The 1986 album Paul Simon thought was too perfect to change

The album that Paul Simon believed was as close to perfection as it was possible to achieve was Graceland, released in 1986. The musician stated that that album represented the best work he was able to do as a composer and producer, saying that he saw no reason to change it. "Graceland" came about after Simon traveled to South Africa and collaborated with local musicians, incorporating elements of South African music into folk and American pop. The result was a revolutionary album that featured hits such as "You Can Call Me Al", "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and the title track "Graceland". In addition to its enormous commercial success, the album won the Grammy for Album of the Year and is often cited among the most important works of the 1980s. For Simon, the project achieved exactly the artistic balance he was looking for.