Ashley Kahn Days of Miracle and Wonder

'Represents a pinnacle of its form: a syncretic work of art' DAN CHARNAS 'An impeccably constructed examination of an album that boosted the profile of South African music and reinvigorated Simon's career' UNCUT 'Made me appreciate the album's intricacies and paradoxes all the more' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW The definitive story of the making and legacy of Paul Simon's Graceland In 1984, Paul Simon was at a professional and personal crossroads. His marriage was failing, his career was in danger of declining and the music scene was shifting to a world of synths, drum machines and music videos. But a chance encounter with the sounds of South Africa created a spark, recalling the joy of the early rock and roll days and inspiring a bold new direction. Simon travelled to Johannesburg in 1985 to record with South African musicians, a bold and risky step on a musical journey that would lead him to New York, Los Angeles, Louisiana and London, culminating in Graceland , a global phenomenon that won multiple Grammys, sold millions of records and helped redefine popular music. Days of Miracle and Wonder is the first book to tell the full story, offering a richly detailed account of artistic collaboration, technical innovation and cultural exchange, alongside the controversies that the album raised and which remain today. It sheds light on a rare cultural moment when America opened its doors to global sounds and a masterpiece emerged from a complex and divided world.