Social Studies (Carla Bley album) explained

Social Studies
Type:	Album
Artist:	Carla Bley
Cover:	Social Studies (Carla Bley album).jpg
Released:	1981
Recorded:	September–December 1980
Studio:	Grog Kill Studio, Willow, New York
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	41:16
Label:	Watt/ECM
Producer:	Carla Bley
Chronology:	Carla Bley
Prev Title:	Musique Mecanique
Prev Year:	1978
Next Title:	Live!
Next Year:	1981

Social Studies is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley, recorded in 1980 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1981.^[1]

Reception

The AllMusic review by Alex Henderson stated: "Bley's risk-taking serves her quite well on Social Studies, an unorthodox and adventurous pearl that is as rewarding as it is cerebral".^[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3 stars, stating that "Social Studies shouldn't be missed: a bookish cover masks some wonderfully wry music".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Carla Bley except where noted.

1. "Reactionary Tango (In Three Parts)" (Carla Bley, Steve Swallow) - 12:54
2. "Copyright Royalties" - 6:45
3. "Útviklingssang" - 6:31
4. "Valse Sinistre" - 4:56
5. "Floater" - 5:56
6. "Walking Batteriewoman" - 4:24

Personnel

• Carla Bley - organ, piano
  • • • • • • Michael Mantler - trumpet Carlos Ward - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone Tony Dagradi - tenor saxophone, clarinet Joe Daley - euphonium Gary Valente - trombone Earl McIntyre - tuba Steve Swallow - bass guitar
• D. Sharpe - drums

Notes and References

1. http://www.trovar.com/ECM/WATT.php ECM/WATT discography
2. Henderson, A. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r135558|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic Review] accessed August 3, 2010
3. Book: Cook, Richard. Richard Cook (journalist). Brian Morton . Brian Morton (Scottish writer) . The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. 1992. 9th. The Penguin Guide to Jazz. 2008. Penguin. New York. 978-0-14-103401-0. 130.