Luaka Bop

Luaka Bop is a world music-oriented record label established by David Byrne, former guitarist/singer/songwriter of the art rock/new wave band Talking Heads. It is considered a semi-independent label, since it receives major-label distribution. The label was started in the late 1980s; in addition to Byrne's solo records, the label has put out albums by Los Amigos Invisibles, King Changó, Jim White, Shoukichi Kina, A R Kane, Tom Zé, Os Mutantes, Zap Mama[1], and Cornershop, among others. Luaka Bop has also been responsible for putting together several series of compilations representing sounds from around the world. Brazil Classics kicked off the label and a set of seven albums surveying eras and artists ranging from Samba to Tropicália. Ventures into Afro-Peruvian[2] and AfroPean musics unearthed the talents of Susana Baca and Zap Mama, respectively. World Psychedelic Classics is made up of 4 albums and includes artists such as Shuggie Otis[3], Os Mutantes[4], Tim Maia[5] as well as West African artists of the late 60's. Additionally, the label has released Cuba[6] and Asia Classics[7].

Byrne took the phrase "Luaka Bop" for his record label from the inner packaging of a specialty tea which is sold in England. (Luaka is the name of a tea importer. Luaka's "Broken Orange Pekoe" is packaged in a silver foil block; when the sleeve is removed, it reveals a white label stuck to the foil, reading "Luaka BOP".)

Albums

Compilations

• World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 3: Love's a Real Thing
• Everything is Possible: The Best of Os Mutantes

Studio Albums

Susana Baca

• "Travesías"[8]
• "Espírituvivo"[9]
• "Susana Baca"[10]
• "Eco de Sombras: Echo of Shadows"[11]

King Chango

• "The Return of El Santo"[12]
• "King Chango"[13]

Los Amigos Invisibles

• "The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1"[14]
• "Arepa 3000: a Venezuelan Journey into Space"[15]
• "The New Sound of the Venzuelan Gozadera"[16]

Jim White

• "Drill a Hole in That Substrate and Tell Me What You See"[17]
• "No Such Place"[18]
• "Jim White"[19]
• "Wrong Eyed Jesus"[20]
• "SEARCHING FOR THE WRONG-EYED JESUS"[21]

Nouvelle Vague

• "Band A' Part"[22]
• "Nouvelle Vague"[23]

Shuggie Otis

• "Inspiration Information"[24]

Zap Mama

• "A Ma Zone"[25]
• "Seven"[26]
• "Sabsylma"[27]
• "Adventures in Afropea 1"[28]
• "Ancestry in Progress"[29]

Kassin + 2

• "Futurismo"[30]
• "Sincerely Hot"[31]
• "Music Typewriter"[32]

Tom Zé

• "Estudando o Pagode"[33]
• "Postmodern Platos"[34]
• "Fabrication Defect"[35]
• "The Hips of Tradition]"[36]
• "The Best of Tom Zé: Massive Hits"[37]

External links

• Official site
• Myspacede:Luaka Bop