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Luaka Bop

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Luaka Bop
Founded1988 (1988)
FounderDavid Byrne
Distributor(s)
GenreRock, pop, jazz, bubu, soul, funk, folk, psychedelic, world music
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City
Official websitewww.luakabop.com

Luaka Bop is a New York–based record label founded by musician David Byrne, former lead singer and guitarist for the art rock–new wave band Talking Heads.[1] What began with Byrne making cassettes of his favorite Tropicália tracks for his friends became a full-fledged record label in 1988 after Byrne received a solo artist deal from Warner Bros.

Since then, Luaka Bop has developed into a label known for bringing eclectic music to new audiences. Though initially affiliated with Warner Bros, Luaka Bop has been wholly independent since 2006. Often categorized as a “world music” label, Luaka Bop considers its own music to be mostly contemporary pop.[2]

Luaka Bop has released full-length albums, EPs, and singles from artists such as Alice Coltrane, William Onyeabor, and Floating Points, as well as compilations covering a wide range of musical movements and styles. The label’s maiden release eventually became the seven-album Brazil Classics series, which surveys genres from samba to Tropicália, as well as individual artists. This was the first of a number of region- or genre-specific compilation series released by Luaka Bop.

Luaka Bop’s releases have frequently been well received by critics,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] with both compilations and releases of individual artists regularly featuring in best-of-year lists.[11][12] The label has been highlighted for its “singular ability to (re)discover, celebrate, and legitimize the otherwise low-profile work of some of the world’s more eccentric musical figures.”[1]

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Byrne took the phrase "Luaka Bop" from the inner packaging of a specialty tea which is sold in England. Luaka is the name of a tea importer. Their "Broken Orange Pekoe" is packaged in a silver foil block; when the sleeve is removed, it reveals a white label that reads "Luaka BOP". Byrne found the phrase to be “strange, but musical”, a combination he liked.[2]

The Luaka Bop logo design was conceived by David Byrne and illustrated by Tibor Kalman. According to Byrne:

The logo, whose use is granted through an agreement that is subject to certain conditions, is a rather obscure Masonic symbol linked at various times to the Trinity of the Illuminati and to the Egyptian Knights of Templar. … The eye of the Luaka Bop logo is the eye of Vilaç Trismegistes, the Balkan alchemist who gave his eyes to his work, and who was the first to uncover the secrets of the Egyptian Knights.[2]

Musical philosophy

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While often described as a “world music” label, Luaka Bop has no explicit musical focus. Asked about the original concept for the label, Byrne says “the initial concept was no concept”, going on to say “I’ve never had an artistic plan with this label—there are no guidelines as far as what we’re going to do or what kind of music it might be”.[2]

In fact, the label has often tried to avoid the “world music” moniker and the changed perceptions that come with it. On Luaka Bop’s website, Byrne details this tension through the example of Zap Mama, who debuted on Luaka Bop as part of the Adventures in Afropea series:

Overall, we think of the music we work with as contemporary pop music, and we try to present it as such. While something like Zap Mama’s first record could be, and sometimes was, perceived as an ‘ethnic’ record, we did our damnedest to alter that perception. The CD covers go a long way, in my opinion, to creating this attitude. We don’t do covers that look like folkloric records or like academic records of obscure material of interest only to musicologists and a few weird fringe types… we work with the designers to come up with a graphic statement that says ‘this music is as relevant to your life and is as contemporary as Prodigy, Fiona Apple, or Cornershop.’ … So gradually, although Zap Mama might have initially been thought of as an ‘ethnic-folkloric’ ensemble, they are now thought of just as a cool group.[2]

Tibor Kalman designed the first two Brazil Classics albums, and several other designers from Kalman's M&Co. design firm have provided the label with distinctive album art.

Compilation series

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Brazil Classics

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The Brazil Classics series began with Luaka Bop’s first-ever release, and has garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success.[13][1] The series has grown to consist of the following records:

  • Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical (1989)
  • Brazil Classics 2: O Samba (1989)
  • Brazil Classics 3: Forro etc.: Music of the Brazilian Northeast (1991)
  • Brazil Classics 4: The Best of Tom Zé (1990)
  • Brazil Classics 5: The Return of Tom Zé: The Hips of Tradition (1992)
  • Brazil Classics 6: Beleza Tropical 2: Novo! Mais! Melhor! (1998)
  • Brazil Classics 7: In Pernambuco: New Sounds of the Brazilian Northeast (2008)

Luaka Bop has also released music by Brazilian artists outside of the Brazil Classics series, such as Tim Maia, Os Mutantes and Moreno Veloso.

Cuba Classics

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  • Cuba Classics 1: The Best of Silvio Rodriguez (1991)
  • Cuba Classics 2: Dancing with the Enemy (1991)
  • ¡Cuba Classics 3: Diablo al Infierno! (1992)

Asia Classics

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  • Asia Classics 1: The South Indian Film Music of Vijaya Anand: Dance Raja Dance (1992)
  • Asia Classics 2: The Best of Shoukichi Kina: Peppermint Tea House (1994)

Adventures in Afropea

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The Adventures in Afropea series signaled a slight shift, as the music here is grouped by a broad stylistic criterion (a fusion of African and European influences) as opposed to a purely geographic one.

