The Boy in the Bubble

~ Recording by Paul Simon

Annotation

Recorded in two different places:

  • Forere Motloheloa, Bakithi Kumalo, Vusi Khumalo, and Makhaya Mahlangu were recorded by Peter Thwaites at Ovation Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Adrian Belew, Paul Simon, and Rob Mounsey were recorded by Mark Cobrin at The Hits Factory, New York, NY, USA
Annotation last modified on 2017-08-02 18:27 UTC.

Appears on releases

#TitleLengthTrack artistRelease titleRelease artistRelease group typeCountry/DateLabelCatalog#
Official
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • DE1986-08-29
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)925 447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • XE1986-08-29
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)925 447-1, WX 52
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (made in West Germany)Paul SimonAlbum
  • US1986-09-01
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9 25447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • US1986-09-01
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)1-25447
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • JP1986-10-25
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)32XD-443
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (club release, Columbia House, DIDY 780 on disc)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)W2 25447
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)925 447-1
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)WX 52
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (WMME Alsdorf)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)7599-25447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)WBCD 1602
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)925 447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (club release, Columbia House)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)W2 25447
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)25447-2, 9 25447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9 25447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (BMG club release)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across), BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. (BMG company that owned their direct marketing company/club editions)9 25447-2, D 172315
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (made in West Germany)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)W2-25447
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (Matrix/Runout: 925 447-2 SRC-02)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)925 447-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9254471
3.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul Simon1964–1993Paul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • US1993-09-28
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9 45394-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)CDW 46430
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9 46430-2
1.7The Boy in the Bubble3:57Paul SimonGreatest Hits: Shining Like a National GuitarPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • US2000-05-01
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9362477212
1.7The Boy in the Bubble3:57Paul SimonGreatest Hits: Shining Like a National GuitarPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • XE2000-05-29
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9362 47721-2, WE 833
1.7The Boy in the Bubble3:57Paul SimonGreatest Hits: Shining Like a National GuitarPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9362477212
1.7The Boy in the Bubble3:58Paul SimonGreatest Hits: Shining Like a National GuitarPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)WBCD 1971
1.7The Boy in the Bubble3:58Paul SimonGreatest Hits: Shining Like a National GuitarPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)WTVD 47721
1.12The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Paul Simon Collection: On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Goin'Paul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • US2002-11-05
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)8122-73774-2, R2 73774
1.12The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Paul Simon Collection: On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Goin'Paul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • XE2002-11-05
Rhino (reissue label)8122-73774-2
1.12The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Paul Simon Collection: On My Way Don't Know Where I'm GoingPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)8122-73774-2
1.12The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Paul Simon Collection: On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Goin'Paul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)73774
6.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Studio Recordings 1972–2000Paul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • XE2004-07-12
Warner Strategic Marketing8122-78909-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • US2004-07-27
Rhino (reissue label)R2 78904
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (digipak)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)R2 78904
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (remastered)Paul SimonAlbum
Rhino (reissue label)8122-78904-2
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (expanded & remastered)Paul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)8122789042
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • JP2006-09-20
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)WPCR-12417
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • US2007-03-06
Rhino (reissue label)R2 74803
2.3The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonThe Essential Paul SimonPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • DE2007-08-17
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)
2.3The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonThe Essential Paul SimonPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)9362-49970-0
2.3The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonThe Essential Paul SimonPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)2 159292
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • DE2011-10-21
Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88697842502, 8869784502
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • JP2011-11-23
Sony Music Japan International Inc. (do not use as a label, see the annotation)SICP 20348
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (2004 Re-issue)Paul SimonAlbum
  • XW2012-06-01
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
  • XW2012-06-01
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • XW2012-06-01
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • XE2012-06-04
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88691914712
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • GB2012-06-04
Sony CMG (subsidiary of SME UK, add only UK releases)88691914712
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • US2012-06-05
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88697977152
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • CA2012-06-05
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88691954542
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • US2012-06-05
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88691984122
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
  • XE2012-06-05
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88691984122
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment), Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)88691984122
2.3The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonThe Essential Paul SimonPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • XW2012-08-24
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)
2.3The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonThe Essential Paul Simon (2012 reissue)Paul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • GB2012-08-27
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88697936782
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88691914721
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)88691914721
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGraceland (25th anniversary edition)Paul SimonAlbum
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)
8.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Complete Albums CollectionPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • XE2013-10-11
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment), Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)88691912922
1.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)88765457652
8.1The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Complete Albums CollectionPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • -2013
1.22The Boy in the Bubble?:??Paul SimonThe Essential Paul SimonPaul SimonAlbum + Compilation
  • -2015
Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment)
1.8The Boy in the Bubble3:57Paul SimonUltimate DriveVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)88875147902
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbumCDW 46430
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGraceland (approx. 1990 or earlier)Paul SimonAlbumWarner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)7599-25447-2, 925 447-2
1.12The Boy in the Bubble4:00Paul SimonThe Paul Simon Collection (On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Goin')Paul SimonAlbum + CompilationWarner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)R2 73774
Promotion
1.1The Boy in the Bubble3:59Paul SimonGracelandPaul SimonAlbum
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across)P-13311

Relationships

assistant engineer:Mark Cobrin
Peter Thwaites
engineer:Roy Halee
producer:Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel)
accordion:Forere Motloheloa
acoustic guitar, background vocals and lead vocals:Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel)
bass guitar:Baghiti Khumalo
drums (drum set):Vusi Khumalo
guitar synthesizer [synthesizer guitar]:Adrian Belew
percussion:Makhaya Mahlangu
synthesizer:Rob Mounsey
performer:Tau Ea Matsekha
recorded at:Ovation Studios in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (in 1985-02)
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (in 1986-04)
mixed at:The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (in 1986)
recording of:The Boy in the Bubble

The Boy in the Bubble

lyricist:Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel)
composer:Forere Motloheloa
Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel)
publisher:Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!)
Paul Simon Music (in 1986)