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| Björk | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1977 | |||
| Recorded | August–September 1977 | |||
| Studio | Hljóðriti Studios,Reykjavík | |||
| Genre | Novelty[1] | |||
| Length | 31:55 | |||
| Language | Icelandic | |||
| Label | Fálkinn | |||
| Björk Guðmundsdóttir chronology | ||||
| ||||
Björk is the only studio album byIcelandic singerBjörk as a child singer, released in December 1977 byFálkinn. In 1976, Björk appeared on Icelandicradio singing "I Love to Love" through the music school she attended, which led her to a record deal and the release, with the help of stepfather Sævar, of her first solo album in 1977.
The album is reputed to bejuvenilia work and it is not included in the singer's official solo discography, hence the 1993 releaseDebut is widely considered to be Björk's first studio album.[2][3][4][5][6]
The songs were a mixture ofcovers translated into Icelandic, likeThe Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill" ('Álfur Út Úr Hól'),Edgar Winter's "Alta Mira",Melanie Safka's "Christopher Robin" ('Bænin') andStevie Wonder's song "Your Kiss Is Sweet" ('Búkolla'), but it also contained some songs written specifically for the album, like the song "Arabadrengurinn" ('The Arab Boy') written by stepfather Sævar, and one instrumentalrecorder-tribute to Icelandic painterJóhannes Kjarval, written and performed by 11-year-old Björk.
Björk was offered the chance to do a second album, but she turned it down. With the money she earned she bought herself a piano and started composing new songs of her own.[7]
The album was released in two formats, vinyl and cassette,[8] in fairly limited edition (at least 7000 copies) and is rare outside of Iceland.
It was recorded at Hljóðriti Studios inReykjavík. Hildur Hauksdóttir (Björk's mother) designed the cover and the photo was taken at a local Reykjavík studio.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
AllMusic critic Joslyn Layne gave the album an overwhelmingly negative review, stating: "Novelty value can only carry an album so far, and even covers of Stevie Wonder's 'Your Kiss Is Sweet', sung in Icelandic, and the Beatles' 'The Fool on the Hill' will probably not be enough to keep you laughing, or interested for the duration."[9]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Arabadrengurinn (The Arab Boy)" |
| 5:27 |
| 2. | "Búkolla (Your Kiss Is Sweet)" |
| 3:30 |
| 3. | "Alta Mira" |
| 2:42 |
| 4. | "Jóhannes Kjarval" | Björk Guðmundsdóttir | 2:34 |
| 5. | "Fúsi Hreindýr" |
| 3:44 |
| 6. | "Himnaför" | Björgvin Hólm | 2:41 |
| 7. | "Óliver" |
| 2:52 |
| 8. | "Álfur Út Úr Hól (The Fool on the Hill)" |
| 3:16 |
| 9. | "Músastiginn" | Björgvin Gíslason | 2:55 |
| 10. | "Bænin (Christopher Robin)" |
| 2:14 |
| Total length: | 31:55 | ||
...covering the Beatles and Stevie Wonder in Icelandic on a novelty record released when she was just 12...
Debut, her first international solo album
| Studio albums | |
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| Soundtracks | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Remix albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Collaboration albums | |
| Concert films | |
| Video albums | |
| Documentaries | |
| Performances | |
| Other recordings | |
| Books | |
| Exhibitions | |
| Bands and labels | |
| Related articles | |
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