  • Adventures in Afropea 1: Zap Mama (1993)
  • Adventures in Afropea 2: The Best of Djur Djura: Voice of Silence (1993)
  • Adventures in Afropea 3: Telling Stories to the Sea (1995)

Afro-Peruvian Classics

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The Afro-Peruvian Classics series continued the label’s shift towards more stylistically specific compilation albums, focusing on a single subgroup of Peruvian music.

While the series still has only one entry, that record saw Luaka Bop begin its work with Susana Baca, who has since released six albums with the label.

World Psychedelic Classics

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The World Psychedelic Classics series was the first from Luaka Bop to have no geographic aspect to it. The five entries in the series span decades and continents.

World Psychedelic Classics 3 helped “inspire an industrious coterie of crate diggers and lead to an explosion of ‘70s funk from Nigeria and Ghana”, with other labels crediting it with influencing the look and sound of their later releases.[1][9] It also featured the song “Better Change Your Mind” by William Onyeabor, which eventually led to the release of World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is William Onyeabor?

The popularity of Onyeabor’s music in these compilations led to an eventual Luaka Bop reissue of Onyeabor’s entire discography and the formation of the Atomic Bomb! Band, a “supergroup” dedicated to performing his music live. This was the first time Onyeabor’s music was played live, as he never performed himself.[14]

World Spirituality Classics

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Artists

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Notable artists who have had individual releases on the label include:

