Music for "The Knee Plays"

Untitled

Music for "The Knee Plays" (1985) is an album by David Byrne composed for Robert Wilson's opera the CIVIL warS. The album was originally released on vinyl and a remastered and expanded CD version was released in November 2007 under the title The Knee Plays.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Track listing

1. "Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion)" (David Byrne) - 4:02
2. "In the Upper Room" (David Blumberg, Byrne) - 3:35
3. "The Sound of Business" (Byrne) - 6:15
4. "Social Studies" (Byrne) - 4:52
5. "(The Gift of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 2:34
6. "Theadora Is Dozing" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 2:59
7. "Admiral Perry" (Byrne) - 5:32
8. "I Bid You Goodnight" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 2:51
9. "I've Tried" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 3:24
10. "Winter" (Byrne) - 6:11
11. "Jungle Book" (Byrne) - 3:38
12. "In the Future" (Byrne) - 6:35

Re-release

Untitled

The Knee Plays is the title of David Byrne's remastered and expanded edition of his Music for "The Knee Plays". It is the first time the album is released on CD, and it includes eight previously unreleased bonus tracks and a DVD of the music set to a slideshow of 400 black and white photographs.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	2007
The Guardian	2007
Pitchfork Media	2007

New track listing

All compositions by David Byrne, except where indicated.

1. "Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion)" - 4:07
2. "In the Upper Room" (Traditional, arranged by the Baptist Methodist Choir Church of God, Byrne, David Blumberg) - 3:40
3. "The Sound of Business" - 6:20
4. "Social Studies" - 4:59
5. "(The Gift of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down" (Trad., arr. Clara Hudman "The Georgia Peach", Byrne, Blumberg) - 2:37
6. "Theadora Is Dozing" (Trad, arr. Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic, Byrne, Blumberg) - 3:04
7. "Admiral Perry" - 5:32
8. "I Bid You Goodnight" (Trad., arr the Pindar Family, Byrne, Blumberg) - 2:55
9. "Things to Do (I've Tried)" (Trad., arr Swan's Silvertone Singers, Byrne, Blumberg) - 3:27
10. "Winter" - 6:26
11. "Jungle Book" - 3:43
12. "In the Future" - 6:35
13. "Tree (Reprise)" - 2:36
14. "(I've Tried) Things to Do" - 3:28
15. "Tic Toc 2 (In the Future)" - 5:36
16. "Whisper" - 3:17
17. "Misterias" - 2:42
18. "Faust Dance" - 2:18
19. "Ghost" - 3:24
20. "Super Natural" - 2:56

DVD track listing

1. "Tree (Today Is An Important Occasion)" (David Byrne) - 4:07
2. "In the Upper Room" (David Blumberg, Byrne) - 3:40
3. "The Sound of Business" (Byrne) - 6:20
4. "Social Studies" (Byrne) - 4:59
5. "(The Gift of Sound) Where the Sun Never Goes Down" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 2:37
6. "Theadora Is Dozing" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 3:04
7. "Admiral Perry" (Byrne) - 5:32
8. "I Bid You Goodnight" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 2:55
9. "Things to Do (I've Tried)" (Blumberg, Byrne) - 3:27
10. "Winter" (Byrne) - 6:26
11. "Jungle Book" (Byrne) - 3:43
12. "In the Future" (Byrne) - 6:35
13. "Tree (Reprise)" - 2:36

Personnel

• Garnett Brown - trombone
• Ray Brown - trumpet on tracks 1–5, 10–12
• David Byrne - vocals
• Pete Christlieb - saxophone on tracks 1–5, 10–12
• Rich Cooper - trumpet on tracks 1–5, 10–12
• Ernie Fields - baritone saxophone
• Chuck Findley - trumpet on tracks 1–4, 11
• Bill Green - baritone saxophone
• Bobbye Hall - percussion
• Dana Hughes - trombone
• Paul Humphrey - drums
• Jackie Kelso - saxophone on tracks 5–10, 12
• Harry Kim - trumpet on tracks 5–10, 12
• Don Myrick - saxophone on tracks 1–4, 11
• Nolan Smith - trumpet on tracks 1–5, 10–12
• David Stout - trombone
• Phil Teil - trombone
• Ernie Watts - saxophone on tracks 1–4, 11
• Fred Wesley - trombone

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Worldwide	1985	Regal Zonophone	LP	2403811
		ECM		25022
	2007	Nonesuch	CD	303228

External links

• Homepage for the re-release