Electric (The Cult album)
Electric | ||||
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Studio album by The Cult | ||||
Released | April 6, 1987 | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Length | 38:51 | |||
Label | Beggars Banquet, Sire | |||
Producer | Rick Rubin | |||
The Cult chronology | ||||
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Electric is the third album by British rock band The Cult, released in 1987. It was the follow-up to their commercial breakthrough Love. The album equalled its predecessor's chart placing by peaking at number four in the UK but exceeded its chart residency, spending a total of 27 weeks on the chart (the most successful run for an album by The Cult).[1]
The album marked a deliberate stylistic change in the band's sound from gothic rock to more traditional hard rock. Rick Rubin, the producer on Electric, had been specifically hired to remake the band's sound in an effort to capitalize on the popularity of hard rock and heavy metal in the 1980s. The album was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
In 2013 the album was re-released as a double CD set under the title Electric Peace, with one disc featuring the originally released album and the second containing the entire Peace album recorded during the Manor Sessions.
Production
After the breakthrough success of their second album, Love, the Cult began working on a follow-up with producer Steve Brown. In the summer of 1986, they recorded twelve tracks at the Manor Studio in Oxfordshire. These recordings, which came to be known as the Manor Sessions, were to make up a new album, tentatively entitled Peace. However upon completion of the recording sessions, the band decided that they were unhappy with the sound, and began to look for a new producer.
The band went on to choose Rick Rubin, who was known for producing albums for hip hop artists and thrash metal band Slayer. These new recordings, with a slightly different track-list and running order, became the album that was released.
Although all twelve of the Manor Sessions tracks were initially scrapped, four of them would turn up as B-sides to singles from Electric. A further five of them appeared on a limited edition EP, and with the release of Rare Cult in 2000, the rest of the unreleased Steve Brown-produced tracks were made available, albeit in a limited edition format. They were finally made available on a mainstream release in 2013 as part of the Electric Peace release.
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B+[2] |
Rolling Stone | (mixed) link |
Track listing
All songs written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, except where noted.
- "Wild Flower" – 3:37
- "Peace Dog" – 3:34
- "Lil' Devil" – 2:44
- "Aphrodisiac Jacket" – 4:11
- "Electric Ocean" – 2:49
- "Bad Fun" – 3:33
- "King Contrary Man" – 3:12
- "Love Removal Machine" – 4:17
- "Born to Be Wild" (Mars Bonfire) – 3:55
- "Outlaw" – 2:52
- "Memphis Hip Shake" – 4:01
"Manor Sessions"/Peace track listing
All tracks appeared on Rare Cult in 2000. Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10 first appeared on The Manor Sessions EP in 1988. Tracks 7, 8, 9 and 11 were issued as B-sides to singles from the Electric album in 1987.
- "Love Removal Machine" - 5:16
- "Wild Flower" - 4:10
- "Peace Dog" - 5:09
- "Aphrodisiac Jacket" - 4:25
- "Electric Ocean" - 4:13
- "Bad Fun" - 6:24
- "Conquistador" - 2:53
- "Zap City" - 5:15
- "Love Trooper" - 3:55
- "Outlaw" - 5:07
- "Groove Co." - 4:13
Personnel
In popular culture
- The song "Love Removal Machine" appeared on Guitar Hero: World Tour.
- The song "Bad Fun" appeared on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
- The song "Wild Flower" featured on the soundtrack to the British film The Business.
- The song "Lil Devil" featured in the film Less Than Zero. Rick Rubin also produced that film's soundtrack. It also appears at the beginning of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "Table Stakes".
- The song "Aphrodisiac Jacket" was featured in the film White Water Summer.
- The song "Zap City" was featured in the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
References
- ↑ David Roberts, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles and Albums. Guinness World Records Limited. p. 129. ISBN 978-1904994107.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (June 2, 1987). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
2. Track #4 Aphrodisiac Jacket, lyric, "plastic fantastic, lobster telephone " Lobster Telephone