Baal (EP)
| David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's “Baal” | ||||
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| Extended play by David Bowie | ||||
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Publication |
1982 |
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| Label (s) | RCA | |||
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Format (s) |
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Title (number) |
5 |
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running time |
11 min 01 s |
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Tony Visconti , David Bowie |
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Studio (s) |
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David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht's “Baal” (short: Baal ) is an EP by David Bowie . It contains five songs that Bowie recorded for a television production of Bertolt Brecht's play Baal .
History of origin
In August 1981, Bowie had begun rehearsals for his role in a BBC production of Baal . The lyrics were translated into English by Ralph Manheim and John Willett ; Dominic Muldowney arranged the pieces for this recording. In September 1981 Bowie and his producer Tony Visconti went to Berlin to record the five songs from the play. Except for Bowie, Visconti and Muldowney, no contributors are given.
Baal aired on February 2, 1982, at the same time that RCA released the EP. Both were relatively successful; Despite the unusual pieces, the EP reached number 29 on the British pop charts. Baal was Bowie's last take on RCA. A re-release of Baal on CD is still pending. The EP was re-released as a download on January 1, 2007.
content
The chorale of the great Baal is composed of verses scattered throughout the piece and "outlines [Baal's] stoic, almost animalistic philosophy". In memory of Marie A. Baal remembers an early love affair; he remembers a cloud in the sky, but not the girl's face. The ballad of the adventurers is Baal's aggressive lament over the death of his mother. The drowned girl tells of the suicide of a conquest of Baal - David Mallet filmed a video clip for the song, at the same time as that for Wild Is the Wind . " Baal sings the short and obnoxious dirty song as the last, hideous gesture in cabaret".
Track list
page 1
- Baal's Hymn ( The Choral of the Great Baal ) (Brecht) - 4:02
- Remembering Marie A ( memory of Marie A. ) (trad, arr Brecht..) - 2:04
Page 2
- Ballad of the Adventurers ( The ballad of the adventurers ) (Brecht) - 1:54
- The Drowned Girl ( The Ballad of the Drowned Girl ) (Brecht / Weill ) - 2:24
- Dirty Song (Brecht / Muldowney) - 0:37
Web links
- Information and chart placement at www.teenagewildlife.com (Bowie discography)