Dancing in Your Head


Dancing in Your Head is a studio album by Ornette Coleman, released in 1977 by Horizon Records.

Recording

The two variations on "Theme from a Symphony" were the first recordings to feature Coleman's electric band, which later became known as Prime Time. The symphony referenced in the title of the two tracks is Coleman's Skies of America.
William S. Burroughs was present for the recording of "Midnight Sunrise", which was recorded with Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar|the Master Musicians of Jajouka] in 1973. The compact disc reissue features an alternate take of this composition which is not present on the vinyl or earlier CD issue.

Release

Dancing in Your Head was released on Horizon Records in 1977. In 2000, it was remastered and re-released on A&M/Verve/Universal Records.

Critical reception

Dancing in Your Head was voted the 15th best album of the year in The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for 1977. It was the first album by a jazz artist to make the poll. Robert Christgau, the poll's creator, ranked it number 11 on his own year-end list.
The album was identified by Chris Kelsey in his Allmusic essay "Free Jazz: A Subjective History" as one of the "20 Essential Free Jazz Albums".

Legacy

"Midnight Sunrise" was featured in the 1991 film Naked Lunch.

Personnel