Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 唐朝; pinyin: Tángcháo), also known as A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 梦回唐朝; pinyin: Mènghuí Tángcháo) is the eponymous debut studio album by Chinese heavy metal band Tang Dynasty, released in China in December 1991 and internationally on December 11, 1992 by Magic Stone Records. The album is lauded as the first Chinese metal album, combining heavy metal and progressive rock with traditional Chinese folk styles, poetry, and Beijing opera vocal techniques.
Background
Tang Dynasty was officially formed in February 1989 by Americans Kaiser Kuo (guitar) and Andrew Szabo (drums), along with Beijing musicians Ding Wu (guitar) and Zhang Ju (bass). However, the Tiananmen Square Protests forced Kuo and Szabo to leave China. The band went on hiatus, and Ding Wu moved to Xinjiang for several months. In October, Ding Wu returned to Beijing, and together with Zhang Ju recruited "lightning-fast" guitarist Liu Yijun and drummer Zhao Nian. On May 1, 1990, the new lineup participated in a fundraising concert for the 1990 Asian Games, playing in front of 100,000 people at the Workers' Stadium. The success of the concert led the band to be signed by Magic Stone Records (Chinese: 魔石唱片; pinyin: Móshí Chàngpīan), the fledgling mainland division of Taiwan-based label Rock Records (Chinese: 滚石唱片; pinyin: Gŭnshí Chàngpīan, lit. "Rolling Stone Records") specializing in Chinese rock acts.
Recording and release
Recording took place in the second floor studio of the China National Radio headquarters in Xicheng, over a 44-day period, from September through October 1991. Founding guitarist Kaiser Kuo briefly returned in May to record some demos with the band, but left again for the United States before sessions formally began in order to complete graduate school. Bassist Zhang Ju had also been singing lead since Kuo's departure, but Kuo insisted that Ding Wu be designated lead vocalist instead, thereby cementing Ding's position as Tang Dynasty's frontman. According to Ding Wu, a significant portion of the songs' melodies were not established until recording was underway, although he later clarified that the band had completed most of the instrumentals before entering the studio.
The album was engineered by Wang "Lao Ge (Chinese: 老哥; lit. 'Old Brother')" Xinbo (Chinese: 王昕波), who had worked on Cui Jian's Rock 'n' Roll on the New Long March and Black Panther's debut album. It was also the first album by a mainland Chinese band to be produced by Jeff Chia (Chinese: 贾敏恕; pinyin: Jiǎ Mǐnshù), who would go on to record other notable Beijing artists for the Magic Stone label. Chia recalled the making of Tang Dynasty as an intensive, around-the-clock process, and that an armed guard was stationed outside the studio as they worked. Despite having never worked with a rock band before, Chia noted the ease with which he and the band members could communicate musical ideas, which streamlined the otherwise stressful undertaking.
Tang Dynasty was released domestically in December 1991. Magic Stone Records spent the next year launching a massive overseas marketing campaign, securing the band a following in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Five high-budget music videos for "A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty", "The Sun", "Nine Rhythm", "Choice", and "Moon Dreams" were shot and released. As Kuo noted, "Nothing like that had ever been done for a Chinese band."
The international version was released on December 11, 1992 in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Composition
Numerous and eclectic influences can be heard on Tang Dynasty. Frontman Ding Wu was a founding member of seminal Chinese bands Budaoweng and Black Panther, while Kaiser Kuo introduced the band to progressive rock acts such as Rush, Genesis, and King Crimson. Early on, the band strived to create music that was distinctly and authentically Chinese, even while working within a Western musical idiom. Kuo justified this approach by pointing out that in addition to being considered the pinnacle of Chinese civilization, Tang-era China - for which the band was named - was decidedly cosmopolitan and open to other cultures and ideas.