Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak (1984) [German LP, 1st pressing] 24-bit/96kHz & CD-format

“

This is a very satisfying listen and a great intro for those unfamiliar with Anderson's work. - Mark W.B. Allender/AMG (4/5 Stars)

”

Mister Heartbreak is the second album by avant-garde artist, singer and composer Laurie Anderson, released in 1984.

Considered more mainstream than its predecessor, Big Science, the album's lead track, "Sharkey's Day" formed the basis of a popular music video. Author William S. Burroughs read the lyrics of the closing track, "Sharkey's Night", while Peter Gabriel provided backing vocals on "Excellent Birds", an alternate version of which, titled "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)", also appeared on his album So. A third version of the song can be heard in the music-video version, directed by Dean Winkler. The song "Gravity's Angel" borrows imagery from Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow.

Most of the songs on this album were later performed in Anderson's 1986 concert film Home of the Brave. Burroughs appears in that film and appears in two brief segments reciting lines from "Sharkey's Night", although it is Anderson herself who performs a complete version of the song at the film's conclusion. "Sharkey's Night" featured in the Australian short Documentary film 'Ladies Please!' (1995).

Professional reviews
Allmusic 4/5 stars link
Robert Christgau (A-) link
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars link



Track listing

All songs written by Laurie Anderson except as indicated.

Side one

"Sharkey's Day" – 7:41
"Langue d'Amour" – 6:12
"Gravity's Angel" – 6:02

Side two

"Kokoku" – 7:03
"Excellent Birds" (Anderson, Peter Gabriel) – 3:12
"Blue Lagoon" – 7:03
"Sharkey's Night" – 2:29

Personnel

Laurie Anderson – vocals, synclavier, violin on 1, bell on 3, vocoder on 2, whistle on 1, electronic conches on 2, percussion on 4
Adrian Belew – guitar on 1 3 6 7
Anton Fier – drums on 1, toms on 4, wood block on 4
Bill Laswell – bass on 1 3 4 5 6 7

Additional personnel

November (Michelle Cobbs, Dollette McDonald, Brenda Nelson) – backing vocals on 1
Daniel Ponce – iya on 1, ikonkolo on 1, shekere on 1, double bell on 1
Peter Gabriel – backing vocals on 2 3, vocals on 5, synclavier on 5, Linn drum on 5
David Van Tieghem – plywood bowls on 3, drums on 3, steel drum on 6, gato on 6, bamboo on 6
Sang-Won Park – kayagum on 4
Connie Harvey – Japanese chorus on 4
Phoebe Snow – backing vocals on 4
Atsuko Yuma – backing vocals on 4
Janet Wright – Japanese chorus on 4
Nile Rodgers – guitar on 5
Bill Blaber – soprano on 6
William S. Burroughs – vocals on 7