Dead Girls of London

\"Dead Girls of London\" is a track by Indian violinist and composer Shankar (born L. Shankar). The composition appears as the opening track (A1) on his 1979 album Touch Me There, released on Zappa Records in a 12\" vinyl format. The track runs for 5 minutes and 21 seconds.

The album Touch Me There emerged during Shankar’s collaboration with Western experimental and rock musicians, blending elements of Indian classical music with avant-garde and jazz-fusion styles. The record label Zappa Records, founded by Frank Zappa, issued the release in 1979. The label served as a platform for unconventional and cross-genre works during its active period.

Shankar composed and performed the track using his signature double-neck electric violin, a custom instrument he developed to expand the expressive range of traditional Indian string techniques. The recording process incorporated layered improvisations and studio effects, reflecting the experimental production approaches of the era. Specific session musicians or additional contributors to the track remain undocumented in widely available sources.

The lyrical and thematic content of \"Dead Girls of London\" is not explicitly detailed in archival materials. The title aligns with the album’s provocative and surreal aesthetic, a hallmark of Shankar’s work during this phase. The broader album Touch Me There includes five tracks across its two sides, though comprehensive critical analysis or commercial reception records for the release are limited.

Shankar’s career spanned collaborations with artists such as Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, and Philip Glass, positioning him as a bridge between Indian classical traditions and global contemporary music. The 1979 release stands as one of his early solo ventures under Zappa’s imprint, predating his later work with ECM and other labels. No reissues or remastered editions of Touch Me There have been officially confirmed in public records.