Music for "The Knee Plays" (1985) is an album by David Byrne composed for Robert Wilson's opera the CIVIL warS.[1][2] The album was released on vinyl; a remastered and expanded CD version was released in November 2007 under the title The Knee Plays and it includes eight previously unreleased bonus tracks and a DVD of the music set to a slideshow of 400 black and white photographs.
Music for "The Knee Plays" | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | May 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1984 at One on One Studio and Studio Sound Recorders, North Hollywood | |||
Length | 56:53 | |||
Label | ECM (Original US release) EMI/Regal Zonophone (Original international release) Nonesuch (2007 reissue) | |||
Producer | David Byrne | |||
David Byrne chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
The Knee Plays | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 6 November 2007 | |||
Recorded | 1983 at JAK Recording Studio, Tokyo; 1984 at One on One Studio and Studio Sound Recorders, North Hollywood | |||
Length | 79:42 | |||
Label | Nonesuch Records | |||
Producer | David Byrne | |||
David Byrne chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork Media | 7.5/10[6] |
Track listing
editAll tracks written by David Byrne except where noted.
No. | Titel | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion)" | 4:02 |
2. | "In the Upper Room" (Traditional, arranged by the Baptist Methodist Choir Church of God, Byrne & David Blumberg) | 3:35 |
3. | "The Sound of Business" | 6:15 |
4. | "Social Studies" | 4:52 |
5. | "(The Gift of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down" (Trad., arr. Clara Hudman "The Georgia Peach", Byrne & Blumberg) | 2:34 |
6. | "Theadora is Dozing" (Trad,[7] arr. Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic, Byrne, Blumberg) | 2:59 |
7. | "Admiral Perry" | 5:32 |
8. | "I Bid You Goodnight" (Trad., arr the Pindar Family, Byrne & Blumberg) | 2:51 |
9. | "I've Tried" (Trad., arr Swan's Silvertone Singers, Byrne, Blumberg) | 3:24 |
10. | "Winter" | 6:11 |
11. | "Jungle Book" | 3:38 |
12. | "In the Future" | 6:35 |
No. | Titel | Length |
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13. | "Tree (Reprise)" | 2:36 |
14. | "(I've Tried) Things to Do" | 3:28 |
15. | "Tic Toc 2 (In the Future)" | 5:36 |
16. | "Whisper" | 3:17 |
17. | "Misterias" | 2:42 |
18. | "Faust Dance" | 2:18 |
19. | "Ghost" | 3:24 |
20. | "Super Natural" | 2:56 |
DVD track listing
editNo. | Titel | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion)" | 4:07 |
2. | "In the Upper Room" | 3:40 |
3. | "The Sound of Business" | 6:20 |
4. | "Social Studies" | 4:59 |
5. | "(The Gift of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down" | 2:37 |
6. | "Theadora is Dozing" | 3:04 |
7. | "Admiral Perry" | 5:32 |
8. | "I Bid You Goodnight" | 2:55 |
9. | "Things to Do (I've Tried)" | 3:27 |
10. | "Winter" | 6:26 |
11. | "Jungle Book" | 3:43 |
12. | "In the Future" | 6:35 |
13. | "Tree (Reprise)" | 2:36 |
Personnel
edit- Garnett Brown - trombone
- Ray Brown - trumpet on tracks 1–5, 10–12
- David Byrne - vocals
- Pete Christlieb - saxophone on tracks 1–5, 10–12
- Rich Cooper - trumpet on tracks 1–5, 10–12
- Ernie Fields Jr. - baritone saxophone
- Chuck Findley - trumpet on tracks 1–4, 11
- Bill Green - baritone saxophone
- Bobbye Hall - percussion
- Dana Hughes - trombone
- Paul Humphrey - drums
- Jackie Kelso - saxophone on tracks 5–10, 12
- Harry Kim - trumpet on tracks 5–10, 12
- Don Myrick - saxophone on tracks 1–4, 11
- Nolan Smith - trumpet on tracks 1–5, 10–12
- David Stout - trombone
- Phil Teil - trombone
- Ernie Watts - saxophone on tracks 1–4, 11
- Fred Wesley - trombone
Release history
editRegion | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|---|
Worldwide | 1985 | Regal Zonophone | LP | 2403811 |
ECM | 25022 | |||
2007 | Nonesuch | CD | 303228 |
References
edit- ^ News, Jonathan Taylor Los Angeles Daily. "DAVID BYRNE'S 'KNEE PLAYS' MAY NOT MAKE SENSE, BUT IT'S NOT NONSENSE". chicagotribune.com.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ "David Byrne". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ "Album: David Byrne: Music for The Knee Plays". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ Ted Mills. "The Knee Plays - David Byrne | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ "David Byrne, The Knee Plays | David Byrne". The Guardian. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ Eric Harvey (6 December 2007). "David Byrne: The Knee Plays Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ Bulgarian title with the same theme: полегнала е тодора (Polegnala e Todora)