Heaven & Hell (Joe Jackson album)

Heaven & Hell is a 1997 album by Joe Jackson, a musical interpretation and song cycle representing the seven deadly sins.^[2]

Billed to Joe Jackson & Friends; the friends included vocalists Dawn Upshaw ("Angel (Lust)"), Joy Askew ("Tuzla (Avarice)"), Suzanne Vega ("Angel (Lust)"), Brad Roberts from the Crash Test Dummies ("Passacaglia/A Bud and a Slice (Sloth)"), Jane Siberry ("The Bridge (Envy)"); and violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg ("Prelude", "Fugue 2/Song of Daedalus (Pride)").^[2]

This album was subsequently performed on tour with Jackson on piano, accordion and melodica, Valerie Vigoda on violin and vocals, and Elise Morris on keyboards, glockenspiel and vocals. The drums were computerised.

Dramatic adaptation

In Boston in 2007, the album was adapted into a Jukebox musical under the name Heaven & Hell: The Fantastical Temptation of the 7 Deadly Sins, with the script written by Jason Slavick. The play followed the album's track listing, with each vice presented through a mixture of dance and a representation of each sin in daily life. Heaven & Hell had a five day run at the Boston Conservatory^[3].

Track listing

1. "Prelude" – 2:59
2. "Fugue 1/More Is More (Gluttony)" – 5:32
3. "Angel (Lust)" – 7:11
4. "Tuzla (Avarice)" – 7:33
5. "Passacaglia/A Bud and a Slice (Sloth)" – 8:36
6. "Right (Anger)" – 4:40
7. "The Bridge (Envy)" – 5:59
8. "Fugue 2/Song of Daedalus (Pride)" – 7:55

References