Mesopotamia (EP)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Mesopotamia is an EP by new wave band The B-52s. It was produced by David Byrne of Talking Heads and was the band's third studio album. Due to conflicts with Byrne and record label pressure, recording sessions were aborted prematurely and only six of ten songs to be completed were released as a shorter than originally intended LP. The record was distributed as a 12" EP by Warner Bros. in the US and by Island Records on both CD and vinyl in the UK and other non-US markets.
The original Island Records vinyl release in the UK contained different mixes of all the songs, three of which ("Loveland," "Cake" and "Throw That Beat in the Garbage Can") were drastically different and substantially longer than the American release. This was an error, and the discs were quickly recalled and reissued with the correct versions of "Cake" and "Garbage Can" reinstated. However, the extended "Loveland" remained. The Island CD release was the same as the American LP as per the band's request. However, the 1991 US release of the CD (paired with Party Mix!), included a newly remixed version of Mesopotamia that is different from the original US LP.
Mesopotamia is considered a departure in style for The B-52s; Byrne and the band added a large amount of additional instruments, vocal overdubs, horns, synthesizers, layered percussion and an altogether richer sound. A larger emphasis was placed on production after the raw sound of their debut album The B-52s and the slightly more polished sound of their second album, Wild Planet.
