Red Hot Chili Peppers (album)
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| Red Hot Chili Peppers | ||
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| Album by Red Hot Chili Peppers | ||
| Released | 1984 | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 30 min 42 sec | |
| Record label | EMI/Capitol Records | |
| Producer | Andy Gill & Kevin Flaherty | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| Allmusic.com | 4 stars out of 5 | link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ib5uak5k5m3k) |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers Chronology | ||
| N/A | Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984) | Freaky Styley (1985) |
Red Hot Chili Peppers is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' self-titled debut album, released in 1984. This album is generally regarded as the worst Chili Peppers album, lacking the explosiveness that had made them a must-see live band. Red Hot Chili Peppers was a commercial disaster upon release in 1984 and failed entirely to attract the attention of the rock critics. Even today, the debut remains perhaps the least-known (and certainly the least popular) Chili Peppers album.
They hired Andy Gill, guitarist from Gang of Four, as a producer.
Problems began before the band had started recording. Guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons were contractually bound to MCA as part of a development deal with their other band What Is This?, while the Chilis were signed up to EMI. EMI simply told Anthony Kiedis and Flea to find temporary replacements. They ended up with guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez.
All this meant that the band was not the tight unit it should have been when it entered the studio. Also the band and the producer didn't get along too well. The result is an album glaringly at odds with the earlier performances.
Some of the songs were written with Irons and Slovak and some with Sherman and Martinez. The difference between these adds to the general sense of confusion.
The tracks with Irons and Slovak, such as "Get Up and Jump", "Green Heaven" and "Police Helicopter", are bursting with energy. However, tracks such as "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" and "Buckle Down" lack the raw exuberance of the original line-up's naive, exuberant songwriting.
The blame can certainly be put on producer Andy Gill. His production is lacklustre and dampens their youthful lust for life. Flea's bass parts are at the forefront, burying Sherman's riffs, and the treble-heavy mixing lacks either warmth or vitality.
Track listing
- "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" (Flea, Kiedis, Martinez, Sherman) - 3:40
- "Baby Appeal" (Flea, Kiedis, Martinez, Sherman) - 3:40
- "Buckle Down" (Flea, Kiedis, Martinez, Sherman) - 3:24
- "Get Up and Jump" (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 2:53
- "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)" (Williams) - 3:25
- "Green Heaven" (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 3:59
- "Mommy Where's Daddy" (Flea, Kiedis, Martinez, Sherman) - 3:31
- "Out in L.A." (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 2:00
- "Police Helicopter" (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 1:16
- "You Always Sing" (Flea, Kiedis, Martinez, Sherman) - 0:19
- "Grand Pappy Du Plenty" (Flea, Gill, Kiedis, Martinez, Sherman) - 4:14
- "Get Up and Jump" (demo) * (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 2:37
- "Police Helicopter" (demo) * (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 1:12
- "Out in L.A." (demo) * (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 1:56
- "Green Heaven" (demo) * (Flea, Irons, Kiedis, Slovak) - 3:50
- "What It Is" (a.k.a. "Nina's Song") * (Flea, Kiedis) - 3:57
* 2003 remaster bonus tracks