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Post by the Scribe on Mar 24, 2021 8:23:36 GMT
TheWildHoneyPie.com “Under African Skies,” Paul SimonAfter listening to a tape of The Boyoyo Boys, a South African band that was introduced to him by Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon was inspired to create his album, “Graceland.” The album was controversial, as Simon traveled to South Africa in 1985 to record the instrumental tracks, in direct violation of the United Nations cultural boycott of the apartheid state. “Under African Skies” focuses not on the political controversy, but on the similarities of places as disparate as Tucson, Arizona, and those in Africa. moguldom.com/76082/10-famous-songs-about-africa-by-non-african-musicians/3/
companion thread: conservatism.freeforums.net/thread/568/paul-simonLinda and Paul perform Under African Skies on SNL: streamable.com/o2bpt Linda responds to criticism of her for performing in South Africa during apartheid:Linda Ronstadt-Don Lane Show 27th October 1983Would there have been a Paul Simon Graceland album had it not been for Linda Ronstadt?Under African Skies - Simon Ronstadt duet
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Post by the Scribe on Mar 24, 2021 8:49:31 GMT
Paul Simon - Under African Skies (Trailer)Interesting youtube thread regarding Graceland. Not sure I fully understand what they are getting at though. I recall there was controversy when Graceland was released as well as Linda's tour to Sun City. [imaginary] Accordion Jive Hits Vol II - The Secret of Paul Simon's Graceland?
Mystery: Is this the tape given to Paul by Linda?
lanmola 234 subscribers an imaginary version of the real cassette tape that inspired Paul Simon's controversial Graceland album. all audio except one track from the awesome Electric Jive blog. spoken word intros removed for danceability. image ripped from Paul Simon's instagram. hello to Heidi who gave him the original tape only to later regret it. i think Boyoyo Boys is the only track confirmed to have appeared on the mysteriously disappeared Accordion Jive Hits Vol II cassette.
Pinned by lanmola Heidi Berg 2 years ago The Band name is "Gum Boots". The Records are on GoGo Records. They have been scrubbed from the Earth by a certain multi-millionaire. Gum Boots - the band (which included 'boyoyo boys" and others other others! ) put out many records. I have orig 3. They were made in 1980 and 1981. Probably a lot of other years too. / This is an amazingly long collection of their "Jive Accordion Hits" __ * But it does not contain the ultimately Scrubbed from the Planet <Gum Boots - "Accordion Jive Hits No. 2"> Though it's very interesting to hear the same players w/their joyful gorgeous sound on so many like-tracks. Tragic that the Rich are able to SQUASH the POOR. And then get heralded for being generous somehow... The cassettes always had full credits, song titles, producer, record company, and Art work pics on cover - Nonsense that it was ever a "Mystery"! It was not a Mystery -- but NOW it's a mystery ;-) It's been Squashed. Thanks for this posting & hello back at you!
Rob Galo 1 year ago This blog post goes into EXTENSIVE details too over the Accordion Jives Hits cassette, the writer even compiled his own imaginary Accordion Jive Hits Vol. II mix: www.kleptones.com/blog/2012/06/28/hectic-city-15-paths-to-graceland/
soundcloud.com/kleptones
Direct download links: MP3 or FLAC www.kleptones.com/music/hecticcity/kleptones_hectic_city_15_paths_to_graceland.mp3 www.kleptones.com/music/hecticcity/kleptones_hectic_city_15_paths_to_graceland.flac
WARNING: Long read ahead. I’d be delighted and honoured if you didn’t TL;DR me, simply hit play above and read on down the page – pretend it’s a Sunday paper or something… As always there’s an interesting story behind the mix.
The temptation to call this mix “Gumboots: Accordion Jive Hits, Volume 2” was huge, but it would be misleading.
By way of explanation, if you google “Gumboots: Accordion Jive Hits, Volume 2”, you may well be surprised at the number of results. A popular record, you might think; well known and discussed. But try to find a copy, and you’ll while away a day or more clicking from site to site around the world, maybe chancing upon “Greatest Accordian Jive Hits, Volume 3” or even “Sax & Accordion Jive Hits, Volume 1“. But Volume 2? Not a sniff. electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/stomping-good-fun-south-african.html electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/seventies-sax-and-accordion-jive-hits.html
The “Gumboots” album, should you be unaware, has been awarded it’s place in history due to a cassette copy which found its way into Paul Simon’s car stereo sometime in 1984-85 and providing him with the initial inspiration to seek out (and eventually travel to South Africa to record with) the musicians playing on the album. An occurence that has been documented virtually every time the story of “Graceland”s creation has been told, over the course of thousands of interviews, several documentaries, and now again with the release of a 25th anniversary edition and an accompanying tour with Simon reuniting on stage with many of the original album’s participants.
Jive Hits 1
So, considering the legacy of “Gumboots”, one would imagine any music-minded enterpreneurial soul, or even Gallo, the label that allegedly released the original album, would jump at the chance to re-issue such inspirational recordings and make a few bucks off the back of the multi-million selling “Graceland”. Standard form for the music industry, indeed, but in this case, nothing.
