Baal (EP)

Infobox Album
Name = Baal EP
Type = EP
Artist = David Bowie


Released = 13 February 1982
Recorded = Hansa By The Wall, Berlin, September 1981
Length = 11:14
Label = RCA
BOW 11
Producer = Tony Visconti, David Bowie
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0ifpxqq5ldae Link]
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = David Bowie singles
Type = Singles
Last album = " Wild Is the Wind"
(1981)
This album = "Baal EP"
(1982)
Next album = "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
(1982)

"Baal" was an EP by David Bowie, comprising recordings of songs written for Bertolt Brecht’s play "Baal". It is sometimes referred to as "David Bowie in Bertolt Brecht’s Baal", as credited on the sleeve.

In August 1981, Bowie had begun rehearsals to appear in the BBC version of Baal. The lyrics to the songs were translated by Dominic Muldowney. In September 1981, Bowie and Tony Visconti returned to the Hansa studios in Berlin to re-record the five songs Baal performed in the play.

“Baal’s Hymn” is a combination of the vignettes spread throughout the play, and establishes Baal’s amoral character. “Remembering Marie A” concerns Baal’s reminiscences of a past conquest, where he can remember a cloud drifting overhead, but not the face of the girl he was with. “Ballad of the Adventurers” is Baal’s aggressive lament to the death of his mother. “The Drowned Girl” relates the suicide of one of Baal’s conquests – a video clip for this song was shot by David Mallet at the same time as the one for “Wild is the Wind”. “The Dirty Song” is a short number, with Baal humiliating his lover Sophie.

His performance as Baal was transmitted on February 2, 1982, and RCA issued the EP to coincide with this. Both the play and EP were well received, with the latter reaching #29 in the UK chart, commendable considering the unconventional tracks.

It would mark Bowie’s final new release on RCA.

"The Drowned Girl" was featured on the 2005 triple CD set "The Platinum Collection" and then the 2007 re-release of its third CD under the title "The Best of 1980/1987". "Drowned Girl" and Baal's Hymn are both included on "Sound & Vision" (4 CD Collection). No other tracks from this EP have ever been re-released.

Track listing

# "Baal’s Hymn" (Brecht/Muldowney) – 4:02
# "Remembering Marie A" (Traditional, adapted by Brecht/Muldowney) – 2:07
# "Ballad of the Adventurers" (Brecht/Muldowney) – 2:01
# "The Drowned Girl" (Brecht/Weill) – 2:26
# "The Dirty Song" (Brecht/Muldowney) – 0:38

Production credits

* Producers:
** Tony Visconti
** David Bowie

* Musicians:
** David Bowie: Vocals, Guitar
** Tony Visconti: Bass

Other instruments are played by uncredited sessions players.