Malcolm Mclaren - Fans (1984)

Fans is a 1984 album by Malcolm McLaren. It was a successful attempt at fusing opera with 1980s R&B and contains adaptations of pieces from famous operas such as Madama Butterfly and Carmen. 

The opera recordings were made at the Unitarian Church, Belmont, Massachusetts by Stephen Hague and Walter Turbitt.

A cynical exploitation of some classical tunes, or a prescient mixing of hip-hop with opera, of low and high culture? One never knows with McLaren. 

Not that the classics had never mixed with pop before (see "Whiter Shade of Pale," "Stranger in Paradise"), but McLaren was determined to bring the stories of opera kicking and screaming into the pop realm as well. 

On the single, the beautiful "Madam Butterfly," the formula works transcendently. McLaren plays Colonel Pinkerton and leaves the aria alone backed by hip-hop percussion, and the result is a seamless whole. 

The rest of the album, unfortunately, exists to pad out the single, and the various arias (from Carmen and Turandot) seemed dropped on top of what are some embarrassing funk R&B grooves. Only "Lauretta" (from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi) gets close to a successful second try. Look for the 12" single instead. 

Side one

1. "Madam Butterfly"  (from Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly) - 6:32 

2. "Fans (Nessun dorma)"  (from Puccini's opera Turandot) - 3:50 

3. "Carmen (L'Oiseau Rebelle)"  (from Bizet's opera Carmen) - 4:55 

Side two

1. "Boy's Chorus (Là Sui Monti Dell'Est)"  (from Puccini's opera Turandot) - 4:30 

2. "Lauretta (O mio babbino caro)"  (from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi) - 5:20 

3. "Death of Butterfly (Tu Tu Piccolo)"  (from Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly) - 4:58 

Personnel

• Timothy McFarland – Conductor and Operatic Coordinator
• Malcolm McLaren – Production
• Robbie Kilgore – Production
• Mike Finleyson – Engineering
• Tom Lord-Alge – Engineering
• Jeff Neiblum – Assistant Engineering
• John Davenport – Associate Engineering
• Bradshaw Leigh – Mixing
• Nick Egan – Cover Design
• Robert Erdman – Photography
• Bob Green – "Butterfly Ball" Photography

"Madam Butterfly" Soprano – Betty Ann White Voice (Cho-Cho San) – Debbie Cole Voice (Pinkerton) – Malcolm McLaren Backing Vocals – Diane Garisto, Sheila Pate Instruments – Hague, Turbitt Production and Engineering – Stephen Hague, Walter Turbitt Remix – Bradshaw Leigh, Robby Kilgore Instruments – Robbie Kilgore "Fans" Lead Vocals – Angie B. Tenor – Michael Austin Voice (Dresser) – Malcolm McLaren Piano – Timothy McFarland Instruments – Robbie Kilgore "Carmen" Soprano – Valerie Walters Voice (Carmen) – Angie B. Voice (Don Jose) – Malcolm McLaren Additional Guitar – Jimi Tunnell Classical Guitar – Craig Bihari Instruments – Robbie Kilgore

"Boy's Chorus"

• Additional Guitar – Jimi Tunnell
• Vocals – Malcolm McLaren and The Boston Choir
• Instruments – Robbie Kilgore

"Lauretta"

• Soprano – Betty Ann White
• Voice (Lauretta) – Diane Garisto
• Voice (Ricky) – Malcolm McLaren
• Engineered Basic Tracks – Walter Turbitt
• Mixing of Basic Tracks – Bradshaw Leigh
• Instruments – Robbie Kilgore

"Death Of Butterfly"

• Soprano – Betty Ann White
• Voice (Pinkerton) – Malcolm McLaren
• Instruments – Robbie Kilgore

Notes

Released:  1984 

Recorded:  1984, Syncro Studio, Boston; Unique Studios and The Hit Factory, New York City 

Genre . Dance, R&B, opera 

Length:  30:05 

Label - Charisma Records