1992 Thomas Dolby – Astronauts & Heretics

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Astronauts & Heretics, released in 1992, was the fourth studio album by Thomas Dolby. It was Dolby’s last studio album until 2011’s A Map Of The Floating City.

Astronauts & Heretics contained the singles “I Love You Goodbye”, “Close But No Cigar” and “Silk Pyjamas”.

The album was reasonably popular in the UK and was Dolby’s last album to be released on vinyl. According to Dolby, the album went largely unnoticed in the US due to poor distribution by Giant Records and the popularity of grunge at the time. After asking Thomas Dolby for help with his studio equipment, Eddie Van Halen agreed to play guitar on two of Dolby’s songs, “Eastern Bloc” and “Close but no Cigar” on Astronauts & Heretics including a Van Halen style solo on “Eastern Bloc”.

Tracks

1  I Love You Goodbye (Thomas Dolby) 05:58
2  Cruel (Thomas Dolby) 03:09
3  Silk Pyjamas (Thomas Dolby) 03:37
4  I Live In A Suitcase (Thomas Dolby) 05:28
5  Eastern Bloc (Sequel To Europa And The Pirate Twins, 1981) (Thomas Dolby) 05:20
6  Close But No Cigar (Thomas Dolby) 04:26
7  That’s Why People Fall In Love (Thomas Dolby) 05:32
8  Neon Sisters (Thomas Dolby; Matthew Seligman) 04:53
9  Beauty Of A Dream (Thomas Dolby) 05:06

Media

Musicians

1 I Love You Goodbye

BassTerry Jackson
GuitarLarry Treadwell
KeyboardsThomas Dolby
PianoThomas Dolby
AccordionWayne Toups
FiddleMichael Doucet
Background VocalsWayne Toups
Background VocalsCynthia Moliere
Background VocalsSuzanne Malline
Background VocalsTeresita Alsander
Background VocalsMichael Doucet
VocalsThomas Dolby


2 Cruel

BassMatthew Seligman
KeyboardsThomas Dolby
VocalsEddi Reader
VocalsThomas Dolby


3 Silk Pyjamas

BassMatthew Seligman
GuitarLarry Treadwell
KeyboardsThomas Dolby
PianoThomas Dolby
AccordionJimmy Breaux
FiddleMichael Doucet
Background VocalsLaura Creamer
Background VocalsLoz Netto
Background VocalsMarcus Wallis
Background VocalsMr Pits
VocalsThomas Dolby


4 I Live In A Suitcase

BassTerry Jackson
GuitarJon E Love
GuitarThomas Dolby
PianoThomas Dolby
ProgrammingThomas Dolby
VocalsThomas Dolby


5 Eastern Bloc (Sequel To Europa And The Pirate Twins, 1981)

BassMatthew Seligman
GuitarEddie van Halen
GuitarLarry Treadwell
Slide GuitarLarry Tredwell
KeyboardsThomas Dolby
Background VocalsLaura Creamer
Background VocalsLoz Netto
Background VocalsMarcus Wallis
Background VocalsMr Pits
VocalsThomas Dolby


6 Close But No Cigar

BassMatthew Seligman
GuitarEddie van Halen
GuitarLarry Treadwell
KeyboardsThomas Dolby
Background VocalsJill Colucci
VocalsThomas Dolby


7 That’s Why People Fall In Love

BassTerry Jackson
GuitarThomas Guzman Sanchez
KeyboardsThomas Dolby
ProgrammingMike Kapitan
SaxJimmy Z
PercussionRafael Padilla
VocalsOfra Haza
VocalsThomas Dolby


8 Neon Sisters

BassMatthew Seligman
DrumsPeter Edward Clarke
DrumsDavid Owens
GuitarJon Klein
GuitarLarry Treadwell
OrganThomas Dolby
SynthesizerThomas Dolby
VocalsThomas Dolby


9 Beauty Of A Dream

BassLeland Sklar
DrumsDavid Owens
GuitarJerry Garcia
GuitarBob Weir
PianoThomas Dolby
VocalsThomas Dolby

Liner Notes

Producer – Thomas Dolby
Producer (Executive) – Mary Coller
Engineer – Thomas Dolby
Engineer – Charlie Paakkari, Paul Gomersall (Track 8)
Engineer (Assistant) – Chuck Fedko, Doug Michael, Elaine Anderson, Greg Marchant, Jay Baumgardner, John Cutler, Phil Reynolds, Robert Read, Squeak Stone, Steve Himelfarb
Mixed By – Jay Baumgardner (Track 8)

Art Direction, Design – Larry Vigon
Design – Brian Jackson
Photography By – Joyce Tenneson

Phonographic Copyright (p) Virgin Records Ltd
Copyright (c) Virgin Records Ltd