Recall Records To Release Soundtrack To Cult Basquiat Film 'Downtown 81'

NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Recall Records) - On November 6, Recall Records will release the soundtrack to cult American film Downtown 81. Starring the legendary American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), the film vividly depicts the explosive downtown New York art and music scene of 1980-81. Not a documentary, it presents a slightly exaggerated, romantic and magical version of the reality of the time: the entire cast is composed of the movers and shakers on the downtown scene.

Basquiat was a 19 year old painter, graffiti artist, poet and musician when he played the lead in this film. He had yet to have his first exhibition. But his paintings and words were part of the city landscape. Today, his paintings hang in museums and important collections around the world and he is internationally recognized as one of the most important artists of the late twentieth century.

Downtown 81 not only captures one of the most interesting and lively artists of the twentieth century as he is poised for fame, but it is a slice of life from one of the most exciting periods in American culture, with the emergence of new wave music, new painting, hip hop and graffiti. The cast includes Deborah Harry and leading bands of the era including Kid Creole and the Coconuts, James White and the Blacks, DNA, Tuxedo Moon, the Plastics, and Walter Steding and the Dragon People. Also heard on the soundtrack are rap legend Melle Mel, John Lurie, Lydia Lunch, Suicide, Kenny Burrell and Basquiat's own band, Gray.

Downtown 81 was shot in 1980-81. Originally titled New York Beat, it was written and co-produced by the well known writer Glenn O'Brien, produced by Maripol, the art director and stylist, and directed by photographer Edo Bertoglio, all of whom were deeply involved in the art, music and fashion scenes of the time. The Director of photography was John McNulty, one of New York's top lighting men, shooting his first feature.

"Sometimes we forget who laid down the stones for us and we need to go far back to discover our real influences. We should not forget that their were some great obscure bands like James White and the Blacks, that Blondie came before Madonna and that Lydia Lunch was one of the most incredible punk bands." Maripol

"I feel like a lot of the people in this film should have conquered the world. The film and soundtrack is a great place to learn about the beginning of a scene. If you see something interesting, you can follow it up and it will lead you to other music and other films. There are lots of very important artists who are briefly glimpsed in the film and I urge people to check out the other work of these artists."