Discography

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Artist Title Year
David Byrne Rei Momo 1989
Various Artists Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical
Brazil Classics 2: O Samba
Tom Zé Brazil Classics, Vol. 4: The Best of Tom Zé – Massive Hits 1990
Various Artists Brazil Classics 3: Forro etc.: Music of the Brazilian Northeast 1991
Silvio Rodríguez Cuba Classics 1: The Best of Silvio Rodríguez
Various Artists Cuba Classics 2: Dancing With the Enemy
To Scratch That Itch - A Luaka Bop Compilation
David Byrne The Forest
Uh-Oh 1992
A.R. Kane Americana
Vijaya Anand Asia Classics 1: The South Indian Film Music of Viajaya Anand: Dance Raja Dance
Various Artists Asia Classics: Dancing is Beautiful (Remixes of tracks from "Asia Classics 1")
Cuba Classics 3: Diablo al Infierno
Tom Zé Brazil Classics, Vol. 5: The Hips of Tradition
Balanescu Quartet Balanescu Quartet Play Byrne/Moran/Lurie/Torke
Zap Mama "Bottom" (single)
Adventures in Afropea 1 1993
Djur Djura Adventures in Afropea 2: The Best of Djur Djura: Voice of Silence
Shoukichi Kina Asia Classics 2: The Best of Shoukichi Kina: Peppermint Tea House 1994
Zapa Mama Sabsylma
David Byrne David Byrne
Geggy Tah Grand Opening
A.R. Kane New Clear Child
Various Artists Afro-Peruvian Classics: The Soul of Black Peru 1995
Blue In The Face - Music From The Miramax Motion Picture
Cornershop Woman's Gotta Have It
W.O.G. – The U.S Western Oriental mixes
Various Artists Adventures in Afropea 3: Telling Stories to the Sea
King Changó King Changó
Geggy Tah Sacred Cow 1996
Paulo Bragança Amai
Jim White Wrong-Eyed Jesus
Zap Mama Seven 1997
David Byrne Feelings
Susana Baca Susana Baca
Cornershop When I Was Born for the 7th Time
"Sleep on the Left Side"/"Brimful of Asha" (single) 1998
Waldemar Bastos Pretaluz
Los Amigos Invisibles The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera
Mimi Goese Soak
Los de Abajo Los de Abajo
Mimi Goese "Piece of Cake"
Bloque Bloque
Various Artists Beleza Tropical 2: Novo! Mais! Melhor! (Brazil Classics 6)
Tom Zé Fabrication Defect
Postmodern Platos (EP) 1999
Os Mutantes World Psychedelic Classics 1: Everything is Possible: The Best of Os Mutantes
Zap Mama A Ma Zone
King Changó Return of El Santo 2000
Various Artists Luaka Bop 10th Anniversary: Zero Accidents on the Job
Clinton Disco and the Halfway to Discontent
Los Amigos Invisibles Arepa 3000
Susana Baca Eco do Sombras
Jim White No Such Place 2001
Gimme Five
David Byrne Look into the Eyeball
Geggy Tah Into the Oh
Shuggie Otis World Psychedelic Classics 2: California Soul: Inspiration Information
Los de Abajo Cybertropic Chilango Power
Si*Sé Si*Sé
The Rain (Where Do I Begin?) (EP)
Susana Baca Espiritu Vivo 2002
Moreno + Two Music Typewriter
Various Artists The Only Blip Hop Record You’ll Ever Need, Vol. 1
Cuisine Non-Stop: Introduction to The French Nouvelle Generation
World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 3: Love's a Real Thing 2004
Jim White Drill a Hole in That Substrate and Tell Me What You See
Domenico + Two Sincerely Hot
Los Amigos Invisibles The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1
Zap Mama Ancestry in Progress
Push It To The Max (EP) 2006
Tom Zé Estudande O Pagode: Na Opereta Segregamulher E Amor
Various Artists Luaka Bop Remix
Susana Baca Travesías
Os Mutantes Mutantes Ao Vivo – Barbican Theatre, Londres 2006 2007
Kassin +2 Futurismo 2008
Various Artists Brazil Classics at 20: Anti-Aging Secret
Brazil Classics 7: What's Happening In Pernambuco: New Sounds of the Brazilian Northeast
Jim White Transnormal Skiperoo
A Funny Little Cross To Bear 2009
Susana Baca Seis Poemas
Yonlu A Society In Which No Tear Is Shed Is Inconceivably Mediocre
Marcio Local Says Don Day Don Dree Don Don: Adventures In Samba Soul
Various Artists Luaka Bop: Twenty First Century, Twenty First Year
The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! I Love You I Love You I Love You and I’m In Love With You! Have an Awesome Day!
Kings Go Forth The Outsiders Are Back 2010
Don't Take My Shadow: The Tom Moulton Mixes
Tom Zé Studies of Tom Zé: Explaining Things So I Can Confuse You (Compilation)
Estudando A Bossa (Nordeste Plaza)
Javelin No Mas
"Coleridge" b/w "Colleagues" 2011
Canyon Candy
Delicate Steve "Butterfly" b/w "Albatross"
Wondervisions
Susana Baca Afrodiaspora
Bright Moments Natives 2012
Delicate Steve Positive Force
Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang En Yay Sah
Tim Maia World Psychedelic Classics 4: Nobody Can Live Forever – The Existential Soul of Tim Maia
Javelin EP 1 & EP 2
Hi Beams 2013
Various Artists Adventures in Afropea 3: Telling Stories to the Sea
William Onyeabor World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
Moreno Veloso Coisa Boa 2014
William Onyeabor Box Set 1
Box Set 2
What?! (Remixes and covers)
Body & Soul 2015
Crashes in Love (Original Verson)
Crashes in Love (2nd Version)
Good Name
Tomorrow
Body & Soul
Great Lover
Hypertension
Anything You Sow
Doug Hream Blunt My Name Is Doug Hream Blunt
Floating Points Elaenia
Kuiper 2016
William Onyeabor Atomic Bomb
Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang Build Music 2017
Floating Points Reflections: Mojave Desert
Alice Coltrane World Spirituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda
Kassin Relax 2018
Domenico Lancellotti The Good Is a Big God
Panduranga John Henderson Ocean Of Love
Preacherman Universal Philosophy: Preacherman Plays T.J. Hustler's Greatest Hits
Various Artists World Spirituality Classics 2: The Time for Peace Is Now: Gospel Music About Us 2019
Bremer/McCoy Utopia
Natten 2021
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra Promises
Pastor Champion I Just Want to be a Good Man 2022
Alhaji Waziri Oshomah World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife Of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah
Vol. 1-5 (1978-1984)
Staples Jr. Singers When Do We Get Paid
Tell Heaven (EP) 2023
Pharoah Sanders Pharoah
Staples Jr. Singers Searching 2024
Bremer/McCoy Kosmos

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Luaka Bop: An Introduction". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e "history « LUAKA BOP". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  3. ^ "Luaka Bop". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  4. ^ Knight-Ridder/Tribune, Fernando Gonzalez. "LUAKA BOP MAKES ITS IMPRINT". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  5. ^ "Yale Evelev, Luaka Bop". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  6. ^ "William Onyeabor: Box Set". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  7. ^ a b "Various Artists: The Time for Peace Is Now". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  8. ^ a b "Alice Coltrane: World Spirituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  9. ^ a b c "William Onyeabor: Who Is William Onyeabor?". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  10. ^ "David Byrne's Luaka Bop label is releasing a compilation of "secular gospel" from the 1970s, with liner notes by Jonathan Lethem". Boing Boing. 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  11. ^ "The 30 best reissues and retrospectives of 2017". The Vinyl Factory. 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  12. ^ Spice, Anton (2013-12-13). "The Top 100 vinyl releases of 2013: 20-1". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  13. ^ Archive-Robert-L-Doerschuk. "David Byrne's Luaka Bop Label To Reissue Catalog". MTV News. Retrieved 2020-08-25.[dead link]
  14. ^ ""The Atomic Bomb Band" Available Record Store Day! « LUAKA BOP". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  15. ^ "World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah by Alhaji Waziri Oshomah".
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