American Caesar (album)
Encyclopedia
American Caesar is a 1993 album by Iggy Pop
. After the success of Brick by Brick
, Pop opted to continue with that album's lyrical themes while toughening up the musical foundation. Consequently, the album is often considered one of his stronger 90's albums.
The cover of the UK
edition contained the following text: "Parental Warning: this is an Iggy Pop record". Videos were made for "Wild America" and "Beside you". Other notable moments on the album include "Highway Song" and an ambitious cover of the 60s standard "Louie Louie" (made famous by The Kingsmen
) for which Iggy wrote his very own set of humorous, politically-fueled lyrics. It was later used during the opening credits of Michael Moore
's Capitalism: A Love Story
.
The first single from the album, "Wild America", reached number 25 on Modern rock tracks. The album was not as commercially successful as its predecessor, but it did fare well in the UK
and sold well throughout the 90s in America.
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. After the success of Brick by Brick
Brick by Brick
Brick by Brick is an album released in June 1990 by the American singer Iggy Pop. After attracting mixed reviews for much of his 1980s output, Pop hired longtime Stooges fan Don Was as producer, who would later produce Avenue B, and opted for a hard-rock sound...
, Pop opted to continue with that album's lyrical themes while toughening up the musical foundation. Consequently, the album is often considered one of his stronger 90's albums.
The cover of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
edition contained the following text: "Parental Warning: this is an Iggy Pop record". Videos were made for "Wild America" and "Beside you". Other notable moments on the album include "Highway Song" and an ambitious cover of the 60s standard "Louie Louie" (made famous by The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
) for which Iggy wrote his very own set of humorous, politically-fueled lyrics. It was later used during the opening credits of Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
's Capitalism: A Love Story
Capitalism: A Love Story
Capitalism: A Love Story is a 2009 American documentary film directed, written by and starring Michael Moore. The film centers on the late-2000s financial crisis and the recovery stimulus, while putting forward an indictment of the current economic order in the United States and capitalism in general...
.
The first single from the album, "Wild America", reached number 25 on Modern rock tracks. The album was not as commercially successful as its predecessor, but it did fare well in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and sold well throughout the 90s in America.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Iggy Pop, except where noted- "Character" (Pop, Eric SchermerhornEric SchermerhornEric Schermerhorn, is an American guitarist and composer. Born in Massachusetts on April 11th 1960, he has since lived in NYC and Los Angeles. He played with Iggy Pop on the American Caeser and Naughty Little Doggie albums, and David Bowie on the Tin Machine It's My Life....
) – 1:07 - "Wild America" (Pop, Schermerhorn) – 5:52
- "Mixin' the Colors" – 4:49
- "Jealousy" – 6:04
- "Hate" – 6:56
- "It's Our Love" – 4:09
- "Plastic & Concrete" – 2:55
- "Fuckin' Alone" (Pop, Schermerhorn) – 4:56
- "Highway Song" – 3:44
- "Beside You" (Steve JonesSteve Jones (musician)Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
, Pop) – 4:29 - "Sickness" – 3:15
- "Boogie Boy" – 4:53
- "Perforation Problems" – 3:15
- "Social Life" – 4:12
- "Louie LouieLouie Louie"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
" (Richard BerryRichard BerryRichard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
) – 3:47 - "Caesar" (Pop, Schermerhorn) – 7:09
- "Girls of N.Y." – 4:15
B-Sides & Alternate Versions
- "Les Amants" (featuring Les Rita MitsoukoLes Rita MitsoukoLes Rita Mitsouko was a French pop rock group formed by guitarist Fred Chichin and singer Catherine Ringer. The duo first performed as Rita Mitsouko at Gibus Club, Paris in 1980...
; B-Side To "Beside You" Single) - 5:16 - "Louie Louie" (Live; B-Side To "Beside You" Single) - 5:32
- "Beside You" (Acoustic Version; B-Side To "Beside You" Single) - 3:52
- "Evil California" (featuring Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet; B-Side To "Beside You" Single)
- "Home" (Live At The Feile Festival Summer 1993; B-Side To "Beside You" Single) - 4:10
- "Mixin' The Colours" (Spanish Version; B-Side To "Louie Louie" Single) - 4:10
- "Wild America" (Radio Edit)
- "Credit Card" (B-Side To "Wild America" Single) - 2:25
- "Come Back Tomorrow" (B-Side To "Wild America" Single) - 5:08
- "My Angel" (B-Side To "Wild America" Single) - 4:10
Personnel
- Iggy Pop - guitar, vocals
- Eric SchermerhornEric SchermerhornEric Schermerhorn, is an American guitarist and composer. Born in Massachusetts on April 11th 1960, he has since lived in NYC and Los Angeles. He played with Iggy Pop on the American Caeser and Naughty Little Doggie albums, and David Bowie on the Tin Machine It's My Life....
- guitar - Malcolm BurnMalcolm BurnMalcolm Burn is a Canadian-born music producer, recording engineer and musician. In 2001, he won a Grammy Award with Jim Watts and Emmylou Harris for his work on Harris's Red Dirt Girl. -Biography:...
- guitar, keyboards, harmonica - Hal Cragin - bass
- Larry Mullins - drums, percussion
- Jay Joyce - guitar on "Wild America" & "Mixin' The Colours"
- Bill Dillon - guitar on "Mixin' The Colours"
- Darryl Johnson - percussion on "Mixin' The Colours"
- Henry RollinsHenry RollinsHenry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
- backing vocals on "Wild America" - Katell Keineg - backing vocals on "Mixin' The Colours"
- Lisa GermanoLisa GermanoLisa Germano is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released seven albums featuring her often-hushed vocal style, confessional lyrics, and distinctive violin. Her 1994 album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim, including being featured as a top album of...
- backing vocals on "Beside You"