Brian Eno & David Byrne: My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts

Not only was, but still continues to be a mind blowing record, My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts also doesn't cease to amaze people who love recording/engineering stories.

You know, like how The White Album had several micro studios going at the same time because all members of the Beatles were spitting out songs every two mins. Or how Axl Rose had sex with then drummer Steven Adler's girlfriend in the vocal booth while tracking for "Rocket Queen." If you didn't know that already and I just ruined that song for you for good, my condolences.

My Life was recorded & engineered with all analog equipment. This also meant the samples. Obviously agonizing as it can be syncing without any digital technology, the accidents and mistakes proved to create new ideas and a whole new feel to what originally was planned.

Speaking of the samples, the "vocals" were primarly all samples. Another pioneering move that helped inspire several artists of random genre's down the road.. Avat-garde, hip-hop, Djing, etc. Much all pays homage to this release.

Another note would be Eno & Byrne's use of common items to replace parts of drums. A frying pan as a snare for a song, a cardboard box as a kick drum for another, it all helped create fresh sounds/tones that wasn't typicaly heard. Well, maybe early industrial, but we can save that for another article.

Try it. You might just enjoy it. Also, take note to the song credits. They're not your standard "vocals and synth by Dick McHerald."

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts



All tracks written by Eno/Byrne except as indicated.

1.America Is Waiting (arr. Eno, Byrne, Bill Laswell, Tim Wright, & David Van Tieghem)Sample:"Unidentified indignant radio host, San Francisco, April 1980."

2.Mea Culpa, Samples:"Inflamed caller and smooth politician replying, both unidentified. Radio call-in show, New York, July 1979."

3.Regiment(Eno/Byrne/Busta Jones), Samles:"Dunya Yusin, Lebanese mountain singer. (From The Human Voice in the World of Islam, Tangent Records TGS131)"

4.Help Me Somebody, Samples:"Reverend Paul Morton, broadcast sermon, New Orleans, June 1980."

5.The Jezebel Spirit, Samples:"Unidentified exorcist, New York, September 1980."

6.Qu'ran, Samples:"Algerian Muslims chanting Qu'ran. (Same source as 3 (Tangent Records, above))"

7.Moonlight In Glory, Samples:"The Moving Star Hall Singers, Sea Islands, Georgia. (From The Moving Star Hall Singers, Folkways FS 3841). Produced by Guy Carawan."

8.The Carrier, Samples:"Dunya Yusin, Lebanese mountain singer. (From The Human Voice in the World of Islam, Tangent Records TGS131)"

9.A Secret Life, Samples:"Reverend Paul Morton, broadcast sermon, New Orleans, June 1980."

10.Come With Us, Samples:"Unidentified radio evangelist, San Francisco, April 1980."