Tribal Opera
# Tribal Opera

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |

Tribal Opera is an album by Mark Heard (using the pseudonym iDEoLA), released in 1987 on What? Records. It is a full-on solo project, put together by Heard in his home studio using samples and acoustic, electric and electronic instruments. The band name iDEoLA has no particular meaning; of it Heard said, "It's not supposed to be mysterious or anything; I just put a band together and right now I happen to be the only one in it." The album was a big departure step away from the country/folk-rock atmosphere of much of Heard's prior and subsequent music.

Both Rich Mullins and Olivia Newton-John later covered "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" on their own albums. Americana artist John Austin covered "Go Ask the Dead Man".

## Track listing

All songs written by Mark Heard.

Side one

* "I Am An Emotional Man" – 4:30
* "Is It Any Wonder" – 3:49
* "Watching the Ship Go Down" – 3:53
* "Talk To Me" – 3:49
* "Go Ask the Dead Man" – 3:52

Side two

* "Love Is Bigger Than Life" – 3:37
* "How to Grow Up Big and Strong" – 5:07
* "Everybody Dances" – 4:07
* "Why Can't We Just Say No" – 4:24
* "Hold Back Your Tears" – 3:47

## Personnel

The band

* iDEoLA – all instruments and vocals

Additional musicians People who hit things for digital samples at Fingerprint Recorders: Doug Mathews, David McSparran, Steve Hindalong, David Baker (who also played the Wengi Drum introduction for "Talk To Me") and Dan Michaels

Production notes

* Produced and recorded by Mark Heard at Fingerprint Recorders, Los Angeles, California
* Mixed digitally by Mark Heard at Can Am Recorders, Tarzana, California
* Assistants: Stan Katayama, Dan Reed and, Jim Dineen
* PCM 1630 editing at Digital Magnetics by Ted Hall
* Digital mastering at Futuredisc by Steve Hall
* Slaves prepared at Hollywood Sound
* Cover design and graphic arts: Tim Alderson
* Back cover photo-art by Stewart lvester
* Front cover optical textures by Andrew Doucene
