If Looks Could Kill (album)

If Looks Could Kill is the first and only studio album by avant-garde jazz musician Jim French, released in 1979 by Headhunter Records. It is one of composer Diamanda Galás' earliest musical recordings.[1][2][3]

If Looks Could Kill
Studio album by Jim French with Diamanda Galás and Henry Kaiser
Released	1979 (1979)
Recorded	September 9, 1979 (1979-09-09)
Studio	Media Art Recording (Hermosa Beach, CA)
Genre	Avant-garde jazz
Length	43:30
Label	Metalanguage
Producer	Henry Kaiser
Diamanda Galás chronology
If Looks Could Kill (1979) The Litanies of Satan (1982)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Eugene Chadbourne of AllMusic was highly critical of If Looks Could Kill, describing it as disappointing overall and that "little of this music is developed or delivered with any amount of feeling." He gave the album two out of five stars, concluding that it might only be interesting for completists to seek out.[1]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Picornponia"	Jim French	1:00
2.	"Lament"	Traditional arr.	1:00
3.	"Saltarello"	Traditional arr.	0:50
4.	"The Human Fancier's"	Jim French	2:50
5.	"Nobody Knows You"	Jimmy Cox	2:05
6.	"The Maple Leaf Rag"	Scott Joplin	1:25
7.	"Infrapolatia"	Jim French	5:15
8.	"Wolftraum"	Jim French	6:00

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Looks Could Kill"	Jim French, Diamanda Galás	8:35
2.	"Envelope Please"	Jim French, Diamanda Galás, Henry Kaiser	4:15
3.	"Horses in Trouble"	Jim French, Henry Kaiser	3:00
4.	"Flag Day"	Diamanda Galás, Henry Kaiser	3:00
5.	"Having a Party"	Jim French, Henry Kaiser	1:00
6.	"Pillow Talk"	Jim French, Diamanda Galás, Henry Kaiser	3:15

Personnel

Adapted from the If Looks Could Kill liner notes.[4]

Musicians Jim French – soprano saxophone, sopranino saxophone, pan flute, pibcorn, electronics Diamanda Galás – vocals (B1–B6) Henry Kaiser – electric guitar (B1–B6), production, engineering

Production and additional personnel Phil Brown – mastering Rolf Erickson – engineering Dan Kyle – engineering Kent Strother – photography

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	1979	Metalanguage	LP	ML 108

References

1. Chadbourne, Eugene. "Jim French: If Looks Could Kill > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
2. "Diamanda Galás roars back with two new albums. 'Do I still scare people?' she asks. 'Yes.'". San Diego Union-Tribune. July 8, 2017.
3. "Diamanda Galás Diva of the Dispossessed". exclaim.ca.
4. If Looks Could Kill (sleeve). Jim French. Berkeley, California: Metalanguage Records. 1979.CS1 maint: others (link)

External links

• If Looks Could Kill at Discogs (list of releases)