Paul Simon’s Graceland: The Cassette That Sparked a Comeback

A borrowed cassette helped spark Paul Simon’s extraordinary comeback. But the journey towards Graceland also placed him at the centre of a fierce debate about music, apartheid and the international cultural boycott of South Africa.

In this episode of A Breath of Fresh Air, Sandy Kaye speaks with author and music historian Ashley Kahn about his book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland.

Together, they explore how Simon found a new creative direction after the disappointing commercial reception of Hearts and Bones—and why South African township music captured his imagination.

Ashley shares the story of Simon repeatedly playing a cassette in his car, inventing lyrics over the music and deciding he wanted to record with the musicians he was hearing. When his record company suggested familiar session players, Simon insisted on pursuing the collaborators who had inspired him.

The conversation follows the project’s beginnings in Johannesburg in 1985, the musical relationships that continued in New York and the vital contribution of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Ashley also explains how Louisiana zydeco, Los Lobos and the excitement of early rock and roll fed into Simon’s widening musical vision.

Alongside the creative story, we explore the controversy surrounding Simon’s decision to record in apartheid-era South Africa. Ashley discusses the cultural boycott, the musicians’ expectations around payment and credit, and the difficult questions raised when artistic collaboration intersects with political protest.

Marking 40 years of Paul Simon’s Graceland, this episode looks beyond the familiar songs to the people, decisions and tensions behind one of the defining albums of the 1980s.

Discover more interviews with the artists and storytellers behind the soundtrack of our lives at https://abreathoffreshair.com.au.

Source: https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

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