Cerebral Caustic
Encyclopedia
Cerebral Caustic is an album by The Fall, released in 1995 on Permanent Records. It spent one week on the UK charts at number 67, 19 places lower than its predecessor Middle Class Revolt
, marking the end of one of the group's relatively more successful periods.
The album was most notable for the return of Brix Smith
to the line-up, the guitarist having rejoined the group for live shows in 1994 after quitting in 1989. Her impact was immediate and she co-wrote 5 of this album's 12 tracks, other tracks including a Frank Zappa
cover and a re-recording of a 1990 b-side "Life Just Bounces". Nevertheless, sales were lower than on other recent albums and the group, always a busy touring act, performed just 16 times during the yearhttp://www.visi.com/fall/gigography/gig95.html. Cerebral Caustic turned out to be the beginning of a period of considerable turbulence for the group; having not dismissed anyone since 1990, Mark E. Smith
sacked Dave Bush by letter shortly after the album's release and guitarist Craig Scanlon, who had been with the band for 16 years and co-authored over 120 songs for The Fall, would be sacked during the sessions for epic single "The Chiselers" at the end of the year. Smith later admitted to Mojo
magazine that he had developed a drink problem
during this period and he accepted that this had impacted upon the group. Scanlon's dismissal is (as at March 2008) the only sacking that Smith has publicly regretted (see Craig Scanlon
).
There were long-standing rumours that an alternative, superior mix of this album existed, partly fuelled by Mark E. Smith
's statement in an interview released to the press on a promotional cassette that he and Karl Burns
had re-recorded the guitars after the rest of the group had been ejected from the studio (This claim was later clarified by Smith in the interview included on the Castle Music reissue's bonus disc as referring only to opening track "The Joke") and also by comments from Dave Bush in Simon Ford's Hip Priest that he had been virtually erased from the album during the mixing process. The original "rough" mixes were included on the 2006 2CD reissue on Castle Music and showed no major differences to the released version; the sound is harsher (possibly the result of being mastered from a copy of the cassette) but Bush is no more predominant.
As per original release
Tracks 1-4 formed the group's 18th session for John Peel
, a Christmas themed session first broadcast within the same programme as a similarly festive session from Elastica
, whom Dave Bush would join after his dismissal from The Fall. Tracks 5-14 are taken from the early mix of the album (see above), tracks 15 and 16 are alternate mixes and track 17 was a promotional item circulated around the time of the album's release.
Middle Class Revolt
Middle Class Revolt is an album by The Fall, released in 1994 on Permanent Records. It spent one week on the UK album chart at number 48, a marked contrast to the top 10 debut of their preceding album The Infotainment Scan. The album's full title is Middle Class Revolt A/K/A The Vapourisation Of...
, marking the end of one of the group's relatively more successful periods.
The album was most notable for the return of Brix Smith
Brix Smith
Brix Smith-Start is an American singer, guitarist and television presenter, best known for being a member of post-punk band The Fall, and as lead singer and songwriter with The Adult Net.-Biography:Brix grew up in Los Angeles and Chicago...
to the line-up, the guitarist having rejoined the group for live shows in 1994 after quitting in 1989. Her impact was immediate and she co-wrote 5 of this album's 12 tracks, other tracks including a Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
cover and a re-recording of a 1990 b-side "Life Just Bounces". Nevertheless, sales were lower than on other recent albums and the group, always a busy touring act, performed just 16 times during the yearhttp://www.visi.com/fall/gigography/gig95.html. Cerebral Caustic turned out to be the beginning of a period of considerable turbulence for the group; having not dismissed anyone since 1990, Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
sacked Dave Bush by letter shortly after the album's release and guitarist Craig Scanlon, who had been with the band for 16 years and co-authored over 120 songs for The Fall, would be sacked during the sessions for epic single "The Chiselers" at the end of the year. Smith later admitted to Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine that he had developed a drink problem
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
during this period and he accepted that this had impacted upon the group. Scanlon's dismissal is (as at March 2008) the only sacking that Smith has publicly regretted (see Craig Scanlon
Craig Scanlon
Craig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
).
