Big Science | ||||
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Studio album by Laurie Anderson | ||||
Released | April 19, 1982 June 18, 2007 (reissue) |
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Recorded | The Lobby, The Hit Factory, New York City | |||
Genre | Avant-garde, art rock | |||
Length | 38:19 | |||
Label |
Warner Bros. 23674 Nonesuch/Elektra Records (reissue) 79988 |
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Producer | Laurie Anderson Roma Baran |
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Laurie Anderson chronology | ||||
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Singles from Big Science | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Blender | |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
Pitchfork | 8.7/10 |
Rolling Stone | |
Spin | |
Uncut | |
The Village Voice | A− |
Big Science is the 1982 debut album by avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson and the first of a 7-album deal she signed with Warner Bros. Records. It is best known for the 8-minute epic "O Superman", which reached #2 in the UK. The album is minimalist and monochrome in sound, and like a great deal of Anderson's work is based largely on spoken word. It is a selection of highlights from her eight-hour production, United States Live, which was itself released as a 5-LP box set and book in 1984. United States Live was originally a performance piece, in which music was only one element. After Big Science music played a larger role in Anderson's work.
Although considered her debut album, Anderson had previously recorded one side of a 2-LP set titled You're the Guy I Want to Share My Money With, a collaboration released on Giorno Poetry Systems with William S. Burroughs and John Giorno. She had also contributed two pieces to a 1977 compilation of electronic music.
A newly remastered version of the album was released on 18 June 2007 by Nonesuch/Elektra Records with new liner notes, and, in the data portion of the CD, the bonus track "Walk the Dog" (B-Side of the original "O Superman" single) and the "O Superman" video.
The album has been sampled in a number of hip hop songs:
Slant Magazine listed the album at #44 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".
All tracks by Laurie Anderson.