As a returning college senior in the summer of 1986 it was not cool to show up in the dormitory with a copy of a new Paul Simon album tucked under your arm.
The album in question was Paul Simon's "Graceland" and my fellow collegians had no idea what I already knew... Come Grammy season everyone would!
While Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Genesis and Huey Lewis (for the record I liked some of those albums too) were blasting from adjacent dorm rooms, I was experiencing something I hadn't heard before; a strange mixture of musical styles that a kid from small town Pennsylvania never gets to hear!
Back then I didn't know the names of all the influences I was listening to. All I knew was that it was unique and good and that I LOVED it!
It's been 25 years since the release of Paul Simon's best selling solo album and "Graceland" sounds as fresh and interesting today as it did then. So, to celebrate it's anniversary, Sony Legacy has released the "Graceland 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Box Set."
"Graceland 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Box Set" is one of the best documents of a single album that I have ever seen. It includes a remastered edition of the original album, a second disc containing 6 bonus and unreleased tracks, plus an audio track called "The Story Of Graceland" as told by Paul Simon. Add to that a pair of DVDs which include the original 1987 "Graceland: The African Concert" and the newly produced documentary "Under African Skies: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey."
The documentary was directed by Joe Berlinger, the man behind "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" and it tells the story of Simon's journey to South Africa during the height of Apartheid. Simon's visit had absolutely nothing to do with the political climate in South Africa. He was simply there to meet fellow musicians, learn about the music they were creating and play music. His visit and what happened afterwards are told through archival footage and recent interviews with all living musicians who took part in the making of the "Graceland" album. The documentary culminates with Simon reuniting with his South African friends and performing the "Graceland" album. When Simon reunites with his former band mates you can see the love, affection and respect they have for each other after all these years. These are men in their late 60's from different social and economic backgrounds who share a common bond: they love music and are proud of the legacy they created with "Graceland."
Drumroll please...
Graceland CD... 10 out of 10 drumsticks!!
Graceland 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Box Set... 10 out of 10 drumsticks!!
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