Under African Skies

"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 rock; worldbeat;
Length	3:37
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Paul Simon
Producer(s)	Paul Simon
Paul Simon singles chronology

"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

^ ^a ^b Graceland (liner notes). Paul Simon. US: Warner Bros. Records. 1986. W1-25447.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ David Fricke (October 23, 1986). "African Odyssey". Rolling Stone (485). New York City: Wenner Media LLC: 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.

[linernotes-1] Graceland (liner notes). Paul Simon. US: Warner Bros. Records. 1986. W1-25447.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[rs86-2] David Fricke (October 23, 1986). "African Odyssey". Rolling Stone (485). New York City: Wenner Media LLC: 77–80. ISSN 0035-791X.

[nyt86-3] Stephen Holden (August 24, 1986). "Paul Simon Brings Home the Music of Black South Africa". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2014.

[cb-4] "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. December 5, 1987. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-11-06.

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v t e Paul Simon songs
Discography
The Paul Simon Songbook	"I Am a Rock" "Leaves That Are Green" "April Come She Will" "The Sound of Silence" "A Simple Desultory Philippic" "Patterns"
Paul Simon	"Mother and Child Reunion" "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" "Duncan"
There Goes Rhymin' Simon	"Kodachrome" "Loves Me Like a Rock" "American Tune" "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" "Something So Right" "St. Judy's Comet"
Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'	"The Sound of Silence"
Still Crazy After All These Years	"Gone at Last" "My Little Town" "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" "Still Crazy After All These Years"
Greatest Hits, Etc.	"Slip Slidin' Away" "Stranded in a Limousine"
One-Trick Pony	"Late in the Evening" "One-Trick Pony" "Oh, Marion"
Hearts and Bones	"Allergies" "The Late Great Johnny Ace" "Think Too Much"
Graceland	"You Can Call Me Al" "Graceland" "The Boy in the Bubble" "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" "Under African Skies" "Homeless"
The Rhythm of the Saints	"The Obvious Child" "Proof" "Born at the Right Time"
You're the One	"Old" "You're the One"
Surprise	"Father and Daughter" "That's Me" "Outrageous"
So Beautiful or So What	"Getting Ready for Christmas Day" "The Afterlife"
Stranger to Stranger	"Wristband" "Cool Papa Bell" "The Werewolf"
Featured singles	"Wonderful World" "The Blues" "The Boxer" "New York Is My Home"
Other songs	"Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War" "Thelma"
Category