"You Can Call Me Al" became one of Simon's biggest hit singles as a solo act. In the United States it initially fared poorly, only reaching number 44 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in September 1986. As sales and acclaim for "Graceland" grew, culminating in a win for Album of the Year at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in February 1987, the single experienced a resurgence in sales and airplay. After making a second entry on the "Billboard" Hot 100 in March, the song rose to a peak of number 23 in May 1987.