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Fans (album)

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Fans
Studio album by
Malcolm McLaren
ReleasedDecember 1984[1]
Recorded1984
StudiosSyncro Studio, Boston; Unique Studios and The Hit Factory, New York City
Genres
Length30:05
LabelsCharisma Records (UK)
MMLP 2
Island/Atco/Atlantic Records (US)
91242
ProducersRobby Kilgore
Stephen Hague
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren chronology
Duck Rock
(1983)		 Fans
(1984)		 Swamp Thing
(1985)
Singles from Fans
  1. "Madam Butterfly (Un bel dì vedremo)"
    Released: 20 August 1984
  2. "Carmen (L'Oiseau Rebelle)"
    Released: January 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[2]
Robert ChristgauB+[3]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[4]

Fans is the second studio album by Malcolm McLaren, released in 1984. It was an 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.[5][6][7][8]

Singles

[edit]

Two singles were released from the album: "Madame Butterfly (un bel dì vedremo)" peaked at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart[9] and "Carmen (L'Oiseau Rebelle)" reached number 79.[9]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Madam Butterfly (Un bel dì vedremo)" (from Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly)
  • Malcolm McLaren
  • Stephen Hague
  • Walter Turbitt
6:32
2."Fans (Nessun dorma)" (from Puccini's opera Turandot)
  • McLaren
  • Robbie Kilgore
3:50
3."Carmen (L'Oiseau Rebelle)" (from Bizet's opera Carmen)
  • McLaren
  • Kilgore
  • Hague
  • Turbitt
4:55
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Boys Chorus (Là Sui Monti Dell'Est)" (from Puccini's opera Turandot)
  • McLaren
  • Kilgore
4:30
5."Lauretta (O mio babbino caro)" (from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi)
  • McLaren
  • Kilgore
5:20
6."Death of Butterfly (Tu Tu Piccolo)" (from Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly)
  • McLaren
  • Kilgore
4:58

More tracks

[edit]
  1. "Madam Butterfly (On-The-Fly Mix)"
  2. "Madam Butterfly (Ocean Mix)"
  3. "Carmen (Instrumental Remix)"
  4. "Death of Butterfly (Instrumental)"

Personnel

[edit]
  • 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
"Boys 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

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1984) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10]24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11]43
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12]29
UK Albums (Official Charts)[13]47
US Billboard 200[14]190
Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Dance Albums (Official Charts)[15]37

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Music Week 1984-12-15" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  2. ↑ Mills, Red. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Review: Malcolm McLaren". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Loder, Kurt (28 February 1985). Rolling Stone Review. Rolling Stone. p. 53. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "Malcolm McLaren– Fans". discogs.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Fans". Amazon. 5 May 1985. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Malcolm McLaren - Fans CD". cduniverse.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Malcolm McLaren". theguardian.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  9. 1 2 "MALCOLM MCLAREN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Image 464". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2026. [dead link]
  11. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Malcolm McLaren – Fans" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Charts.nz – Malcolm McLaren – Fans". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 13/1/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Malcolm McLaren Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Official Dance Albums Chart on 11/4/2010 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
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