Radio Silence is an album by Boris Grebenshchikov (simplified to "Grebenshikov" on the cover), leader of the Russian group

Aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

. The album was recorded in 1988 – 1989 in studios in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, mostly with Western musicians, and produced by

David A. Stewart David Allan Stewart (born 9 September 1952) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for Eurythmics, his successful professional partnership with Annie Lennox. Sometimes credited as David A. Stewart, he won Best British ...

. It was hailed as the first contract of a Russian (then, Soviet) rock musician with a Western label. Having by then achieved the status of the most prominent rock musician in Russia, Boris had just recently been permitted to travel abroad (thanks to

Perestroika ''Perestroika'' (; russian: links=no, перестройка, p=pʲɪrʲɪˈstrojkə, a=ru-perestroika.ogg) was a political movement for reform within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) during the late 1980s widely associated wit ...

). On most tracks, only Alexander Titov (bass) is of the then-current Russian Aquarium band, the rest being Western musicians (with the exception of ''Death of King Arthur'' where many Aquarium musicians can be heard). It was originally planned that the album would have half songs in Russian and half in English, but in the final album there are only two Russian songs on the B side.

History

In 1987, American music producers Marina Albi and Kenny Shaffer noticed Grebenshchikov; they helped him to obtain a US visa and to sign a contract with CBS for recording eight albums. Radio Silence was the first one. It was recorded and presented in 1988 and distributed in 1989. The recording process was documented in the 1989 film ''The Long Way Home'' by Michael Apted.

Track listing

All songs were written by Grebenshchikov, except for "Death of King Arthur" and "China". #"Radio Silence" #"The Postcard" #"The Wind" #"The Time" #"Winter" #"That Voice Again" #"Молодые Львы (The Young Lions)" #"Fields of My Love" #"Death of King Arthur" (music by BG, lyrics by Sir Thomas Malory) #"Real Slow Today" #"Mother" #"Китай (China)" (music by

Alexander Vertinsky Alexander Nikolayevich Vertinsky (russian: Александр Николаевич Вертинский, — May 21, 1957) was a Russian and Soviet artist, poet, singer, composer, cabaret artist and actor who exerted seminal influence on the Ru ...

and lyrics by Nikolay Gumilyov)

Personnel

*Boris Grebenshchikov – vocals, guitar *David A. Stewart – guitar *Olle Romo – drums, synclavier *Patrick Seymour – keyboards * Sasha Titov,

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– bass *

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– oboe * Darryl Way – violin *

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– percussion *Dave Plews – trumpet *

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, Siobhan Stewart,

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, John Stewart, Harry Dean Stanton, Seva Gakkel, Charlie Wilson,

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, Joniece Jamison – vocals

Charts

References

{{Authority control Boris Grebenshchikov albums 1989 albums Albums produced by David A. Stewart Columbia Records albums