Shhh

Infobox Album |
Name = Shhh
Type = Album
Artist = Chumbawamba


Released = 1992
Recorded = 1990-1992
Genre = Anarcho-punk
Length = 45:34
Label = Agit-Prop Records/Southern Records (UK)
Reprise Records (France)
Reviews = Allmusic [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gbftxqegldhe link]
Last album = "Slap!"
(1990)
This album = "Shhh"
(1990)
Next album = "Anarchy"
(1994)

"Shhh" is a 1992 album by anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. It was originally recorded and written as "Jesus H. Christ," an album that relied heavily on samples. A number of the musicians whose material had been sampled objected, and the album was largely re-worked to defend artistic intent and criticise censorship. The album sleeve artwork itself incorporated various rejection letters received by the band denying the rights to the "Christ" samples.

It was later released with Slap! in the compilation Shhhlap! in 2003, released by MUTT Records.

Track listing

All songs written and produced by Chumbawamba

#"Shhh"
#"Big Mouth Strikes Again"
#"Nothing That's New"
#"Behave!"
#"Snip Snip Snip"
#"Look! No Strings!"
#"Happiness Is Just A Chant Away"
#"Pop Star Kidnap"
#"Sometimes Plunder"
#"You Can't Trust Anyone Nowadays"
#"Stitch That"

Original "Jesus H. Christ" track listing

#"Intro" - A 10-second sample of the intro to Sgt. Pepper. Not used on Shhh.
#"Alright Now" - Uses the melody of "All Right Now" by Free, as well as the chorus of "That's The Way (I Like It)" by KC and the Sunshine Band. Did not reappear on Shhh.
#"Don't Fence Me In" - A cover version. Did not reappear on Shhh.
#"Money Money Money" - A medley of "Snip Snip Snip" and "Pop Star Kidnap"; uses the chorus from "Money Money Money" by ABBA, as well as bits of "Money (That's What I Want)" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Incidentally, this song seems to end very abruptly, leading very awkwardly into the next track.
#"Solid Gold Easy Action" - Became "Sometimes Plunder"; uses the chorus from "Solid Gold Easy Action" by T.Rex. Does not yet include MC Fusion's rap verse.
#"Silly Love Songs" - Somewhat resembles "Behave"; uses a line from "Silly Love Songs" by Wings. MC Fusion's opening rap, the piano melody, and the "behave!" sample all reappeared in "Behave" on Shhh.
#"Get Off My Cloud" - Alternate take of "Look! No Strings!" featuring a different ending derived from the chorus of "Get Off My Cloud" by The Rolling Stones
#"Stairway To Heaven" - A version of "Happiness Is Just A Chant Away" with a drastically different instrumental backing; uses the chorus of "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" by the Buzzcocks. Incidentally, unlike the other tracks on the album, the title does not match with a sample - Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" is never heard except for a vague string rendition of the guitar riffs to "Stairway" appearing under directly after the verses.
#"Big Mouth Strikes Again" - Very different mix compared to the Shhh version; does not include Fusion's rap verse. Incidentally, if one listens closely to the Shhh version, the harmonica that is heard on this version makes a very brief and quiet appearance, probably by accident.
#"Street Music" - Sound collage that became the end of "Snip Snip Snip" on Shhh. Sometimes referred to as "Street Sounds."
#"I Should Be So Lucky" - Became "You Can't Trust Anyone Nowadays"; uses the chorus from "I Should Be So Lucky" by Kylie Minogue, as well as lines from "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye and "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" by the Mothers of Invention
#"Stitch That" - Similar to the Shhh version, except the music consists entirely of looped samples from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)". Also, the voice after the "A Day In The Life" piano chord says "What about the album?" and not "Shhh!".

Personnel

Chumbawamaba

* Alice Nutter - Vocals
* Bert Bacon - Vocals, Elastic Band
* Lou - Vocals, Keyboards
* Mave - Bass guitar, Vocals, Trumpet
* Harry - Drums, Percussion
* Boff - Guitar, Vocals
* Dunst - Vocals, Percussion

With

* Neil Ferguson - Guitar, Keyboards, Engineering
* Geoff Slaphead - Fiddle
* Howard Storey - Vocals