Track Listing 1. Boy in the Bubble, The 2. Graceland 3. I Know What I Know 4. GumBoots 5. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - (African Languages) 6. You Can Call Me Al 7. Under African Skies 8. Homeless - (African Languages) 9. Crazy Love, Vol. II 10. That Was Your Mother 11. All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints
| Details | | Playing Time: | 43 min. | | Contributing Artists: | Adrian Belew, Alan Rubin, Jon Faddis, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, Randy Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, The Everly Brothers, Youssou N'Dour | | Producer: | Paul Simon | | Distributor: | WEA (Distributor) | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes Personnel includes: Paul Simon (vocals, guitar); Linda Ronstadt, The Everly Brothers, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, General M.D. Shirinda, The Gaza Sisters, Joseph Shabalala (vocals); Adrian Belew (guitar, syntesizer guitar); Chikapa "Ray" Phiri, Daniel Xilakazi (guitar); Demola Adepoju (pedal steel); Forere Motloheloa, Jonhjon Mikhalali (accordion); Alex Foster (alto sax); Lenny Pickett (tenor sax); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Earl Gardner, Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Alan Rubin (trumpet); Rob Mounsey (synthesizer); Baghiti Khumalo (bass); Vusi Khumalo (drums); Lulu Masilela (tambourine); Youssou N'Dour, Makhaya Mahlangu Ralph McDonald, Babacar Faye, Assane Thiam (percussion). Los Lobos: Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitar); David Hildago (vocals, guitar, accordion); Steve Berlin (saxophone); Conrad Lozano (bass); Louie Perez, Steve Gadd (drums). Engineers include: Roy Halee, Peter Thwaites, Mark Cobrin. Composer: Paul Simon. Lyricist: Paul Simon. Personnel: Paul Simon (6-string bass); Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Everly Brothers, Linda Ronstadt (vocals); Daniel Xilakazi, Chikapa 'Ray' Phiri, Adrian Belew, Sherman Robertson, Cesar Rosas (guitar); Demola Adepoju (pedal steel guitar); Morris Goldberg (pennywhistle); Alton Rubin, Sr., David Hildago, Forere Motloheloa, Jonhjon Mkhalali (accordion); Teaspoon Ndlela, Johnny Hoyt, Mike Makhalemele, Steve Berlin, Barney Rachabane (saxophone); Alex Foster (alto saxophone); Leonard Pickett (tenor saxophone); Ronald E. Cuber (baritone saxophone); Lewis Michael Soloff, Ronald E. Brecker, John Faddis, Alan Rubin, Earl Gardner (trumpet); David W. Bargeron, Kim Allan Cissel (trombone); Rob Mounsey (synthesizer); Lloyd Lelose, Bakiti Kumalo, Conrad Lozano, Alonzo Johnson (bass instrument); Vusi Khumalo, Isaac Mtshali, Petrus Manile, Alton Rubin, Jr., Louie Perez, Steve Gadd (drums); David Rubin (washboard); Lulu Masilela (tambourine); Babacar Faye, Assane Thiam, Makhaya Mahlangu, Ralph MacDonald, Youssou N'Dour (percussion); Diane Garisto, Michele Cobbs (background vocals). Through the mist of subsequent pale imitations, it is difficult now to recall the enormous impact of this trans-cultural album. The mould-breaking blend of rock and African rhythms is exemplified by "Homeless," an exquisitely melancholic evocation of African beauty and desolation. The stirring harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo illuminate "Homeless" and "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes." The element of humour in the latter is echoed in "You Can Call Me Al," a hit single. The lyrics are finely crafted and the result is a structure of impeccable proportions. There are angels in the architecture.
Editorial Reviews Ranked #5 in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Albums Of The Eighties. Rolling Stone (11/01/1989)
Ranked #81 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time - ...Simon created an album about isolation and redemption that transcended 'world music' to become the whole world's soundtrack... Rolling Stone (12/11/2003)
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