Klaus Nomi, an operatic persona that slipped into the Rock world by way of a David Bowie SNL appearance, was an unusual but important addition to our music. His presentation, and his unique style of singing and his small group of RCA recordings have never been matched. Klaus Nomi released a collection of 2 studio sets before succumbing to the AIDS disease. RCA issued Encore, a comp album with two unreleased tracks just after his passing in 1983. In 1986, RCA released a live set that provided a performance track of Donna Summer’s iconic “I Feel Love”.
If you were one to appreciate the unparalleled creations in the world of music in the ’80s, the likes of which have never been repeated, then a listen to “Lightning Strikes” (cover of the Lou Christie hit), and “Ding Dong” (the Klaus Nomi take of the sung song from The Wizard Of Oz), will have you more than interested in this new package. You can hear three selections below.
On December 5, Omnivore Recordings will revisit Klaus Nomi with a special 4LP Box to be called Nomi. Inside the box will be four LPs that include Klaus Nomi, the 1981 debut on RCA, Simple Man, the 1982 RCA follow-up, Encore!, the 1983 compilation set, and the RCA issue of the 1986 live set, In Concert. That album featured a 1979 show. The Nomi Box was previously released by Sony/Legacy in 2023 in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of his passing. If you had missed that, here’s your chance to rectify it.
Nomi will issued on the announced 4LP slipcase Box as well as DD.
Nomi – Klaus Nomi
LP1 (Klaus Nomi)
Side 1
01 Keys Of Life
02 Lightning Strikes
03 The Twist
04 Nomi Song
05 You Don’t Own Me
Side 2
06 The Cold Song
07 Wasting My Time
08 Total Eclipse
09 Nomi Chant
10 Samson And Delilah (Aria)
LP2 (Simple Man)
Side 1
01 From Beyond
02 After The Fall
03 Just One Look
04 Falling In Love Again
05 Icurok
06 Rubberband Lazer
Side 2
07 Wayward Sisters
08 Ding Dong
09 Three Wishes
10 Simple Man
11 Return
LP3 (Encore…)
Side 1
01 Fanfare
02 Gold Song
03 Total Eclipse (Live Version)
04 Can’t Help Falling In Love
05 Simple Man
06 Wasting My Time
Side 2
07 Wayward Sisters
08 Ding Dong
09 You Don’t Own Me
10 Der Nissbaum
11 Lightning Strikes
12 The Twist
13 Samson And Delilah (Aria)
LP4 (In Concert)
Side 1
01 Keys Of Life
02 Falling In Love Again
03 Lightning Strikes
04 Nomi Song
05 The Twist
Side 2
06 Total Eclipse
07 I Feel Love
08 Samson And Delilah (Aria)
What’s amazing is that this guy is striking even today. Decades later he’s still out there – never to land amongst us earthbound folk.
He definitely was a gem. Wish we could have heard what he might have created later.