Seven Souls is a 1989 album by the American music group Material. A collaboration with author William S. Burroughs, the album features his narration of passages from his novel The Western Lands (1987) set to musical accompaniment.
The album was re-released in 1997 with bonus tracks, three re-mixes that were added to the beginning of the album. In 1998, a new title, The Road to the Western Lands, was issued, composed of new mixes of the tracks.
"Equation" / "Ineffect" was released as a single in 1989 (Virgin America, PR 3380).
Track listing "Ineffect" (Bill Laswell, Nicky Skopelitis, William S. Burroughs, Simon Shaheen) – 7:34 "Seven Souls" (Laswell, Burroughs) – 5:42 "Soul Killer" (Laswell, Burroughs) – 4:32 "The Western Lands" (Laswell, Skopelitis, Burroughs) – 6:54 "Deliver" (Laswell, Skopelitis, Foday Musa Suso) – 5:48 "Equation" (Laswell, Skopelitis, Rammellzee) – 5:06 "The End of Words" (Laswell, Burroughs) – 5:06
Seven Souls (Remix) "The Western Lands" [a Dangerous Road Mix] (Laswell, Burroughs) – 8:31 "Seven Souls" [Tim Simenon Mix] (Tim Simenon, Burroughs) – 7:06 "Soul Killer" [Remote Control Mix by Terre Thaemlitz] (Terre Thaemlitz, Burroughs) – 8:15 The rest of the album as per the original release
The Road to the Western Lands Bill Laswell – "The Seven Souls" (Burroughs, Laswell) – 5:47 Talvin Singh – "The Western Lands" (Burroughs, Talvin Singh) 6:36 DJ Soul Slinger – "The Western Lands" (Burroughs, DJ Soul Slinger) 5:09 Spring Heel Jack – "The Road to the Western Lands" (Burroughs, John Coxon, Ashley Wales) 6:17 The Audio Janitor (DJ Olive) – "Joan's Haunted Hints at the Gate to the Western Lands" (Burroughs, DJ Olive) 6:37 Bill Laswell – "Seven Souls" [The Secret Name] (Burroughs, Laswell) 10:37 Material – "The Western Lands" [A Dangerous Road Mix] (Burroughs, Laswell) – 8:31
Personnel Material Bill Laswell – 4, 6 and 8-string basses, acoustic guitar, tapes, percussion
Additional personnel William S. Burroughs – voice Rammellzee – voice ("Equation") Foday Musa Suso – voice ("Deliver") Fahiem Dandan – voice ("Ineffect") Nicky Skopelitis – 6 and 12 string guitars, baglama, coral sitar, saz, Fairlight CMI Simon Shaheen – violin L. Shankar – violin Jeff Bova – electronic keyboards Sly Dunbar – drums, Fairlight Aïyb Dieng – percussion
"The Western Lands" [a Dangerous Road Mix] Jah Wobble – bass Bill Laswell – bass samples Nicky Skopelitis – guitar Tetsu Inoue – electronics DJ Spooky – noise
"The Seven Souls" [The Secret Name] Alicia Renee aka Blue Eyes: vocals Nicky Skopelitis: guitar Bill Laswell: bass, keyboards, turntable
Production Recorded at Platinum Island Studio and BC Studio, New York. Produced by Bill Laswell / Material.
Release history Seven Souls – 1989 – Virgin, CDV 2596 (CD) Seven Souls (Remix) – 1997 – Triloka Records, 314 534 905-2 (CD) The Road to the Western Lands – 1998 – Triloka / Mercury, 314 558 021-2 (2x 12" / CD)
In popular culture The track "Seven Souls" is featured in the opening scene and in the closing credits of The Sopranos Season 6 episode, "Members Only".
References
External links
Seven Souls at Bandcamp