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Tribal Opera

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Tribal Opera
Studio album by
Released1987
StudioFingerprint Recorders, Los Angeles, California
GenreRock
LabelWhat?/A&M
ProducerMark Heard
IDEoLA chronology
Mosaics
(1985)
Tribal Opera
(1987)
Dry Bones Dance
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Tribal Opera is an album by Mark Heard (using the pseudonym iDEoLA), released in 1987 on What? Records. It is a full-on solo project, put together by Heard in his home studio using samples and acoustic, electric and electronic instruments. The band name iDEoLA has no particular meaning; of it Heard said, "It's not supposed to be mysterious or anything; I just put a band together and right now I happen to be the only one in it." The album was a big departure step away from the country/folk-rock atmosphere of much of Heard's prior and subsequent music.[2]

Both Rich Mullins and Olivia Newton-John later covered "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" on their own albums. Americana artist John Austin covered "Go Ask the Dead Man".

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Mark Heard.

Side one

  1. "I Am An Emotional Man" – 4:30
  2. "Is It Any Wonder" – 3:49
  3. "Watching the Ship Go Down" – 3:53
  4. "Talk To Me" – 3:49
  5. "Go Ask the Dead Man" – 3:52

Side two

  1. "Love Is Bigger Than Life" – 3:37
  2. "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" – 5:07
  3. "Everybody Dances" – 4:07
  4. "Why Can't We Just Say No" – 4:24
  5. "Hold Back Your Tears" – 3:47

Personnel

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The band[3]

  • iDEoLA – all instruments and vocals

Additional musicians People who hit things for digital samples at Fingerprint Recorders: Doug Mathews, David McSparran, Steve Hindalong, David Baker (who also played the Wengi Drum introduction for "Talk To Me") and Dan Michaels

Production notes

  • Produced and recorded by Mark Heard at Fingerprint Recorders, Los Angeles, California
  • Mixed digitally by Mark Heard at Can Am Recorders, Tarzana, California
  • Assistants: Stan Katayama, Dan Reed and, Jim Dineen
  • PCM 1630 editing at Digital Magnetics by Ted Hall
  • Digital mastering at Futuredisc by Steve Hall
  • Slaves prepared at Hollywood Sound
  • Cover design and graphic arts: Tim Alderson
  • Back cover photo-art by Stewart lvester
  • Front cover optical textures by Andrew Doucene

References

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  1. ^ "Tribal Opera - iDEoLA - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  2. ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 408. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  3. ^ "Tribal Opera - Christian Music Archive". christianmusicarchive.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.