Grammy's Album of the Year, 1987: Paul Simon's GRACELAND--background, all meanspeeds and meanemotions

Continuing on with the best albums of the last 25 years as determined by the Grammy’s choice for Album of the Year. Today’s subject of speed analysis: Paul Simon’s Graceland, the Album of The Year, 1987.

According to http://en.Wiki[-‘we know it all, therefore, you don’t’-]pedia.org:

“Graceland is an album released in 1986 by Paul Simon. The title track was inspired by a visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley's estate in Memphis, Tennessee. In the Graceland Classic Albums video, Simon states that he considers "Graceland" the best song he has ever written.

Coming at a time when Simon's musical career was at something of a low ebb following the disappointing public response of Hearts and Bones, the project was originally inspired by Simon's repeated listening to a cassette of the Boyoyo Boys instrumental "Gumboots", given to him by a friend. He later wrote lyrics to sing over a re-recording of the song, which became the fourth track on the album.

Much of the album was recorded in South Africa and featured many South African musicians and groups. Simon faced accusations that he had broken the cultural boycott imposed by the rest of the world 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. The worldwide success of the album introduced some of the musicians, especially the vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to global audiences of their own.

Simon included American 'roots' influences with tracks featuring Zydeco and Tex-Mex musicians. The Everly Brothers sing harmony on the title track. Linda Ronstadt appears on the track "Under African Skies", the second verse of which Simon wrote based on her childhood experiences. The group Los Lobos appear on the last track, "All Around The World or The Myth Of Fingerprints." A popular music video starring Simon and Chevy Chase was made for the hit song "You Can Call Me Al".

Simon toured the album extensively featuring many of the artists from the album plus exiled South Africans Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba. A concert in Harare, Zimbabwe was filmed for release as ‘The African Concert’.”

The elementary meanspeeds and meanemotions for all 11 tracks of this album were measured as:

1. "The Boy In the Bubble"
Meanspeed=136.2 beats per minute
Meanemotion=mixed fast

2. "Graceland"
Meanspeed=118.0 beats per minute
Meanemotion=foreboding

3. "I Know What I Know"
Meanspeed=117.9 beats per minute
Meanemotion=foreboding

4. "Gumboots"
Meanspeed=144.8 beats per minute
Meanemotion=mixed fast

5. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"
part one, a cappella:
Meanspeed=70.4 beats per minute
Meanemotion=grace

part two, full band
Meanspeed=110.7 beats per minute
Meanemotion=lust

6. "You Can Call Me Al"
Meanspeed=128.4 beats per minute
Meanemotion=victory

7. "Under African Skies"
Meanspeed=75.0 beats per minute
Meanemotion=grace

8. "Homeless"
Meanspeed=70.4 beats per minute
Meanemotion=grace

9. "Crazy Love Vol II"
Meanspeed=130.7 beats per minute
Meanemotion=mixed fast

10. "That Was Your Mother"
Meanspeed=228.6 beats per minute
Meanemotion=mixed fast

11. "All Around The World or The Myth Of Fingerprints"
Meanspeed=179.2 beats per minute
Meanemotion=mixed fast


Ian Schneider
meanspeed music
March 16, 2007