The World of Arthur Russell [IMPORT]

Arthur Russell

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2004)
• Original Release Date: January 26, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Soul Jazz
• ASIN: B0000YDXY6
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,009 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Go Bang [Francois Kevorkian Mix] - Dinosaur L

2. Wax the Van - Lola, Lola, Lola

3. Is It All Over My Face [Larry Levan Mix] - Loose Joints

4. Keeping Up - Arthur Russell

5. In the Light of the Miracle - Arthur Russell

6. Little Lost - Arthur Russell

7. Pop Your Funk

8. Let's Go Swimming [Walter Gibbons Mix] - Arthur Russell

9. In the Cornbelt [Larry Levan Mix] - Dinosaur L

10. Treehouse - Arthur Russell

11. Schoolbell/Treehouse [Walter Gibbons Mix][*] - Indian Ocean

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

While Russell was formally trained as a classical cellist, he was very much a multi-faceted musician, having produced the first 12 inch single for Seymour Stein's Sire label ("Kiss Me Again") and co-founded the Sleeping Bag label himself. Sleeping Bag releases were the heart of the underground disco music scene that operated well below the radar of the pop hits that dominated the charts. Under the guise of Dinosaur L, Russell released "Go Bang" to great acclaim (remixed by Francois Kervorkian). Sleeping Bag releases were regularly played at Larry Levan's Paradise Garage and other haunts of true discophiles. Here is a wonderful compendium of the man's lifetime of work, that life cut all too short by AIDS in 1992.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rarities Made Affordable (3.5/5), May 13, 2004

By	M. Starr "Amneziak" (Kansas City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A lot of respect is in order here for Soul Jazz Records, who continually represent the lost sounds of the dance genre(s). Whether it's dub, reggae, ska, disco, funk, or a culmination of all the above, these music archeologists always dig up some of the finest forgotten rarities on the planet. When the label re-introduced the fine music of A Certain Ratio in 2002, they opened the eyes and ears of many music lovers to an interesting, yet departed, variety of music that I'll simply call disco-punk-funk. Soul Jazz Records is back again this year with a posthumous release of Arthur Russell's avant-garde and late-disco works.

Arthur Russell was born in Iowa, studied in California, and eventually became part of the artistic, and always interesting, New York scene of the late 70s/early 80s. This particular release, appropriately titled The World of Arthur Russell, focuses on his entire catalog from the early days of disco and no wave to the more obscure avant-garde jazz pieces. Since Russell only released a minimal amount of records, the styles of these songs change on a rather frequent basis. Sometimes even shifting back and forth between genres, rather than showing a natural progression of sound. Regardless, they all are representative of his love of carefree music.

As the album begins with "Go Bang," we are immediately reminded that Russell changed a lot musically over the course of his career. This particular song highlights the very early stages of his no wave influences, where even a cello shows absence. We're immediately taken into the next era of his catalog with the bouncing bass, cheesy vocals, and minimal disco flair of "Wax the Van." "Is It All Over My Face," the most disco-heavy song here, is also one that will most likely appeal to those familiar with the current rash of funk-punk bands such as !!!, LCD Soundsystem, and The Rapture. It contains all the signature sounds such as hand-clapping drums, disco-funk bass, and roller-skating vocals.

For the remainder of the album, however, we are introduced to Russell's more mellow jazz-oriented songs. "Keeping Up" and "In the Light of the Miracle" share the same basic structures when they lose the disco vibe and focus more on cello, acoustic guitar, and Russell's vocals. The second of these two tracks is actually quite a long song, clocking in at just over 13-minutes of subtle electronics and traditional instruments. The most charming track, "A Little Lost" is a film director's wet dream for a potential soundtrack. It almost sounds as if I've heard it in about twenty movies in my life, but after much research I have found that it has never been in a movie. The lyrics are intimate and quirky, yet are very affective and reflect someone who, like everyone, simply wanted to be loved. As the remixes begin ("Let's Go Swimming," "In the Cornbelt" and "Schoolbell/Treehouse"), several musicians place emphasis on the dance club aesthetic of Russell's music. It actually takes quite a bit away from the music if you ask me.

All in all, most of The World of Arthur Russell is quite charming. It does a great job highlighting the overall progression of his music, but there are also moments where it tends to fall out of focus. Although the remixes are meant to be odes to the musician himself, they tend to take away from the flow of the album. I at least understand why they were added to the tracklisting, I could just do without them. If you want to get a better idea of what Russell's catalog has to offer, try to find his albums somewhere else. This can be a fairly costly task, so if money is a factor this album will at least give you enough of Arthur Russell until then.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Spade a Spade, April 15, 2004

By	Larry White (AdultPop.com) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Arthur Russell was a Midwesterner, classically trained on the cello, who found his way to New York City and into the world of electronic, dance music. Oh, let's call a spade a spade, it was "Disco". This is music that we wouldn't even consider when it was in its prime in the 80s. Thankfully, our mind and our tastes have broadened a bit since then and we can now say, at least in the case of Arthur Russell, disco doesn't suck. (Although, we're not yet ready to make a case for Rick Dees and his duck). Russell's brand is subtle, hypnotic, pretty; with elements of jazz, African, and classical music. There is a confounding co-mingling of repetition and exploration. The beat pulsates metronomically while the melodies take off. Instruments you wouldn't expect to hear in this genre (like a singular cello) are used while voices and instruments you would expect are used in a manner you wouldn't. Arthur Russell died in 1992. This is a newly released sampling of his work over the course of his career. If you are a dancer, an adventurer, or you just like something rhythmic and compelling, we recommend this.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As warm and generous as he was talented, July 16, 2007

By	Felix Gonzalez (Berkeley, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

I knew Arthur in NYC pretty well from about 1977 on. I spent a lot of time hanging out in his funky apartment on E. 12th street. (Like Proust's madeleine, I can still smell the distinctive, slightly moldy odor inside.) I remember him pointing out Richard Hell's place in the same building through a window. He didn't have a buzzer, so I would have to stand on the steps of the church across the street and yell out "Arthur" so that he could come down and let me in. He was a very generous and fun guy - as well as a whiz at tape editing with a safety razor. I got a lot of his LP's from him as they came out, and it struck me even then - although I was still in my teens - how peculiar that he should have dance hits as well as more "serious" works recorded by orchestras. One time he took me to a Tibetan Buddhist meditation center on W. 16th. Green as I was, I had a very hard time trying to keep from laughing, since everyone was so serious. I miss him, although I really treasure the memories of the time that I spent with him. Felix Gonzalez, Berkeley CA.