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| Photo Credit: Harrison Funk |
A&E IndieFilms will commemorate this important anniversary with the release of a new documentary, Under African Skies, which tells the story of the making of this landmark album. Directed by two-time Emmy & Peabody Award Winner and Oscar nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the West Memphis Three/Paradise Lost trilogy), Under African Skies will premiere on A&E this Spring, following it’s limited theatrical run in Los Angeles and New York City, which begins May 11th. According to the press release:
“Featuring interviews with key anti-apartheid activists of the time and such musical legends as Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, David Byrne and Peter Gabriel, “Under African Skies” travels with Paul Simon back to South Africa, 25 years after his first visit, and recounts the making of the record, surveying from the vantage of history the turbulence and controversy surrounding the album’s genesis. His artistic decision to collaborate with African musicians created a new world musical fusion, combining American and African musical idioms while igniting an intense political crossfire, with Paul Simon accused of breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime.”
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| Photo Credit: Luise Gubb |
In addition to the documentary, on June 5th, Legacy Recordings will release several 25th Anniversary editions of the album to commemorate the occasion. For more information on the the various 25th special editions, see BELOW:
- The official Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition CD/DVD set – a two disc music and film set featuring the remastered original album with five bonus tracks and audio narrative “The Story of ‘Graceland‘” as told by Paul Simon. The DVD features the “Under African Skies” film with extended interviews, three original music videos and “Saturday Night Live” performance of “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes.”
- “Under African Skies” Blu-ray Disc – the feature documentary in state-of-the-art 5.1 sound with bonus extended interviews.
- Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition Vinyl – This audiophile edition is remastered on 180-gram 12″ vinyl and includes an art-quality collectible Graceland poster and a download card with the full album plus three bonus tracks. It will be available beginning Saturday, April 21 at independent retailers worldwide participating in Record Store Day.
- An ultra-deluxe Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition Box Set package – The ultimate Graceland set includes the boxed set, the 180-gram 12″ vinyl and a signed and numbered autographed commemorative poster–will be available direct-to-consumers during a limited time exclusive offer on the official Paul Simon website (www.paulsimon.com).