[EP 427] Paul Simon’s Graceland: The Story Behind the Music and Controversy with Kalvin Schmidt-Rimpler Dinh

Paul Simon’s Graceland is one of the most celebrated albums of the 1980s, blending American songwriting with South African musical traditions. But behind the groundbreaking 1986 album are fascinating stories of creative reinvention, unlikely collaborations, political controversy, and disputes over songwriting credits and royalties.I

In this episode of Booked On Rock, I'm joined by Kalvin Schmidt-Rimpler Dinh, author of Paul Simon’s Graceland from Bloomsbury’s 33⅓ Africa series, to explore the making of this landmark album. Discover how a cassette of South African accordion music inspired Simon during a difficult period in his life, why recording in apartheid-era South Africa sparked controversy over the international cultural boycott, and how musicians including Ray Phiri, Bakithi Kumalo, Isaac Mtshali, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo helped create the album’s unmistakable sound.

We also uncover the remarkable recording trick behind the famous backward bass solo in “You Can Call Me Al,” the meaning behind songs like “Graceland,” “The Boy in the Bubble,” and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,” and the contributions of Linda Ronstadt and Joseph Shabalala. Plus, we examine the songwriting-credit disputes involving Los Lobos and Rockin’ Dopsie and ask whether Simon’s collaborators received the recognition they deserved.

More than four decades into his career, Paul Simon reinvented himself with an album that crossed musical and cultural boundaries. Forty years after its release, Graceland remains a masterpiece with a complicated legacy—and this conversation reveals why its music and controversies still matter.

Purchase a copy of Paul Simon's Graceland [33 1/3]

----------

🎧 Listen/Watch Ad-Free on Patreon Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BookedOnRock

🛒 Old Glory - Iconic music and sports fan merch 💰 Get 15% OFF | Promo Code: BOOKEDONROCK https://oldglory.com/discount/BOOKEDONROCK

Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network

BookedOnRock.com

The Booked On Rock Store

The Booked On Rock YouTube Channel

Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich: BLUESKY FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TIKTOK X

Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore

Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: [email protected]

The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe