Maps of Music

Zombie Birdhouse (1982)

Where the lyrics of Zombie Birdhouse take you, and where it was really made.

The bonus track added to the 1991 remaster was not recorded for this album. It came from a 1983 film.

Key places

Recorded at Blank Tape Studios, June 1982 (1982)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album was recorded on 16-track in June 1982 at Blank Tape Studios in New York City. The map point uses city-center coordinates, so it marks the New York City area rather than the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Zombie Birdhouse: sixth solo studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop
• Released September 1982 on Animal Records, the label run by Chris Stein of Blondie
• Chris Stein produced the album
• Rob Duprey played guitar, keyboards and background vocals; Clem Burke played drums and percussion
• Chris Stein played bass on several tracks and handled art direction
• Esther Friedman handled cover photography
• The 1991 remaster added the bonus track 'Pain and Suffering'
• The 2003 double-disc reissue added a concert recorded in Toronto on 28 October 1982

Background

• Arista declined to renew Iggy Pop's contract
• Chris Stein, who had just founded his own label, approached Iggy Pop
• Stein invested 50,000 dollars, and Iggy agreed to release his next album on Stein's label
• Iggy chose Rob Duprey, a guitarist from his previous tour, as his songwriting partner
• The album departs from the new-wave polish of the three Arista albums

Recording

• Recorded in June 1982 on a 16-track machine at Blank Tape Studios in New York City
• The sessions used a small group: Iggy Pop, Rob Duprey, Chris Stein and Clem Burke
• Joe Arlotta was the session engineer and Butch Jones the mixing engineer

Cover

• Esther Friedman took the cover photograph
• In April 1982 Iggy Pop travelled to Haiti with Friedman for the jacket shoot

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Artist

Formation

• James Newell Osterberg Jr., born April 21, 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan, known as Iggy Pop.
• Began as drummer in Ann Arbor high school bands, including the Iguanas and the Prime Movers, where he got the nickname "Iggy".
• Formed the Psychedelic Stooges with Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander; he became the lead vocalist, nicknamed "Pop".
• Signed with Elektra Records in 1968, following the Doors.

Members

• Original Stooges lineup: Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), Scott Asheton (drums), Dave Alexander (bass).
• Later lineup included James Williamson (guitar) and Scott Thurston; the band reunited with Mike Watt and Steve Mackay in 2003-2005.

Career

• The Stooges' albums sold poorly, but they became known for confrontational live performances, including self-mutilation and stage-diving.
• Raw Power (1973) became influential on the Sex Pistols, the Smiths and Nirvana.
• Solo debut with David Bowie: The Idiot and Lust for Life (1977), with Bowie producing; "China Girl" was later a hit for Bowie in 1983.
• Only Top 40 US hit "Candy" (1990), a duet with Kate Pierson of the B-52's.
• "Lust for Life" was featured in the film Trainspotting (1996).
• The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010; Pop received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
• Also an actor and voice performer in films and television, and hosts the radio show Iggy Confidential on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Parke Puterbaugh of Rolling Stone called it 'a brainy, well-plotted collection with more depth than could have been expected from the author of I Wanna Be Your Dog'
• Robert Christgau of The Village Voice named it Iggy's most experimental album to date
• Christgau praised Rob Duprey's stylistic continuity but panned Pop's slogans, social theory, in-jokes and vocal dramaturgy
• Sandy Robertson of Sounds felt Chris Stein provided little of his familiar style

Reappraisal

• Mark Deming of AllMusic called it a failure, but one of the most interesting and ambitious failures of Iggy's career
• Ian Gittins of Classic Pop called it a curious and rambling affair that was fun to make but not fun to replay
• Ross Horton of The Line of Best Fit gave a positive review, calling it an absolutely delicious car-crash of a record
• Jeffrey Ramos of Minor Clash Publications called it Pop's final new wave-era album

Records

• No notable chart action in the UK or the US

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The bonus track 'Pain and Suffering' on the 1991 remaster was used in the 1983 film Rock & Rule and was not recorded for this album.
• The Discogs release notes record a print error on the back cover, which reads 'Zombi Birdhouse'.
• On his first Japan tour, Iggy Pop met Asano Suchi, who later became his wife.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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