''Tribal Opera'' is an album by
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard III (December 16, 1951 – August 16, 1992) was an American record producer, folk rock singer and songwriter from Macon, Georgia.
Heard released sixteen albums, and produced or performed with many artists, including: Sam Phil ...
(using the pseudonym iDEoLA), released in 1987 on
What? Records
What? Records was a short-lived record label started by Word Records and A&M Records, intended to focus on creative and unusual rock and roll records with spiritual messages.
In the short time that the label existed, it released albums by Mark H ...
. 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.
Both
Rich Mullins
Richard Wayne Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997) was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter best known for his worship songs " Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step". Some of his albums were listed by ''CC ...
and
Olivia Newton-John
Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British-Australian singer, actress and activist. She was a four-time Grammy Award winner whose music career included 15 top-ten singles, including 5 number-one singles on the ...
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
All songs written by Mark Heard.
Side one
# "I Am An Emotional Man" – 4:30
# "Is It Any Wonder" – 3:49
# "Watching the Ship Go Down" – 3:53
# "Talk To Me" – 3:49
# "Go Ask the Dead Man" – 3:52
Side two
# "Love Is Bigger Than Life" – 3:37
# "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" – 5:07
# "Everybody Dances" – 4:07
# "Why Can't We Just Say No" – 4:24
# "Hold Back Your Tears" – 3:47
Personnel
The band
* iDEoLA – all instruments and vocals
Additional musicians
People who hit things for digital samples at Fingerprint Recorders: Doug Mathews,
David McSparran,
Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong (born November 29, 1959) is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band the Choir. Since 2006, Hindalong has also been an official member of the alternative ...
, David Baker (who also played the Wengi Drum introduction for "Talk To Me") and
Dan Michaels
The Choir is an atmospheric Christian alternative rock band currently comprising Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums, and Dan Michaels on saxophone and lyricon. Long-time bassist Tim Chandler died in 2018, and guita ...
Production notes
*Produced and recorded by Mark Heard at
Fingerprint Recorders
''Fingerprint Recorders'' was a recording studio owned by Mark Heard, where he recorded most of his own records. The studio was located in Montrose, California.
Many other artists also recorded there from time to time, including those that were ...
,
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
*Mixed digitally by Mark Heard at Can Am Recorders,
Tarzana, California
Tarzana is a suburban neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Tarzana is on the site of a former ranch owned by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is named after Burroughs' fictional jungle hero, Tarzan.
History ...
*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
{{Authority control
1987 albums
Mark Heard albums