Arthur Russell

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Arthur Russell (1951 - April 4, 1992) was a prodigious talent. Classically trained on cello while growing up in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Arthur studied with Ali Akbar Khan in San Francisco in the early 1970’s.

During this period he also collaborated with Allen Ginsberg, accompanying him on cello while Ginsberg read or sang. Russell also spent time in a Buddhist commune in California; he left when they decided to collectivise his cello.

By the mid-1970’s Russell relocated to New York City, where he studied at The Manhattan School of Music. He formed a band from 1975-1979, The Flying Hearts, recorded by John Hammond and featuring David Byrne, Rhys Chatham, Jon Gibson, Peter Gordon, Jerry Harrison, Garret List, Frank Pagano, Andy Paley, Leni Pickett, and Peter Zummo.

In the late 1970s Russell became enamoured with the disco scene in New York. While disco today gets a bad rep, at the time it represented a liberation force, particularly for the gay scene, just a few years after the Stonewall riots. (For more see “Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco” by Peter Shapiro).

‘Kiss Me Again’ was Russell’s first dance track. Released under the name Dinosaur L by Sire records, it was to be the first of many innovative dancefloor tracks released under different names and with different collaborators, such as ‘Is It All Over My Face’ by Loose Joints, released in 1980. In 1982, Arthur Russell and William Socolov founded Sleeping Bag records and their first release was his 24-24 Music.

Tagged as:

avant-garde, experimental, disco, no wave, electronic
See more…

1	I Couldn't Say It to Your Face	592
2	Close My Eyes	417
3	Goodbye Old Paint	317
4	Maybe She	300
5	Oh Fernanda Why	281
6	Time Away	274
7	Nobody Wants a Lonely Heart	271
8	Eli	235
9	Hey! How Does Everybody Know	228
10	This Is How We Walk on the Moon full track	227
11	Habit of You	226
12	What It's Like	215
13	A Little Lost	213
14	This Time Dad, You're Wrong	205
15	Your Motion Says	200

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tongsessplode wrote:
yesterday morning

calling all kids calling all kids. incredible track. so far ahead of the game

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Korubi wrote:
Thursday morning

world of echo

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sintti44 wrote:
Wednesday evening

True genius

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tongsessplode wrote:
Tuesday evening

the last 24 hours all i hear in my head is this man's music. its wow

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upyano wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

True Genius. Too bad he died so early :(

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1800sseamonster wrote:
Sunday morning

I guess what I'm trying to say is, why the fuck didn't I hear about this man until right now? It's absolutely criminal....

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1800sseamonster wrote:
last week

I'm absolutely enraged that no one ever told me about Arthur until right now, when he died so long ago, and when we was alive and worked so brilliantly so long ago.

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Fastro wrote:
11 days ago

how come there's artist like this, with so many fans.. being avant-garde.. crazy :D

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mediajorge wrote:
13 days ago

arthur russell still sounds fresh....

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[deleted-user] wrote:
28 days ago

criminally underrated genius
jiggmiester wrote:
November 2008

Been a big Arthur Russell fan for the last 3/4 years he is without doubt a genius. This last month has been great. Wild Combination is an excellent portrait and very moving. The latest album 'love is overtaking me' has really grown on me and i'd argue its some of his strongest work after 'world of echo' although its all pretty damn amazing in its own unique way. I hope Audika keep releasing more of his tapes if the quality is this consistent.

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DominoDub wrote:
November 2008

Just watched "Wild Combination: a Portrait of Arthur Russell" great film really well put together.

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Vibbly wrote:
November 2008

ascensionday, I pity you for identifying passion with the sound of a retarded man singing into a bucket of water after oral surgery

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cboes wrote:
November 2008

Wild Combination is great.

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WhoMadeCookies wrote:
November 2008

i have love is overtaking me and i like it, but i dont see the avant-garde, experimental, no wave. I hear great folk songs with a touch of electronica. Either way, his similar artists are awesome, I guess his fans are great people

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Bocaburgler wrote:
November 2008

so heartfelt and beautiful. I'm glad i'm came across this

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ParadiseFound wrote:
November 2008

Arthur Russell is my inspiration!

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Novemberer wrote:
November 2008

Mmmm.

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Pissholesurfers wrote:
November 2008

vvv

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karlajudith wrote:
November 2008

:]

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