(I say Gallo allegedly released it, but as no-one I’m aware of has actually seen a copy of the album, and as repeated enquiries to the label from a multitude of Paul Simon fans have gone unanswered, no-one’s entirely sure.) www.paul-simon.info/PHP/showthread.php?thread=4380&tside=1
To further confound the investigation, from information given in interviews by Simon and other musicians, only one track on the original tape is actually identifiable. The “title” track, “Gumboots”, lent it’s music lock stock and barrel to become the backing track of Paul Simon’s song, also titled “Gumboots” on the finished album. Indeed it’s not difficult to imagine Simon driving around singing his prototype vocal melodies and lyrics over the bouncing mbaqanga groove.
But was the original tune actually called “Gumboots”? or did Simon just use the title scratched on the cassette as an identifier? You can see one side of the actual tape above – does it have “Gumboots” written on the other side? (It’s rather doubtful the tape came with a tracklist, as any car-driving cassette fan would understand.) There’s certainly no mention of Gumboots in the lyrics. Further Simon interview comments reveal the track originally involved The Boyoyo Boys, yet any online search for “Gumboots” by The Boyoyo Boys brings back, yup, you guessed it, thousands of results for the phantom “Gumboots Accordion Jive Hits Volume Two” album. Another dead end.
Furthermore, one would imagine somewhere along the assembly of the two very large scale re-issues of the album, someone involved might think to seek out at least this individual recording and add it to the album as a bonus track. But no, nothing.
Indeed, very little previously unheard music has been added to the original album by way of bonus material on these re-issues, despite co-producer Roy Halee’s assertion that there was more than enough material generated during the initial sessions at Ovation studios in Johannesburg: “You should hear some of the out-takes. Even today, there could be two instrumental albums consisting of those fabulous grooves.” www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/classictracks_0908.htm
It’s also known, through “Graceland”s writing credits and investigation of the wealth of documentary evidence, that at least two more of the albums tracks are based on presumably pre-existing music – On “I Know What I Know” Simon shares the writing credit with M.D. Shrinda, and on “The Boy In The Bubble”, he shares it with accordion player Forere Motloheloa (part of Tau ea Matsekha, the Lesotho group responsible for the “Bubble” backing track). Although no original titles have surfaced for the music that formed part of these songs, I’ve located what I consider to be reasonably close matches, and included them on this mix.
Jive Hits 1
I’ve also included at least a handful of tracks that have surprisingly close links with riffs and melodies used on Graceland, and many, many other excellent tracks that could (and should) be considered forebears of “The Big G”. Note that I’m not making any claims of plagiarism (like I would dare!), simply demonstrating the common trading and development of grooves, basslines, horn, guitar, accordion and vocal riffs that took place between musicians at the time in both South Africa and Lesotho, and still takes place today, I hope.
As for the mysterious “Gumboots” instrumental? With no confirmation of the orginal title, and very patchy availability of The Boyoyo Boys back catalogue, it’s proved impossible to locate. I’ve included a track on the mix that The Boys recorded with Lulu Masilela (co-writer of “Gumboots” as it appears on “Gracelands”) which I consider to be it’s closest locatable relative.
I refuse to delve deeper into the discussion about whether the writing credits on “Graceland” are fair – Indeed amongst Simon’s catalogue “Graceland” is rare in the number of songwriting credits shared – proof that, for once, he was certainly not shy of demonstrating, and remunerating, the collaborative effort involved in producing the finished work.
More importantly, I must thank Paul, who, alongside sterling work by broadcasters John Peel and Andy Kershaw, both promoting similar music at the same time, opened up a new musical world to the young me, giving South African music far more of a UK (and worldwide) audience than it had previously enjoyed, and paving the way for many artists to bring that music out into the world. Also, in my opinion, he made a truly great album that, by blending his New York lyricism with another continent’s grooves, gave my young ears a taste of what marvels can be accomplished when different styles of music collide.
