Graceland (album)

Graceland is an album released in 1986 by Paul Simon. The title track describes a visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley's estate in Memphis, Tennessee; Simon has said that he considers it to be the best song he has ever written.

Related Topics:
1986 - Paul Simon - Graceland - Elvis Presley - Memphis, Tennessee

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The album featured South African musicians including the band Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Simon faced accusations that he had broken the cultural boycott imposed by western democracies against the apartheid regime in South Africa. This view was not supported by the United Nations Anti-Apartheid Committee, as the album showcased the talents of the black South African musicians while offering no support to the South African government. Linda Ronstadt appears on the track "Under African Skies" and the group Los Lobos appear on the last track, "All Around The World or The Myth Of Fingerprints". A popular music video starring Chevy Chase was made for the hit song "You Can Call Me Al".

Related Topics:
South Africa - Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Apartheid - United Nations - Linda Ronstadt - Los Lobos - Chevy Chase

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Graceland won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1987. It was voted as the best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll. In 1998 Q magazine readers voted it the 56th greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 84.

Related Topics:
Grammy Awards of 1987 - The Village Voice - Pazz & Jop - 1998 - ''Q'' magazine - 2003 - TV network - VH1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Graceland was ranked 84th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~