Tag Archives: Norman Westberg

Swans: Soundtracks For The Blind

On October 29, 1996, “Young God” and “Atavistic” labels released “Soundtracks for the Blind”, the tenth Swans studio album. It was recorded 1981 – 1996, at “Coast Recorders” in San Francisco, “B.C. Studios” in Brooklyn, New York, “Plastikville” in New York City, “Griffin Mastering” in Atlanta, Georgia, and was produced by Michael Gira and Jarboe.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – vocals, guitar, samples, sounds, loops
  • Jarboe – vocals, keyboards, sounds, loops
  • Joe Goldring – electric guitar, bass guitar
  • Vudi – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Larry Mullins – drums, percussion, vibraphone
  • Cris Force – viola
  • Bill Rieflin
  • Christoph Hahn
  • Clinton Steele
  • Larry Lame
  • Norman Westberg
  • Algis Kizys
  • Billy Anderson – recording, mixing
  • Martin Bisi – recording, mixing  
  • Larry Lame – recording, mixing
  • Chris Griffin – recording, mixing engineer
  • Andy Ray – live engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Gira, except where noted.

Siver

  1. Red Velvet Corridor
  2. I Was a Prisoner in Your Skull
  3. Helpless Child
  4. Live Through Me
  5. Yum-Yab Killers – Jarboe
  6. The Beautiful Days
  7. Volcano – Jarboe
  8. Mellothumb
  9. All Lined Up
  10. Surrogate 2 – Michael Gira, Jarboe
  11. How They Suffer
  12. Animus

Copper

  1. Red Velvet Wound – Jarboe
  2. The Sound
  3. Her Mouth Is Filled with Honey – Michael Gira, Jarboe
  4. Blood Section
  5. Hypogirl
  6. Minus Something
  7. Empathy
  8. I Love You This Much
  9. YRP
  10. Fan’s Lament
  11. Secret Friends – Michael Gira, Jarboe
  12. The Final Sacrifice
  13. YRP 2
  14. Surrogate Drone

Swans: Filth

On May 27, 1983, “Neutral” label released “Filth”, the debut Swans studio album. It was recorded in April 1983, at “Vanguard Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Michael Gira and Roli Mosiman.

Personnel:

  • Norman Westberg – guitar
  • Michael Gira – vocals, bass guitar, lyrics, tapes
  • Harry Crosby – bass guitar
  • Jonathan Kane – drums, percussion
  • Roli Mosimann – drums, percussion, tapes
  • Jonathan Tessler – electronics, tapes, loops
  • Sonda Andersson – mechanicals
  • Mark Berry – engineer
  • Paul A. Taylor – layout
  • Catherine Ceresole – photography
  • Nicolas Ceresole – photography
  • Lee Ranaldo – photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Michael Gira, all music Michael Gira, Jonathan Kane, Roli Mosimann, Norman Westberg and Harry Crosby.

  1. Stay Here
  2. Big Strong Boss
  3. Blackout
  4. Power for Power
  5. Freak
  6. Right Wrong
  7. Thank You
  8. Weakling
  9. Gang

Swans: Greed

On February 28, 1986, “K.422” label released “Greed”, the third Swans studio album. It was recorded June – August 1985, at “Intergalactic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Estabon and Michael Gira.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – vocals, samples, tape operation, piano, bass guitar, design
  • Norman Westberg – guitar
  • Harry Crosby – bass guitar
  • Ronaldo Gonzalez – drums
  • Jarboe – backing vocals
  • Ted Parsons – drums
  • Ivan Nahem – drums
  • Jorgé Estabon – engineer
  • P. White – artwork
  • Estabon – production assistant

Track listing:

All lyrics by Michael Gira, all music by Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Harry Crosby and Ronaldo Gonzalez.

  1. Fool
  2. Anything for You
  3. Nobody
  4. Stupid Child
  5. Greed
  6. Heaven
  7. Money Is Flesh

Swans: The Beggar

On June 23, 2023. “Mute” label released “The Beggar”, the 16th Swans album. It was recorded in 2023, at “Candy Bomber” in Berlin, Germany, and was produced by Michael Gira.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica, art concept, design
  • Kristof Hahn – vocals, lap steel guitar, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Christopher Pravdica – vocals, keyboards, bass guitar, sounds
  • Dana Schechter – vocals, lap steel guitar, piano, bass guitar, sounds
  • Larry Mullins – vocals, drums, percussion, vibraphone, piano, keyboards
  • Phil Puleo – vocals, drums, percussion, fujara, duduk
  • Norman Westberg – additional guitar
  • Ben Frost – piano, keyboards, synthesizer, electric guitar
  • Paul Walfisch – additional piano
  • Jeniffer Gira – backing vocals
  • Laura Carbone – backing vocals
  • Lucy Kruger – backing vocals
  • Ingo Krauss – engineer
  • Doug Henderson – mastering
  • Jasper – lacquer cut
  • Phil Puleo – layout
  • Paul A. Taylor – layout

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Gira.

  1. Paradise
  2. The Beggar
  3. Los Angeles: City of Death
  4. The Parasite
  5. The Memorious
  6. Michael Is Done
  7. Why Can’t I Have What I Want Anytime That I Want?
  8. Unforming
  9. Ebbing
  10. No More of This

Swans: White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity

On June 5, 1991, “Young God” label released “White Light from the Mouth of Infinity”, the seventh Swans album. It was recorded September 1990 – February 1991, at “B. Monster Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Michael Gira.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, effects, samples
  • Christoph Hahn – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Jarboe – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, choral and orchestral arrangements
  • Jenny Wade – bass guitar
  • Anton Fier – drums, drum programming
  • Clinton Steele – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Norman Westberg – electric guitar
  • Steve Burgh – mandolin, 12-string guitar
  • Nicky Skopelitis – acoustic and electric guitar, baglama, bazouki, banjo
  • Vincent Signorelli – percussion
  • Hahn Rowe – violin
  • J. G. Thirlwell – programming, engineer, re-mix assistant, co-production
  • Steve McAllister – additional programming, engineering
  • Bryce Goggin – engineer
  • Brian Martin – re-mixing
  • Alex Armitage – re-mix assistant
  • Deryk Thomas – front cover illustration
  • John Sarfell – inner sleeve foldout painting
  • Patricia Mooney – sleeve layout

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Gira.

