Neha Patil (Editor)

Words for the Dying

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
1989

Artist
  
John Cale

Producer
  
Brian Eno

Genre
  
Spoken word

Length
  
38:38

Release date
  
1989

Label
  
Opal Records

Words for the Dying httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb3

Words For The Dying (1989)
  
Songs for Drella (1990)

Similar
  
John Cale albums, Art rock albums

John cale do not go gentle into that good night brussels 1992


Words for the Dying is the twelfth studio album by Welsh recording artist John Cale, released in 1989 by record labels Opal and Warner Bros.

Contents

Content

The album consists mainly of oral work, read or sung by Cale. The album was written in 1982 as a response to the Anglo-Argentinian Falklands War, using poems written by fellow Welshman Dylan Thomas. There are also two orchestral interludes, two other solo piano pieces "Songs Without Words", and finally a song by Cale, "The Soul of Carmen Miranda".

Recording and production

The album was recorded in Moscow, New York, London and Suffolk, England and was produced by Brian Eno.

"The Falklands Suite" was recorded at Gostelradio Studios, Moscow, engineered by Sasha Karasiov. "The Falklands Suite" was first performed live on 14 November 1987 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. John Cale was recorded at The Strongroom, London, and Wilderness Studios, Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, engineered by Stephen Taylor and Brian Eno. "Songs Without Words I & II" were recorded at the Living Room, New York City, USA, engineered by Paul Rice and Blaise Dupuy. "The Soul of Carmen Miranda" was recorded at Wilderness Studios, Woodbridge, UK.

Release

Words for the Dying was released in 1989 by record labels Opal and Warner Bros. in the US and Europe and Land in the UK.

It was reissued in 1992, and in 2005 with a different cover.

Reception

Lou Reed selected the album as one of his 'picks of 1989'.

In its retrospective review, Fact described it as "arguably the last great album John Cale recorded".

Documentary

In 1993 an 80-minute documentary film Words for the Dying, directed by Rob Nilsson, was released on DVD. It follows Cale and Eno to Moscow, London, and Wales during the creation of the album.

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Cale, except as indicated.

Side A
  1. "Introduction"
  2. "There Was a Saviour" (words: Dylan Thomas)
  3. "Interlude I"
  4. "On a Wedding Anniversary" (words: Dylan Thomas)
Side B
  1. "Interlude II"
  2. "Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed" (words: Dylan Thomas)
  3. "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" (words: Dylan Thomas)
  1. "Songs Without Words I"
  2. "Songs Without Words II"
  3. "The Soul of Carmen Miranda"

Note: Some CD pressings combine tracks "There Was a Saviour" and "Interlude I" as one track (9:36).

Personnel

  • John Cale – vocals, piano, guitar, bass, organ, viola
  • The Orchestra of Symphonic and Popular Music of Gostelradio, Russia
  • Conductor – Alexander G. Mikhailov
  • The Choristers of Llandaff Cathedral Choir, Llandaff, Cardiff, South Wales
  • James Elias (Dean's Scholar – Head Chorister), David Butler (Dean's Scholar – Head Chorister), Christopher Parsons, Andrew Richley, Darren Roberts, Richard Jeremy, Edward Jones, Edward Adams, Stephen Moss, Gareth Campbell, Benjamin Halsey, Benedict Davies-Jenkins, Charles Jeremy, Jonathan Robson.
  • Choirmaster – Dr. Michael Kent Smith
  • Brian Eno – keyboards on "The Soul of Carmen Miranda"
  • Nell Catchpole – violin, viola on "The Soul of Carmen Miranda"

    • Songs

    1Introduction1:45
    2There Was a Saviour / Interlude I9:36
    3On a Wedding Anniversary5:05

    References

    Words for the Dying Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA