Starpeace
Encyclopedia
Starpeace is Yoko Ono
's 1985 concept album, designed to spread a message of peace around the world as an opposition to Ronald Reagan
's "Star Wars" missile defense system
. As with most Ono albums it did not chart extensively but the single release of "Hell in Paradise
" reached #16 on the US dance charts.
In 1986, Ono set out on a critically acclaimed world tour to accompany the album's message. The CD reissue includes a live recording of "Imagine
" from the sellout Budapest
show of the tour. An a'capella version of "Now or Never" from the same show was also a bonus track on A Story
. Words, music, concept, and vocals by Ono.
The 1984 video documentary release Yoko Ono: Now & Then includes footage of the recording sessions for Starpeace. Over the end credits, Ono performs an unreleased song apparently entitled "Rainbow Time".
A 12" promo single was released for the song "Cape Clear", featuring a re-edit of "Walking on Thin Ice
" on the flipside.
However, the fans loved the shows, critics widely praised her for her performances, and she filled a venue of 15,000 in Budapest
. That said, planned US tour dates were postponed and eventually cancelled due to disappointing ticket sales. Rykodisc
's 1997 CD reissues of Ono's albums made available live versions of "Imagine
" and "Now or Never" from the tour.
The Starpeace setlist usually consisted of:
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
's 1985 concept album, designed to spread a message of peace around the world as an opposition to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's "Star Wars" missile defense system
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative was proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic...
. As with most Ono albums it did not chart extensively but the single release of "Hell in Paradise
Hell in Paradise
"Hell in Paradise" is a song by Yoko Ono from the 1985 album "Starpeace". The lyrics are about mankind's perceived idea of hell, despite living in the paradise that Ono considers to be planet Earth. After "Walking On Thin Ice", it was her biggest hit of the 1980s, charting at #16 on the US dance...
" reached #16 on the US dance charts.
In 1986, Ono set out on a critically acclaimed world tour to accompany the album's message. The CD reissue includes a live recording of "Imagine
Imagine (song)
"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
" from the sellout Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
show of the tour. An a'capella version of "Now or Never" from the same show was also a bonus track on A Story
A Story (album)
A Story is an album by Yoko Ono, recorded in 1974, during the "lost weekend" sessions in which John Lennon produced Walls And Bridges. The album went unreleased until the 1992 box set Onobox, which featured material from A Story on disc six. It only saw proper release as an individual album in...
. Words, music, concept, and vocals by Ono.
The 1984 video documentary release Yoko Ono: Now & Then includes footage of the recording sessions for Starpeace. Over the end credits, Ono performs an unreleased song apparently entitled "Rainbow Time".
A 12" promo single was released for the song "Cape Clear", featuring a re-edit of "Walking on Thin Ice
Walking on Thin Ice
"Walking on Thin Ice" is a New Wave/dance song by Yoko Ono, released in 1981. She and John Lennon concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. It was upon their return from the recording studio to The Dakota that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman...
" on the flipside.
Track listing
- "Hell in ParadiseHell in Paradise"Hell in Paradise" is a song by Yoko Ono from the 1985 album "Starpeace". The lyrics are about mankind's perceived idea of hell, despite living in the paradise that Ono considers to be planet Earth. After "Walking On Thin Ice", it was her biggest hit of the 1980s, charting at #16 on the US dance...
" – 3:27 - "I Love All Of Me" – 3:53
- "Children Power" – 2:15
- "Rainbow Revelation" – 3:21
- "The King Of The Zoo" – 3:01
- "Remember Raven" – 2:49
- "Cape Clear" – 5:08
- "Sky People" – 3:37
- "You And I" – 2:50
- "It's Gonna Rain (Living on Tiptoe)" – 4:00
- "Starpeace" – 3:14
- "I Love You, Earth" – 2:45
- "Imagine" (Live) (Bonus track) – 2:00
Singles
- "Hell in ParadiseHell in Paradise"Hell in Paradise" is a song by Yoko Ono from the 1985 album "Starpeace". The lyrics are about mankind's perceived idea of hell, despite living in the paradise that Ono considers to be planet Earth. After "Walking On Thin Ice", it was her biggest hit of the 1980s, charting at #16 on the US dance...
