Variations on a Theme (David Thomas album)

Last updated
Variations on a Theme
David Thomas - Variations on a Theme.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 1983 (1983-06)
RecordedMarch 1983 (1983-03)
StudioSuma Recording
(Painesville, OH)
Genre Art rock
Length38:04
Label Rough Trade
Producer David Thomas
David Thomas chronology
Winter Comes Home
(1982)
Variations on a Theme
(1983)
More Places Forever
(1985)
Richard Thompson chronology
Shoot Out the Lights
(1982)
Variations on a Theme
(1983)
Hand of Kindness
(1983)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Robert Christgau B [2]

Variations on a Theme is the second studio album by experimental singer-songwriter David Thomas, released in May 1983 by Rough Trade Records. Like its predecessor The Sound of the Sand , Variations on a Theme features prominent guitar work from Richard Thompson. [3] In 1997, the album was remastered by Paul Hamann and David Thomas for its inclusion in the Monster anthology box set. It was the only album in the set to be remixed, and its running order was changed.

Experimental rock is a subgenre of rock music which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, with some of the genre's distinguishing characteristics being improvisational performances, avant-garde influences, odd instrumentation, opaque lyrics, unorthodox structures and rhythms, and an underlying rejection of commercial aspirations.

Singer-songwriter musician who writes, composes and sings

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose, and perform their own musical material, including lyrics and melodies.

David Thomas (musician) American musician and songwriter

David Thomas is an American singer, songwriter and musician.

Contents

Track listing

All lyrics are written by David Thomas.

Side one
No.TitleMusicLength
1."A Day at the Botanical Gardens" David Thomas 3:21
2."Pedestrian Walk"David Thomas, Eddie Thornton 4:34
3."Bird Town" Richard Thompson 2:43
4."The Egg & I" Anton Fier 2:55
5."Who Is It?" Lindsay Cooper, Chris Cutler 3:39
Side two
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Song of Hoe"David Thomas6:03
2."Hurry Back" Jim Jones 4:19
3."The Rain"Chris Cutler, Anton Fier5:17
4."Semaphore"Lindsay Cooper, Chris Cutler, Jack Monck 5:13

Personnel

Adapted from the Variations on a Theme liner notes. [4]

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United Kingdom 1983 Rough Trade LP ROUGH 60
United States Sixth InternationalSilo2

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References

  1. Anderson, Rick. "David Thomas: Variations on a Theme > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  2. Christgau, Robert. "David Thomas". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  3. Grant, Steven; Sheridan, David (2007). "David Thomas". Trouser Press . Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  4. Variations on a Theme (sleeve). David Thomas & the Pedestrians. London, United Kingdom: Rough Trade Records. 1983.CS1 maint: others (link)
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