With 'Graceland' Paul Simon pulled off the biggest comeback since Lazarus. His previous album, 1983's 'Hearts & Bones' had been the poorest selling album of his career. He had been listening to bootleg tapes of African music and decided to write songs inspired by what he was now hearing. With 'Graceland' Simon brought "World Music" to the mainstream
Whether it was an altruistic act on Simon's part is open to argument. Some believed that Simon had ripped off the sounds he had assimilated within his own music, The Specials' Jerry Dammers famously picketed Simon's Albert Hall gigs the following year. Others saw it as Simon bringing "World Music" into 6 million homes via 'Graceland'. Indeed, Simon's record label went on to release big selling albums by "World" artists such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makebo, Blacksmith Black Mambazo and The Bhundu Boys.
No comments:
Post a Comment