Tribal Opera


Tribal Opera is an album by Mark Heard, released in 1987 on What? Records. It is a full-on solo project, put together by Heard in his home studio using samples and acoustic, electric and electronic instruments. The band name iDEoLA has no particular meaning; of it Heard said, "It's not supposed to be mysterious or anything; I just put a band together and right now I happen to be the only one in it." The album was a big departure step away from the country/folk-rock atmosphere of much of Heard's prior and subsequent music.
Both Rich Mullins and Olivia Newton-John later covered "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" on their own albums. Americana artist John Austin covered "Go Ask the Dead Man".

Track listing

All songs written by Mark Heard.
Side one
  1. "I Am An Emotional Man" – 4:30
  2. "Is It Any Wonder" – 3:49
  3. "Watching the Ship Go Down" – 3:53
  4. "Talk To Me" – 3:49
  5. "Go Ask the Dead Man" – 3:52
Side two
  1. "Love Is Bigger Than Life" – 3:37
  2. "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" – 5:07
  3. "Everybody Dances" – 4:07
  4. "Why Can't We Just Say No" – 4:24
  5. "Hold Back Your Tears" – 3:47

    Personnel

The band
Additional musicians
People who hit things for digital samples at Fingerprint Recorders: Doug Mathews, David McSparran, Steve Hindalong, David Baker and Dan Michaels
Production notes