Album of the Day — September 18
Arthur Russell — Iowa Dream
18.September.2020
Arthur Russell
Iowa Dream
2019
Some artists are of their time, some ahead of it, and some behind it. And other artists transcend time.
Arthur Russell transcends time.
The shadow he casts over pop music is long.
Iowa born Russell moved to New York City in the mid-’70s (ish) and fit right into the burgeoning avant-garde music scene.
In addition to working with composers like Steve Reich, Phillip Glass, and poet Allen Ginsberg, he also worked with musicians like David Byrne of Talking Heads.
Under the pseudonym Dinosaur L and Indian Ocean, he made several underground dance hits. And while he did generate a considerable amount of material, Arthur Russell was only able to complete two solo albums — 1983’s Tower of Meaning, and World of Echo in 1986 — during his lifetime.
Russell gained enough notoriety that he was able to get the ear of Columbia Record’s legendary kingmaker John Hammond. During his tenure at Columbia, Hammond signed the following artists to the…
