By 1980 Laurie Anderson was well established as one of America’s most significant performance artists and avant-garde musicians. This live recording of her ambitious, amorphous performance piece The United States was made for the Columbia, Missouri community station KOPN just prior to the release of her breakthrough single, 0 Superman, and offers a vivid insight into her stage performances of the time. It’s presented here with background notes and images.
1 . INTRO
2 . SAY HELLO
3 . WALK THE DOG
4 . VIOLIN SOLO
5 . CLOSED CIRCUITS
6 . FOR A LARGE & CHANGING ROOM
7 . THE LANGUAGE OF THE FUTURE
8. CARTOON SONG
9 . WE ARE TAPPING YOUR LINE
10 . SWEATERS
11 . IT WAS UP IN THE MOUNTAINS
12 . FRAMES FOR THE PICTURES
13 . BEGINNING ITALIAN
14 . UNTITLED INSTRUMENTAL
15 . DOG SHOW / LOOKING FOR YOU
16 . NINA SIMONE (?)
17 . DEMOCRATIC WAY
18 . THREE SONGS FOR PAPER, FILM & VIDEO
19 . I CAN DRAW YOU SO THAT YOU HAVE NO EARS
20. WALKING AND FALLING / ENGLISH
21 . I DREAMED I HAD TO TAKE A TEST
22. SAX SOLO
23. FOR A LARGE & CHANGING ROOM (REPRISE)
24. OUTRO
