Laurie Anderson

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:15 am

I just heard her "O Superman" song again, and instantly realized it was one of the songs I heard long time ago on the radio and could not figure out who sung it. It is strange how old songs can transport one in the past

Does anyone like her? What do you think about her? She's using some type of vocoder in this song, very interesting!

[ This Message was edited by: BingoTheClowno on 2005-11-16 08:25 ]

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:57 am

I have her <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Live>United States Live</a> 5 vinyl set from 83 in mint condition

It's got such a cute cover: her portrait with the mouth slightly opened so you can see the teeth, which are illuminated from behind by a lightbulb in her mouth. A pure analog photo (they didn't even bother to hide the wires), as is the music.

I admit it was the photo that caught my attention, but also the Oberheims and her strange instrumentarium.
... like that pair of glasses with contact mics that generate drumsounds by banging on the head...
a toy sax in a brass section and most of all that violin with a reel-to-reel tapehead that's played with a bow that carries a recorded tape - ingenious

The sleeves of the disk have annotations to the respective part of the performance, it's very creative with great sound

cheers, Tom

[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2005-11-16 09:21 ]

samplaire · Post by **samplaire** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:59 am

I used to listen to her. She is a very interesting person. There is a song there are two versions: one sung by her and one by Peter Gabriel (or I messed something). I know this song you can find on the "So" album. She colaborated with PG more but I don't remember the details.

I like most her LP called "MrHeartbreak" featuring a guy who tells a story about sun. His accent reminds me of the one found in Wild West movies so I suspect him to be from Texas.

I've got one CD which I found in a secondhand shop. The shopassistant couldn't belive he sold it to me. He said it had been years the cd was in this shop (!)

[ This Message was edited by: samplaire on 2005-11-16 09:03 ]

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:22 am

On 2005-11-16 08:57, astroman wrote:

... like that pair of glasses with contact mics that generate drumsounds by banging on the head...

She's something

I heard she is going to work for NASA on some artistic projects. I don't know much about that.

But I ran yesterday and bought her Anthology 2CD set.
What amazes me about her music is how such simplistic rhythms can become so meaningful by using well thought out contexts.

[ This Message was edited by: BingoTheClowno on 2005-11-16 10:23 ]

Cochise · Post by **Cochise** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:06 am

Does is not Peter Gabriel singing Exellent Birds with Laurie Anderson in Mr. Heartbreak (the "poppest" song in that album, in my opinion)?

[ This Message was edited by: Cochise on 2005-11-16 11:08 ]

Cochise · Post by **Cochise** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:12 am

What amazes me about her music is how such simplistic rhythms can become so meaningful by using well thought out contexts.

It's like a "inspired sound check" style

[ This Message was edited by: Cochise on 2005-11-17 07:54 ]

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:17 am

By the way, Astroman & all, what other brilliant works would you recomend?

Maybe we can make a list of all the best works ever produced?

(BTW I think Peter Gabriel's Passion album from "The Last Temptation of Christ" is phenomenal).

[ This Message was edited by: BingoTheClowno on 2005-11-16 11:37 ]

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:39 am

"And Sharky says: " I can see two tiny pictures of myself and there's one in each of your eyes" "

"Language is a virus from outer space"

I frequently go back to Mr. Heartbreak as it is one of my all-time favorite albums.

This woman is so adventurous it's scary!

samplaire · Post by **samplaire** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:30 pm

On 2005-11-16 11:06, Cochise wrote:
Does is not Peter Gabriel singing Exellent Birds with Laurie Anderson in Mr. Heartbreak (the "poppest" song in that album, in my opinion)?

Yeah!

Post by **garyb** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 6:05 pm

time to go...

nprime · Post by **nprime** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:15 pm

I'm a huge fan.

I thnk Mr. Heartbreak was the pinnacle, IMHO, I saw the tour for that album in 1984 and it was simply the best show I have ever seen, and I have seen some great shows.

I think she is a genius. The simplicity of her songwriting and production, the odd lyrics, the strange time signatures, the cool use of vocoders.

I cannot understand how she ended up married to Lou Reed though...

R

Post by **hubird** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:38 pm

must be one of her experiments...

Counterparts · Post by **Counterparts** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:26 am

I've like Laurie for some time now, IMO 'O Superman' is a better album than 'Mr Heartbreak '(being somewhat darker and less 'pop'-orientated).

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:17 pm

She does the lead vocal track on the 2001 Brian Eno/ Peter Schwalm album "Drawn From Life" on Astralwerks. I strongly urge anyone in here who is into any of these people to get it.

nprime · Post by **nprime** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:44 am

On 2005-11-17 02:26, Counterparts wrote:
I've like Laurie for some time now, IMO 'O Superman' is a better album than 'Mr Heartbreak '(being somewhat darker and less 'pop'-orientated).

I would agree that O Superman is more pure...the starkness is so refreshing to listen to.

R

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:28 am

On 2005-11-16 19:15, nprime wrote:

I cannot understand how she ended up married to Lou Reed though...

Lou Reed "Take a walk on the wild side"

Holly came from miami f.l.a.
Hitch-hiked her way across the u.s.a.

Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her leg and then he was a she
She says, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
Said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side

Candy came from out on the island
In the backroom she was everybody’s darling

But she never lost her head
Even when she was given head
She says, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
Said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
And the coloured girls go

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo)

Little joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay

A hustle here and a hustle there
New york city is the place where they said
Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said hey joe, take a walk on the wild side

Sugar plum fairy came and hit the streets
Lookin’ for soul food and a place to eat

Went to the apollo
You should have seen him go go go
They said, hey sugar, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
All right, huh

Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was james dean for a day

Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that dash
She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side
And the coloured girls say

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo)
(doo)

Maybe she just liked his songs

Post by **garyb** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:09 pm

yeah, maybe they both like drugs and sex with transvestites and prostitutes...

BingoTheClowno · Post by **BingoTheClowno** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:40 pm

Why would you say something like that?

Post by **garyb** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:31 pm

just from the lyric. lou's favorite subjects.

i guess he got it hanging around andy warhol...

you don't think so?

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2005-11-18 14:33 ]

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:45 pm

ROFLMAO

& so true

Wild side indeed.