There were long-standing rumours that an alternative, superior mix of this album existed, partly fuelled by Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
's statement in an interview released to the press on a promotional cassette that he and Karl Burns
Karl Burns
Karl Burns is a British musician best known as drummer for The Fall, featuring in many incarnations of the band between 1977 and 1998....
had re-recorded the guitars after the rest of the group had been ejected from the studio (This claim was later clarified by Smith in the interview included on the Castle Music reissue's bonus disc as referring only to opening track "The Joke") and also by comments from Dave Bush in Simon Ford's Hip Priest that he had been virtually erased from the album during the mixing process. The original "rough" mixes were included on the 2006 2CD reissue on Castle Music and showed no major differences to the released version; the sound is harsher (possibly the result of being mastered from a copy of the cassette) but Bush is no more predominant.
Track listing
- "The Joke" (Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
/Brix E. Smith) - 2:49 - "Don't Call Me Darling" (M. Smith/Craig ScanlonCraig ScanlonCraig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
) - 3:35 - "Rainmaster" (M. Smith/B. Smith) - 3:27
- "Feeling Numb" (M. Smith/B. Smith) - 2:45
- "Pearl City" (M. Smith/Karl BurnsKarl BurnsKarl Burns is a British musician best known as drummer for The Fall, featuring in many incarnations of the band between 1977 and 1998....
/Mike Bennett) - 2:46 - "Life Just Bounces" (M. Smith/Steve HanleySteve Hanley (musician)Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
/Scanlon) - 4:47 - "I'm Not Satisfied" (Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
) - 2:56 - "The Aphid" (M. Smith/Hanley/Scanlon/Simon WolstencroftSimon WolstencroftSimon Wolstencroft is a musician from Manchester, England, best known for playing drums with The Fall between June 1986 and August 1997.Wolstencroft was a member of an early incarnation of The Stone Roses; having previously been a member of The Weeds and The Colourfield. He was also drummer for...
/B. Smith) - 2:46 - "Bonkers In Phoenix" (M. Smith/B. Smith) - 6:02
- "One Day" (M. Smith/Dave Bush) - 3:31
- "North West Fashion Show" (M. Smith/Burns) - 3:30
- "Pine Leaves" (M. Smith/Burns/Hanley/Scanlon) - 3:40
2006 reissue
- Disc One
As per original release
- Disc 2
- "Glam Racket - Star"
- "Jingle Bell Rock"
- "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
- "Numb at the Lodge"
- "One Day"
- "Rainmaster"
- "Feeling Numb"
- "The Joke"
- "Don't Call Me Darling"
- "Pearl City"
- "Life Just Bounces"
- "I'm Not Satisfied"
- "The Aphid"
- "Bonkers in Phoenix"
- "One Day"
- "Bonkers in Phoenix"
- Mark E. Smith and Brix Smith promo interview
Tracks 1-4 formed the group's 18th session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
, a Christmas themed session first broadcast within the same programme as a similarly festive session from Elastica
Elastica
Elastica were an English alternative rock band that played punk rock-influenced music. They were best known for their 1995 album Elastica, which produced singles that charted in the US and the UK.-History:...
, whom Dave Bush would join after his dismissal from The Fall. Tracks 5-14 are taken from the early mix of the album (see above), tracks 15 and 16 are alternate mixes and track 17 was a promotional item circulated around the time of the album's release.
Personnel
- Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
- vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Brix E. Smith - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Craig ScanlonCraig ScanlonCraig Scanlon is a British guitarist, best known as a member of The Fall between 1979 and 1995. During this period he co-wrote over 120 of the group's songs; Mark E. Smith excepted, this tally is unmatched by any other musician to have passed through the group.-Career:Scanlon joined the band...
- guitar - Steve HanleySteve Hanley (musician)Steve Hanley is an Irish-born English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing bass guitar in The Fall from 1979 to 1998, and afterwards in The Lovers....
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Simon WolstencroftSimon WolstencroftSimon Wolstencroft is a musician from Manchester, England, best known for playing drums with The Fall between June 1986 and August 1997.Wolstencroft was a member of an early incarnation of The Stone Roses; having previously been a member of The Weeds and The Colourfield. He was also drummer for...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, programming - Karl BurnsKarl BurnsKarl Burns is a British musician best known as drummer for The Fall, featuring in many incarnations of the band between 1977 and 1998....
- drums, guitars (probable - as per Smith's comments above), vocals - Dave Bush - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programming - Lucy Rimmer - vocals on "Pearl City"