Graceland

7th studio album.

Made after his relationship with Art Garfunkel deteriorated/marriage collapsed/a period of depression after his 1983 album was a commercial failure.

Became fascinated with South African township music and went to Johannesburg for 2 weeks to record this album with local musicians, even during the anti-apartheid cultural boycott.

Paid the musicians $200/hour + royalties ($15/hour was typical).

Most successful studio album; Album of the Year (1987 Grammy’s).

The black musicians feared when sessions ran late as they weren’t allow on the streets/public transportation after curfew.

Warner executives were uninterested in this project/more invested in Price/Madonna given the failure of his previous two albums. This gave Simon freedom with the album.