Ethiopian art
01a Tau Ea Lesotho – Nyatsi Tloha Pela’ka 01b Tau Ea Lesotho – Puleng 01c Puseletso Seema & Tau Ea Linare – He O Oe Oe! 02 Mahotella Queens – Umculo Kawupheli 03 The Rainbows – Mashonisa 04 Soul Brothers – Bayeza 05 Dark City Sisters – Ezomculo 06 M.D. Shirinda & The Gaza Sisters – Pfuka N’wavolo 07 Abafana Baseqhudeni – Mubi Umakhelwane 08 Mgababa Queens – Maphuthi 09 Zorro Five – Barcarolle 10 Amazulu Queens – Sankatana 11 Marks Mankwane – Khupa Marama No. 2 12 Naledi Boys – Bump Again 13 Ebrahim Isaacs – Meadowlands 14 John Amutabi Nzenze – Angelike Twist 15 Queue Sisters – Ethembeni 16 Spokes Mashiyane – Kalla’s Special 17 Soul Of The City – Hustle Bump! 18 J.K. Mayengani & The ShingWedzi Sisters – Khubani 19 Mahlathini & Izintombi Zomgqashiyo – Okwamadoda Kuya Bhikwa 20 Izintombi Zodumo – Mississippi River 21 Sannah Mnguni Nesimanjemanje – Ukhulupheka 22 Lulu Masilela & The Boyoyo Boys – Small Time No.4 23 Tempo All Stars – Take Off 24 Paulus Masina – Umalusi 25 Intombi Zephepha – Ingoina Le Nyathi 26 Mgababa Queens – Akulaiwa Esoweto 27 Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens – Bophumthwalo 28 Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje – Awufuni Ukulandela Na 29 African Symphonics – Zulu Roll 30 Kings Messengers Quartet – My Lord
Ethiopian art detail Images of Ethiopian art, as used on Graceland, borrowed from The Peabody Essex Museum. www.pem.org/collections/5-african_art
Compiler’s note: One of the most appealing yet frustrating characteristics of this music is it’s timelessness, both in arrangement and recording quality. I say frustrating, as it’s tough to tell the difference between an archive 1950s recording, a rather expensive studio recording from 1968 and a lo-fi shed studio recording from 1980, especially considering sound quality alterations due to poor quality vinyl, cassette-to-cassette dubbing and yes, a modern layer of MP3 encoding.
Post-1980 the differences are easier to note, as the introduction of electronic drums and early FM synthesizers give the game away somewhat, but even then dating things is not that easy. According to Global Groove’s blog, the track “He O Oe Oe!” is from a 1985 UK album, but the blog claims the original recording dates from 1981. Also the Tao Ea Lesotho tracks date from an album released in the UK by Sterns in 1988, but “Puleng” was apparently a South African hit a few years before that. The truth is very, very difficult to find, so even if a couple of these actual recordings actually don’t pre-date “Graceland”, the songs and grooves most definitely do!
Apologies also for any spelling errors in the tracklisting, and the largest of thanks to all re-issuers of this music, particularly the “Indestructable Beat Of Soweto” and “Next Stop Soweto” series of albums, and the blogs Afro Slabs, Matsuli, Electric Jive, Global Groove and Soul Safari, who do an amazing job unearthing and digitizing tons of outstanding African music. afroslabs.blogspot.co.uk/ matsuli.blogspot.co.uk/ electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/ globalgroovers.blogspot.co.uk/ soulsafari.wordpress.com/
There’s plenty more I could add about the above artists, but I’ll save that for another time – Thanks for reading and listening – hope you enjoy the mix!
(Previous Hectic City mixes can be found by clicking here!) www.kleptones.com/blog/category/hectic-city-mixtapes/This article was posted on Thursday, 28 June 2012 at 9:28 pm in the Hectic City Mixtapes category. You can leave a comment, or Trackback to this article. www.kleptones.com/blog/category/hectic-city-mixtapes/www.kleptones.com/blog/2012/06/28/hectic-city-15-paths-to-graceland/#respondwww.kleptones.com/blog/2012/06/28/hectic-city-15-paths-to-graceland/trackback/42 Responses to “Hectic City 15 – Paths To Graceland” www.kleptones.com/blog/2012/06/28/hectic-city-15-paths-to-graceland/#.YFr7CVVKj5a
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 27, 2023 6:12:03 GMT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_African_Skies
"Under African Skies"
Single by Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt from the album Graceland B-side "I Know What I Know" Released August 1987 Recorded April 1986 Genre Pop rockworldbeat Length 3:37 Label Warner Bros. Songwriter(s) Paul Simon Producer(s) Paul Simon Paul Simon singles chronology "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (1987) "Under African Skies" (1987) "The Obvious Child" (1990) "Under African Skies" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the fifth and final single from his seventh studio album, Graceland (1986), released on Warner Bros. Records. The song features guest vocals from singer Linda Ronstadt.
Background
"Under African Skies" originated in later recording sessions for Graceland. Simon flew over several South African musicians to New York to complete the record three months after the original sessions in Johannesburg,[1] paying them triple union rates in order to lure them to record, as many did not know who he was.[2] He also offered writer's royalties to those who he felt had contributed particularly to the song's compositions.[3] These sessions also resulted in the lead single, "You Can Call Me Al".[1]
Cash Box said that "Ronstadt provides angelic harmonies to Simon's inimitable vocal stylings."[4]
Personnel
Paul Simon—lead vocals, guitar Linda Ronstadt—additional vocals Ray Phiri, Adrian Belew—guitar Bakithi Kumalo—bass Isaac Mtshali—drums Ralph MacDonald, James Guyatt—percussion
References
Graceland (liner notes). Paul Simon. US: Warner Bros. Records. 1986. W1-25447. David Fricke (October 23, 1986). "African Odyssey". Rolling Stone. New York City: Wenner Media LLC (485): 77–80. ISSN 0035-791X. Stephen Holden (August 24, 1986). "Paul Simon Brings Home the Music of Black South Africa". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2014. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. December 5, 1987. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-11-06. Sources Bennighof, James (2007). The Words and Music of Paul Simon. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-99163-0. Eliot, Marc (2010). Paul Simon: A Life. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-43363-8.
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