Album

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts

Brian Eno - David Byrne

1981 · Electronic, Rock

64 collectors on Gatefold own this

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts by Brian Eno - David Byrne

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts is a Soul & Funk album by Brian Eno - David Byrne, originally released in 1981. On Gatefold: 107 pressings tracked, owned by 64 collectors.

About

Taking cue from the works of Jon Hassell, with whom Brian Eno previously collaborated, this 1981 partnership between ambient and avant-garde record producer Eno (Talking Heads, U2) and Talking Heads leader David Byrne incorporated Third World rhythms, found sounds (radio broadcasts), ambient sounds (field recordings), electronics and whatever else the duo could find and manipulate with studio effects and tape edits to make what at the time was a novel and adventurous departure from the expected grooves of conventional record-making. That many of these innovations found their way into mainstream recording only make this early and rudimentary effort – look ma, no sampler! just tapes – all the more fascinating. It is, however, a polarizing album, one its adherents love and its dissenters hate. Few fall in between. “The Jezebel Spirit,” with its recording of an ‘exorcism,’ “America is Waiting” and “Very, Very Hungry” are the obvious standouts, layered in currents of sound and held together by brilliant, elliptical rhythms that create an effect both hypnotic and flowing. It is music best absorbed gradually through osmosis. Live with it in the background until it takes over.

via Apple Music

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Tracklist

Side A

  1. A1America Is Waiting3:36
  2. A2Mea Culpa3:45
  3. A3Regiment3:56
  4. A4Help Me Somebody4:18
  5. A5The Jezebel Spirit5:00

Side B

  1. B6Qu'ran3:46
  2. B7Moonlight In Glory4:46
  3. B8The Carrier3:30
  4. B9A Secret Life2:30
  5. B10Come With Us2:38
  6. B11Mountain Of Needles2:35

Sound DNA

  • Soul & Funk
  • Funk
  • layered
  • hypnotic
  • funky

There was a My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (UK 1980) (opens in a new tab) bootleg circulating long before the LP was released in 1981. One story explains this as delays by getting the rights of the material (samples) used, which resulted in the track "The Jezebel Spirit" having a different radio evangelist used. Another rumour is that David Byrne's label stalled the release until the label released the next Talking Heads album Remain In Light, which was actually recorded after MlitBoG but using similar studio techniques.
For most UK reissues, the track "Qu'ran" was removed at the request of the Islamic Council of Great Britain. In its place "Very, Very Hungry" (previously released as the B-side of The Jezebel Spirit (UK 1981) (opens in a new tab) 12" single) was substituted. Some early US CD reissues included both tracks.

Credits

The people behind it.

Performers

  • Bill LaswellBASS ARRANGED BY, BASS BASS, WRITTEN-BY
  • Brian EnoGUITAR , BASS , SYNTHESIZER , DRUMS, PERCUSSION, OBJECTS GUITAR , BASS , SYNTHESIZER , DRUMS, PERCUSSION, OTHER GUITAR , BASS , SYNTHESIZER , DRUMS, PERCUSSION, PERFORMER
  • Busta JonesBASS BASS, WRITTEN-BY
  • Chris FrantzDRUMS
  • David ByrneGUITAR , BASS , SYNTHESIZER , DRUMS, PERCUSSION, OBJECTS GUITAR , BASS , SYNTHESIZER , DRUMS, PERCUSSION, OTHER GUITAR , BASS , SYNTHESIZER , DRUMS, PERCUSSION, PERFORMER
  • David Van TieghemDRUMS, PERCUSSION DRUMS DRUMS, PERCUSSION, WRITTEN-BY
  • John CookseyDRUMS
  • Jose RoseyCONGAS, GONG
  • Mingo LewisBATA, PERCUSSION DRUMS , PERCUSSION PERCUSSION , PERCUSSION
  • Prairie PrincePERCUSSION , BASS DRUM BASS DRUM BASS DRUM, PERCUSSION
  • Steve ScalesCONGAS, PERCUSSION CONGAS
  • Tim WrightBASS BASS , WRITTEN-BY DRUMS
  • Dennis KeeleyDRUMS
  • Jose RossyCONGAS, AGOGÔ CONGAS, GONG CONGAS, PERCUSSION
  • The Moving Star Hall SingersVOCALS

64 collectors on Gatefold own this · 107 pressings tracked on Gatefold

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