" (7" with instrumental version, 12" with remixes) (Reached #16 on US dance chart) - "Cape Clear" (Promo 12" with re-edit of "Walking On Thin Ice")
Personnel
- Produced by Bill LaswellBill LaswellBill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
and Yoko Ono - Recorded and mixed by Rob Stevens
- Keyboards - Bernie WorrellBernie WorrellGeorge Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
, Jeff BovaJeff BovaJeff Bova is an American Grammy Award winning keyboardist, composer, arranger and record producer. He has been active in music industry since the mid-1970s, contributing to dozens of recordings by significant mainstream artists like Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Blondie, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker,... - Guitar - Eddie MartinezEddie MartinezEddie Martinez is an American guitarist, born and raised in New York City, who mainly functions as a session musician. He has worked with David Lee Roth , Run-D.M.C. , Robert Palmer , Meat Loaf , several Jim Steinman projects, and many others...
- Violin - ShankarL. ShankarLakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
- Bass - Robbie Shakespeare
- Percussion - Sly DunbarSly DunbarLowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
, Tony Williams, Aïyb DiengAïyb DiengAïyb Dieng is a Senegalese drummer and percussionist specializing in hand drums. He has recorded one solo album , and has worked with a wide range of musicians but is perhaps best known for his long-term association with prolific bassist/producer Bill Laswell.-Biography:He was born and raised in...
, Daniel Ponce, Anton FierAnton FierAnton Fier, , is an American drummer, composer and bandleader. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio.Fier was an early member of The Lounge Lizards and The Feelies. He was in The Lodge , worked with Pere Ubu, was briefly in the Voidoids and founded The Golden Palominos... - Whistle - Tony LevinTony LevinTony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
- Background Vocals - Bernard FowlerBernard FowlerBernard Fowler is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and actor. He has provided backing vocals with The Rolling Stones for over 20 years on recordings and tours, and has been a featured guest vocalist on the majority of solo albums released by the members of that band. He has also been a...
, Yolanda Lee Lewis and Nona HendryxNona HendryxNona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...
Tour
In 1986 Yoko set out on a goodwill world tour for Starpeace, mostly visiting Eastern European countries that she felt were in need of her message of peace. Ono refused to tour with a corporate sponsor and personally financed the endeavour herself. The media were largely unfair in their coverage of the tour, accusing Ono of "ego-tripping" and ridiculing her for underselling venues. In one case, a photo of Ono rehearsing to an empty hall before the show was printed as if nobody had come to the actual concert. A German DJ was also encouraging people to turn up and throw glass bottles at her.However, the fans loved the shows, critics widely praised her for her performances, and she filled a venue of 15,000 in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. That said, planned US tour dates were postponed and eventually cancelled due to disappointing ticket sales. Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
's 1997 CD reissues of Ono's albums made available live versions of "Imagine
Imagine (song)
"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
" and "Now or Never" from the tour.
The Starpeace setlist usually consisted of:
- "Midsummer New York"
- "Give Me SomethingGive Me Something"Give Me Something" is a song by Yoko Ono, originally released in 1980 on John Lennon and Ono's duet album Double Fantasy. The song appeared in Ono's off-Broadway musical New York Rock and her compilation albums Walking on Thin Ice and Onobox...
" - "Kiss Kiss Kiss"
- "It Happened"
- "Walking on Thin IceWalking on Thin Ice"Walking on Thin Ice" is a New Wave/dance song by Yoko Ono, released in 1981. She and John Lennon concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. It was upon their return from the recording studio to The Dakota that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman...
" - "Death of Samantha"
- "Goodbye Sadness"
- "Never Say Goodbye"
- "Hell in ParadiseHell in Paradise"Hell in Paradise" is a song by Yoko Ono from the 1985 album "Starpeace". The lyrics are about mankind's perceived idea of hell, despite living in the paradise that Ono considers to be planet Earth. After "Walking On Thin Ice", it was her biggest hit of the 1980s, charting at #16 on the US dance...
" - "Sky People"
- "Starpeace"
- "I Love All of Me"
- "I See Rainbows"
- "Dream Love"
- "Now or Never"
- "ImagineImagine (song)"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
" (encore) - "Give Peace a ChanceGive Peace a Chance"Give Peace a Chance" is a song written by John Lennon, originally under the moniker Lennon–McCartney, released as a single in 1969 by the Plastic Ono Band on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 13 in the United Kingdom, Apple 1809 in the United States. It is the first solo single issued by Lennon, and...
" (encore)