- Fruit of Life
Infobox Album |
Name = Fruit of Life
Type =Album
Artist =Wild Colonials
Released =1994
Recorded =1993 atReal World Studios , Box, Wiltshire, England and atSunset Sound Factory , Hollywood, California, U.S.
Genre = Alternative Folk Rock
Length = 56:01
Label = DGC/Geffen Records
Producer =Tchad Blake
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://wc07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gjftxqwgldte link]
This album = "Fruit of Life"
(1994)
Next album = "This Can’t Be Life "
(1996)"Fruit of LIfe" is the debut
album for American Alternative bandWild Colonials , released in 1994 (see1994 in music ).Details
Fruit of Life features some of Wild Colonials' more popular early songs, including first single "Spark", "Victim" and "Rainbow." Most of the songs on the album were recorded during a single day at the Sunset Sound Factory in Hollywood, CA to see if the band worked well with Engineer/Producer Tchad Blake. The recordings were all done live to 24 track with the band in the same room and vocalists Angela McCluskey and Shark using the same mic. After a successful and productive day and wishing to continue recording there were some scheduling conflicts as Tchad Blake was about to start work in England with
Elvis Costello and the reformed Attractions on what would become the albumBrutal Youth . During a break in pre-production on the Elvis Costello album, Tchad Blake invited the Wild Colonials to England where the band recorded for a week atPeter Gabriel's Real World Studios in Box, England. Reconvening later in Los Angeles they did some additional recording withRed Hot Chilli Peppers drummerChad Smith .Drummers Drumming
The album features many well known drummers. These include session musician and Edie Brickell & New Bohemians/Tori Amos drummer,
Matt Chamberlain on the initial Hollywood sessions.Elvis Costello & The Attractions drummerPete Thomas was brought in to record during the Real World sessions. On a break from touring,Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummerChad Smith played many gigs with the band during this time and can be heard on the track "Dear Mike". Argentine drummerJulio Ledezma from the bandHuayucaltia can be heard on the track "Philadelphia Story". Playing percussion on several tracks is singer/percussionistJoel Virgel Vierset , who went on to play some gigs and Radio Sessions with the band around the time of the album's release. Touring behind the album's release, the band was joined byThaddeaus Corea on drums/percussion who later became a full member.Cover Artwork
The cover art by vocalist Angela McCluskey is based on a number of hand made lyric books she put together as a thank you for several people who worked on the album and some Geffen Record executives. Each booklet featured a different hand tinted photo on its cover. The Fruit of Life album cover was chosen from one of the booklets. The cover photo is of a ceremony and features amongst the band, friends, Scottish actor
Ian Buchanan ,Café Largo club ownerMark Flanagan , painterLuciana Martinez Del La Rosa and original Wild Colonials drummer/percusionist Ian Bernard.oundtrack appearances
*The song "Rainbow" was featured in the film
Jacklight starringDylan Hundley .
*The song "Rainbow" was featured in the filmSouthie starringAmanda Peet .
*A country version of the song "Rainbow" as performed by Wild Colonials' guitarist Shark was featured in the filmEd Gein starringSteve Railsback .
*The song "Victim" appeared in the short film The Yard Sale directed by Ray Kimsey and starringAnne Meara ,Courtnee Draper ,Maura Knowles .
*An instrumental version of the song "Victim" was featured as score in the filmThe Last Supper starringCameron Diaz andRon Perlman . The vocal version appeared on the motion picture soundtrack CD while the Instrumental version appeared on the third Wild Colonials albumReel Life vol 1 .Trivia
*Fruit of Life is the first production credit for
Tchad Blake . He went on to work with among others,Pearl Jam andNo Doubt . He often partners withMitchell Froom , whom with David Hidalgo and Louie Perez ofLos Lobos formedLatin Playboys .*The familiar violin refrain at the start of "Rainbow" is from the opera
Carmen byGeorges Bizat . The piece is called the "Habanera (aria) ".*The lyrics for "Mission" are about
Sinéad O'Connor and the infamousBob Dylan 30th Anniversary tribute concert inMadison Square Garden where she was set to perform "I Believe In You" but when greeted with boos from the audience broke into an acapella version ofBob Marley 's War as she had done two weeks earlier onSNL . During the Wild Colonials week of recording at Real World Studios, Sinéad O'Connor actually showed up withPeter Gabriel who was in town for that year's Womad Festival (World of Music, Arts and Dance ). Although the lyrics are supportive and compassionate of Sinead, not knowing how she would react, the band did not play the song for her.*The lyrics to "Dear Mike" are an open letter to
Waterboys leader Mike Scott.Track listing
All songs written by various members of the
Wild Colonials except for the Billie Holiday cover "Don't Explain".
# "Girl" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon/Roewe) – 6:28
# "Spark" (McCluskey/Shark) – 4:20
# "Heaven & Hell" (McCluskey/Roewe) – 5:20
# "Philadelphia Story" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon) – 4:52
# "Mision" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon/Roewe/Bernard) – 6:05
# "Alice" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon/Roewe) – 4:58
# "Rainbow" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon) – 5:12
# "Don't Explain" (Holiday/Herzog) – 6:46
# "Victim" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon/Roewe) – 5:59
# "Dear Mike" (McCluskey/Shark/Cantelon/Roewe) – 6:13ingles
*Spark
# "Spark (edit)" – 4:10
# "Spark (LP version)" – 4:20Videos
Videos were made for "Spark" and "Heaven & Hell".
Personnel
*
Angela McCluskey - vocals
*Shark - guitars, vocals, percussion
*Paul Cantelon - violin, piano, harmonium
*Scott Roewe - piano, organ, bass, sax, chanter, didgeridoo, tin whistlepecial Guest
*
Martin Tillmann - celloWith
*
Matt Chamberlain - drums, percussion
*Pete Thomas - drums, percussion
*Joel Virgel Vierset - percussion
*Glen C. Holmon - bass
*Chad Smith - drums on "Dear Mike"
*Julio Ledezma - drums on "Philadelphia Story"
*Pandit Dinesh - tablas on "Victim"
*Guy Pratt - bass on "Heaven & Hell"
*Erik G. Hanson - percussion masssuer on "Heaven & Hell"Production
*Producer:
Tchad Blake
*Recorded by:Tchad Blake
*Additional engineering: John Paterno, James Cadsky, Richard EvansExternal links
* [http://www.wildcolonials.com Official website]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.