  1. Better Than You
  2. Power and Sacrifice
  3. You Know Nothing
  4. Song for Dead Time
  5. Will We Survive
  6. Love Will Save You
  7. Failure
  8. Song for the Sun
  9. Miracle of Love
  10. When She Breathes
  11. Why Are We Alive
  12. The Most Unfortunate Lie

Swans: Holy Money

On March 27, 1986, “K422” label released “Holy Money”, the fourth studio Swans studio album. It was recorded June 1985 – January 1986, at “Intergalactic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Michael Gira and Jorgé Estabon.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – vocals, piano, sampling
  • Norman Westberg – guitar
  • Jarboe – vocals
  • Algis Kizys – bass
  • Harry Crosby – bass
  • Ronald Gonzales – drums
  • Ted Parsons – drums
  • Ivan Nahem – drums
  • Jorgé Estabon – engineer
  • Roli Mosimann – mixing
  • Paul White – artwork

Track listing:

  1. A Hanging
  2. You Need Me
  3. Fool (#2)
  4. A Screw (Holy Money)
  5. Another You
  6. Money Is Flesh (#2)
  7. Coward

Swans: Children of God

On October 19, 1987, “Caroline” label released “Children of God”, the fifth Swans studio album. It was recorded February – March 1987, at “Sawmills Studios” in Golant, England, and was produced by Rico Conning and Michael Gira.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, album cover concept and design
  • Jarboe – vocals, backing vocals, piano, keyboards
  • N. Westberg – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Algis Kizys – bass
  • Theodore Parsons – drums, percussion
  • Wilton Barnhardt – piano
  • Simon Fraser – flute
  • Audrey Riley – cello
  • Lindsay Cooper – oboe
  • Rico Conning – engineer
  • John Cornfield – engineer
  • Laura Levine – photography
  • Paul White/Me Company – artwork

Track listing:

  1. New Mind – Algis Kizys, Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Ted Parsons
  2. In My Garden – Algis Kizys, Jarboe, Michael Gira
  3. Our Love Lies – Algis Kizys, Michael Gira, Norman Westberg
  4. Sex, God, Lies – Michael Gira, Norman Westberg
  5. Blood and Honey – Jarboe, Michael Gira
  6. Like a Drug (Sha La La La) – Algis Kizys, Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Ted Parsons
  7. You’re Not Real, Girl – Michael Gira
  8. Beautiful Child – Algis Kizys, Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Ted Parsons
  9. Blackmail – Jarboe, Michael Gira
  10. Trust Me – Jarboe, Michael Gira, Norman Westberg
  11. Real Love – Algis Kizys, Michael Gira, Norman Westberg
  12. Blind Love – Michael Gira, Norman Westberg
  13. Children of God – Jarboe, Michael Gira

Swans: The Glowing Man

On June 17, 2016, “Young God” label released “The Glowing Man”, the fourteenth  Swans studio album. It was recorded in 2016, and was produced by Michael Gira.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira– vocals, electric and acoustic guitar
  • Christoph Hahn –vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, lap steel guitar
  • Christopher Pravdica – vocals, bass guitar
  • Thor Harris– percussion, vibes and bells, hammered dulcimer
  • Phil Puleo – vocals, drums, hammered dulcimer
  • Norman Westberg – vocals, electric guitar
  • Bill Rieflin – vocals, drums, piano, synth, Mellotron, bass guitar, electric guitar
  • Jennifer Gira – lead vocals
  • Okkyung Lee– cello

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Gira, Norman Westberg, Christopher Pravdica, Christoph Hahn, Thor Harris and Phil Puleo, except where noted.

  1. Cloud of Forgetting
  2. Cloud of Unknowing
  3. The World Looks Red / The World Looks Black – Michael Gira
  4. People Like Us – Michael Gira
  5. Frankie M.
  6. When Will I Return?
  7. The Glowing Man
  8. Finally, Peace

The Swans: The Great Annihilator

Swans_-_Great_Annihilator

On January 23, 1995, “Young God” label released “The Great Annihilator”, the ninth Swans (The) studio album. It was recorded February 1993 – June 1994, and was produced by Michael Gira.

Personnel:

  • Michael Gira – vocals, guitars, sounds
  • Jarboe – lead and backing vocals, organ, keyboards, sounds
  • Norman Westberg – electric guitar
  • Clinton Steele – guitars
  • Nicky Skopelitis – guitar
  • John Sarfell – piano
  • Larry Seven – double bass
  • Algis Kizys– bass
  • Bill Rieflin– drums, percussion, guitars, loops, sounds
  • Ted Parsons– drums
  • Martin Atkins – hand drums

All tracks by Michael Gira, except where noted.

  1. In
  2. I Am the Sun
  3. She Lives
  4. Celebrity Lifestyle
  5. Mother / Father
  6. Blood Promise
  7. Mind / Body / Light / Sound
  8. My Buried Child – lyrics Michael Gira, music Michael Gira, Jarboe
  9. Warm
  10. Alcohol the Seed
  11. Killing for Company
  12. Mother’s Milk
  13. Where Does a Body End?
  14. Telepathy
  15. The Great Annihilator
  16. Out – Michael Gira, Jarboe