Labyrinth (David Bowie album)

Labyrinth is a soundtrack album by English musician David Bowie and South African composer Trevor Jones, released in 1986 for the film Labyrinth. It was the second of three soundtrack releases in which Bowie had a major role, following Christiane F. and preceding The Buddha of Suburbia. The soundtrack album features Jones' score, which is split into six tracks for the soundtrack: "Into the Labyrinth", "Sarah", "Hallucination", "The Goblin Battle", "Thirteen O'Clock", and "Home at Last".

Labyrinth
Soundtrack album by
Released23 June 1986 (1986-06-23)
RecordedJuly–September 1985
Genre
Length43:33
LabelEMI AML 3104
Producer
David Bowie chronology
Tonight
(1984)
Labyrinth
(1986)
Never Let Me Down
(1987)
Singles from Labyrinth
  1. "Underground"
    Released: 9 June 1986
  2. "Magic Dance"
    Released: January 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Background

Bowie was approached to take part in the film in 1983 during his Serious Moonlight Tour when he saw early designs for the movie and a video of The Dark Crystal. Bowie had wanted to make music for a children's film and saw this as his chance.[2] Bowie recorded five songs for the film: "Underground", "Magic Dance", "Chilly Down", "As the World Falls Down", and "Within You". "Underground" features on the soundtrack twice, first in an edited version that was played over the film's opening sequence and secondly in full. "Underground" was released in various territories as a single, and in certain markets was also released in an instrumental version and an extended dance mix.[3] "Magic Dance" was released as a 12" single in the U.S.[4] "As the World Falls Down" was initially slated for release as a follow-up single to "Underground" at Christmas in 1986, but this plan did not materialize.[5] The only song Bowie did not perform lead vocal on is "Chilly Down", which was performed by Charles Augins, Richard Bodkin, Kevin Clash, and Danny John-Jules, the actors who voiced the 'Fire Gang' creatures in the film.[6]

Promotion

Steve Barron produced promotional music videos for "Underground" and "As the World Falls Down". The music video for "Underground" features Bowie as a nightclub singer who stumbles upon the world of the Labyrinth, encountering many of the creatures seen in the film. The clip for "As the World Falls Down" integrates clips from the film, using them alongside black-and-white shots of Bowie performing the song in an elegant room.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Opening Titles Including Underground"music by Trevor Jones; lyrics by Bowie3:21
2."Into the Labyrinth"Jones2:12
3."Magic Dance"Bowie5:13[lower-alpha 1]
4."Sarah"Jones3:12
5."Chilly Down"Bowie3:44
6."Hallucination"Jones3:02
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."As the World Falls Down"Bowie4:51
2."The Goblin Battle"Jones3:31
3."Within You"Bowie3:30
4."Thirteen O'Clock"Jones3:06
5."Home at Last"Jones1:49
6."Underground"Bowie5:57
Total length:43:33

Personnel

Adapted from Discogs.[8][9]

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Dutch Albums Chart[10] 39
German Albums Chart[10] 29
New Zealand Albums Chart[10] 15
UK Albums Chart[9] 38
US Billboard 200[11] 68

Notes

  1. On the 2017 vinyl reissue, "Magic Dance" has been edited down to 4:13[7]

References

  1. Labyrinth at AllMusic
  2. Owen, Williams (17 May 2016). "Labyrinth: The behind-the-scenes history". EmpireOnline.com. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. McDonald, Steve. "Labyrinth (1986)". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  4. Pegg 2011, p. 158.
  5. Pegg 2011, p. 28.
  6. "Labyrinth Liner Notes". Labyrinth (Liner Notes). David Bowie. EMI. 1986.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "David Bowie, Trevor Jones – Labyrinth (From The Original Soundtrack Of The Jim Henson Film)". Discogs. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  8. "Labyrinth (From the Original Soundtrack of the Jim Henson Film) – Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  9. Pegg 2011, p. 426.
  10. "Soundtrack / David Bowie / Trevor Jones – Labyrinth" (in Dutch). Hung Median Charts Portal. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  11. "Labyrinth (1986) – Awards". Billboard 200. Allmusic. Retrieved 12 March 2013.

Works cited

  • Pegg, Nicholas (2011). The Complete David Bowie (6th ed.). London: Titan Books. ISBN 9780857682901.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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