Bossanova

Released: August 13, 1990
Recorded: 1989–1990 in Los Angeles at Cherokee Studios, Aire and Silverlake; in Berlin at Hansa Ton

Bossanova is the third album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in August 1990 on the English independent record label 4AD in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. All of Bossanova’s original material was written by the band’s frontman Black Francis; it marked the point where his artistic control over the band became absolute. The album’s sound, inspired by surf and space rock, complements its lyrical focus on outer space, which references subjects such as aliens and unidentified flying objects.

Because of 4AD’s independent status, major label Elektra Records handled distribution in the United States; however, Bossanova only reached number 70 on the Billboard 200. The album charted significantly higher in the United Kingdom, peaking at number three in the UK Albums Chart. Two singles were released from Bossanova, “Velouria” and “Dig for Fire”; both charted highly on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Release

The album was released in August 1990 on 4AD in the UK, and jointly by 4AD and Elektra in the USA. After 4AD re-acquired sole distribution rights for the Pixies’ back catalog, a re-issued CD (although not remastered) appeared solely on 4AD in the USA in 2004. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab released a version in 2008 that was remastered from the original analog master tapes.

Track listing

All songs written by Black Francis, except where noted

• 1. “Cecilia Ann” (The Surftones) – 2:05
• 2. “Rock Music” – 1:52
• 3. “Velouria” – 3:40
• 4. “Allison” – 1:17
• 5. “Is She Weird” – 3:01
• 6. “Ana” – 2:09
• 7. “All Over the World” – 5:27
• 8. “Dig for Fire” – 3:02
• 9. “Down to the Well” – 2:29
• 10. “The Happening” – 4:19
• 11. “Blown Away” – 2:20
• 12. “Hang Wire” – 2:01
• 13. “Stormy Weather” – 3:26
• 14. “Havalina” – 2:33

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