Happy Birthday Paul Simon: ‘Graceland’ Live
Watch the legendary singer-songwriter play all but one track from the iconic LP live.
By Scott Bernstein Oct 13, 2022 • 6:10 am PDT
Paul Simon was born in Newark, New Jersey on this date in 1941. The birthday boy grew up in Queens, where he met Art Garfunkel during the pair’s school days. Paul and Artie formed Simon & Garfunkel, which went on to become one of the best-selling musical groups of the 1960s. Simon wrote all of the duo’s hits and after a turbulent few years Paul went solo in 1970. Paul quickly found similar success as a solo artist, though started to lose favor with critics and commercially in the early ’80s. In 1986, Paul Simon released Graceland and soon thereafter was back on top of the music world.
Graceland saw Paul team with a number of collaborators including Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Simon was inspired by South African music which is infused on many of the album’s 11 tracks. Paul has performed all of Graceland’s songs frequently in concert with the exception of “All Around The World Or The Myth Of Fingerprints,” the LP’s final track. Here’s a look at standout versions of the 10 songs from Graceland Paul Simon has played live:
1. The Boy In The Bubble
[Live At Webster Hall 2011]
2. Graceland
[Live In Hyde Park 2012]
3. I Know What I Know
[African Concert]
4. Gumboots
[Live At iTunes Festival 2011]
5. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
[2007 Gershwin Prize Ceremony]
6. You Can Call Me Al
[1991 Concert In Central Park]
7. Under African Skies
[African Concert, 1987]
8. Homeless
[African Concert]
9. Crazy Love, Vol II
[Live In Hyde Park 2012]
10. That Was Your Mother
[Live On Austin City Limits]
[Originally Published: October 13, 2017]
