NunSexMonkRock

NunSexMonkRock
Studio album by Nina Hagen
Released May 1982
Recorded
Genre
Length 40:06
Label CBS Records
Producer Mike Thorne
Nina Hagen chronology

Unbehagen
(1979)
NunSexMonkRock
(1982)
Fearless
(1983)
Singles from NunSexMonkRock
  1. "Smack Jack"
    Released: 1982
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

NunSexMonkRock is the debut studio album by German singer Nina Hagen, released in May 1982 by CBS Records. It is her first solo record since her departure from the Nina Hagen Band and also her first record with all songs in English. The album is produced by Mike Thorne with songs written by Hagen. The album cover depicts Hagen holding her daughter Cosma Shiva. It peaked at number 184 on the Billboard 200.[2]

The lead single "Smack Jack" deals with drug addiction. It is Hagen's second song addressing this theme after her 1979 song "Herrmann Hieß Er", which is believed to be about her ex-boyfriend Herman Brood. The music video for the song shows Hagen dressed as a man with two of her other transformations dancing in the background and singing the chorus.

The song "Dr. Art" is a dedication to Hagen's ex-boyfriend Ivar "DR. RAT" Vičs, a graffiti artist who died of an overdose.

Background

In 1979, after working on the movie Cha Cha with Herman Brood and Lene Lovich, Hagen met the Dutch guitarist Ferdinand "Ferdi" Karmelk, with whom she later had a daughter Cosma Shiva. Together they started working on new music after Hagen's departure from the Nina Hagen Band.

After her European tour was canceled in 1980, Hagen moved to the United States and signed with Bennett Glotzer, the former manager of Frank Zappa. She began working on songs in English, since most of her previous material was in German and after six month she returned to Germany with her new tour. Shortly after discovering she was pregnant, Hagen broke up with Karmelk and moved back to Los Angeles. In 1982, Hagen signed a new recording deal with CBS Records.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Antiworld"  
  • Nina Hagen
  • Paul Roessler
4:41
2. "Smack Jack"  
  • Ferdinand Karmelk
5:16
3. "Taitschi-Tarot"  
  • Hagen
  • Roessler
2:05
4. "Dread Love"  
  • Hagen
  • Karmelk
4:08
5. "Future Is Now"  
  • Hagen
2:55
6. "Born In Xixax"  
  • Hagen
2:55
7. "Iki Maska"  
  • Hagen
5:08
8. "Dr. Art"  
  • Hagen
  • Karl Rucker
4:49
9. "Cosma Shiva"  
  • Hagen
3:17
10. "UFO"  
  • Hagen
  • Rucker
4:52
Total length:
40:06

Credits and personnel

  • Nina Hagen - vocals, synthesizer, guitar
  • Mike Thorne - production
  • Allan Schwartzberg - drums
  • Karl Rucker - bass, synthesizer
  • Chris Spedding - guitar
  • Paul Shaffer - synthesizer
  • Paul Roessler - synthesizer, piano
  • Axel Gath - baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet,
  • Michael Ewasko - engineer
  • Don Wershba - additional overdubs
  • Harvey Goldberg - mixing, additional overdubs
  • Jack Skinner - mastering
  • Nicolaj Ilieff - design
  • Juliana Grigorova - photography

References

External links