to remind me how I have learned to get used to CD versions. (I love ROTS also ...).

Jack Johnson's 'On and On' is a superbly clean and transparent recording.

It's also consistently good musically, but you need a USA made copy to hear it at its best.

John.

I think I have an answer to this one that is pretty faultless production wise:
James Taylor, Buffalo Road

I enjoy the music of course but it would not have been in my collection had the CD not been on special so quite a find.