The Litanies of Satan

The Litanies of Satan is the debut album by American avant-garde artist Diamanda Galás, released in the United Kingdom by Y Records in 1982; it was released in her home country in 1989.

For the Baudelaire poem, see Les Litanies de Satan.
The Litanies of Satan
Studio album by
Diamanda Galás
Released25 February 1982
RecordedSeptember 1981 (1981-09)–1982 (1982)
StudioNadir Studios, London, England and San Diego, CA
Genre
Length29:51
LabelY
ProducerDave Hunt
Diamanda Galás chronology
If Looks Could Kill
(1979)		 The Litanies of Satan
(1982)		 Diamanda Galás
(1984)

Content

The text for "The Litanies of Satan" is taken from a section of Les Fleurs du Mal by Charles Baudelaire. According to the album liner notes, the piece "devotes itself to the emeraldine perversity of the life struggle in Hell." The notes go on to state that "Wild Women with Steak-Knives," from the tragedy-grotesque by Diamanda Galás Eyes Without Blood, is "a cold examination of unrepentant monomania, the devoration instinct, for which the naive notion of filial mercy will only cock a vestigial grin."

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Trouser Press described it as "a disturbing and provocative piece."[2]

Track listing

In some issues, the vinyl sides are oppositely labeled, while all compact disc reissues also present the tracks in the incorrect order.

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Litanies of Satan"Charles BaudelaireDiamanda Galás17:48
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Wild Women with Steak-Knives (The Homicidal Love Song for Solo Scream)"Diamanda GalásDiamanda Galás12:04

Personnel
Production personnel
  • Dick O’Dell — executive production
  • Dave Hunt — production, engineering on side one
  • Durand Rene Legault — recording, engineering assistant on side two
  • Richard Zvonar — engineering on side two
  • Will Gullette — photography
  • Martyn Lambert — design

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog
United Kingdom 1982 Y LP Y 18
United States 1989 Mute CD, LP ISO 1
Restless 71419

References
  1. Olewnick, Brian. "The Litanies of Satan". Allmusic. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
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