Up From the Dark

• Artist: Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1988
• Total Time: 62:17
• Genre: Rock

Review

1986's Up From the Dark collects a series of U.K. singles recorded by the husband-and-wife team of Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (both formerly of Hatfield and the North; Gaskin was leader of the group's female auxiliary, the Northettes) in the early '80s. Although Stewart's and Gaskin's roots are in '70s progressive music, these singles show an understanding and appreciation of post-punk dynamics, both in the subtly ironic '60s covers (nearly half of the album, ranging from their hit deconstruction of Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" to a pair of Motown tunes to a sympathetic reading of the Honeybus' freakbeat gem "Do I Figure in Your Life") to a sublime pair of covers of recent singles. Thomas Dolby's "Leipzig," one of his finest early songs, is given a ghostly, gorgeous reading, and this version of Andy Partridge's "Roads Girdle the Globe" is the finest XTC cover ever. Stewart's old bandmates Pip Pyle and Phil Miller contribute, as do King Crimson's Bill Bruford and Gaskin's old singing partner Amanda Parsons, but this is not prog rock nostalgia in any form. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
I'm in a Different World	Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:11)
Leipzig	Thomas Dolby	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:18)
It's My Party	Wally Gold, Herbert Weiner, John Gluck Jr.	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(3:46)
Lenina Crowe	Dave Stewart	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:50)
(Do I Figure) In Your Life	Pete Dello	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:00)
Busy Doing Nothing	Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:33)
(I Know) I'm Losing You	Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(3:58)
Roads Girdle the Globe	Andy Partridge	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(5:02)
When the Guards Are Asleep	Dave Stewart	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:37)
The World Spins So Slow	Dave Stewart	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:21)
The Siamese Cat Song	Peggy Lee, Sonny Burke	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:01)
Do We See the Light of Day	Dave Stewart	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(7:00)
Henry and James	Dave Stewart	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(3:30)
As Far as Dreams Can Go	Dave Stewart	Barbara Gaskin, Dave Stewart	(4:10)

Credits

Bill Bruford (Percussion), Bill Bruford (Drums), Bill Bruford (Timbales), Bill Bruford (Log Drums), Phil Miller (Guitar), Pete Ball (Engineer), Allan Barson (Engineer), Rick Biddulph (Bass), Rick Biddulph (Guitar (12 String)), Rick Biddulph (Spoons), Rick Biddulph (?), Rick Biddulph (Guitar (12 String Electric)), Georgie Born (Cello), Nick Bradford (Percussion), Nick Bradford (Engineer), Joe Bull (Engineer), Andy Duncan (Percussion), Durrants School Children (Vocals), Barbara Gaskin (Percussion), Barbara Gaskin (Cymbals), Barbara Gaskin (Sound Effects), Barbara Gaskin (Vocals), Barbara Gaskin (Vocals (Background)), Barbara Gaskin (Moog Synthesizer), Barbara Gaskin (Performer), Barbara Gaskin (?), Barbara Gaskin (Blocks), Barbara Gaskin (Temple Blocks), Barbara Gaskin (Mini Moog), Bryson Graham (Drums), Colin Green (Engineer), Ted Hayton (Engineer), Ruth Holton (Viola), Jakko M. Jakszyk (Guitar), Jakko M. Jakszyk (Vocals (Background)), Jakko M. Jakszyk (?), Amanda Parsons (Vocals (Background)), Pip Pyle (Percussion), Pip Pyle (Drums), Ed Poole (Guitar), Ed Poole (Fretless Bass), Chris Porter (Vocals), Chris Porter (Engineer), Corrine Simcock (Assistant Engineer), Simon Smart (Engineer), Dave Stewart (Percussion), Dave Stewart (Arranger), Dave Stewart (Drums), Dave Stewart (Keyboards), Dave Stewart (Programming), Dave Stewart (Vocals), Dave Stewart (Rhythm), Dave Stewart (Producer), Dave Stewart (Main Performer), Dave Stewart (Vocoder), Dave Stewart (Drum Programming), Dave Stewart (Rhythm Arrangements), Simon Ryan (Artwork), Simon Ryan (Art Direction)