Mellow Gold
Encyclopedia
Mellow Gold is the third studio album
by American alternative rock
musician Beck
, as well as his major label debut. Mellow Gold was released on March 1, 1994 (see 1994 in music
) on the strength of the surprise hit "Loser" (U.S. #10). Informed by the irreverent Gen X slacker
and punk
-influenced anti-folk
styles of his earlier independent
work, critics noted its hybrid of styles and ironic
, witty lyrics. The decidedly anti-commercial attitude of Mellow Gold unexpectedly became a commercial success, and the album went platinum.
In an effort to get the album into stores such as Wal-Mart
and Kmart
, which do not stock albums with a "parental advisory
sticker", a "clean" version of the album was released.
Mellow Gold reached #13 in the U.S., and #41 in the UK. As of July 2008, Mellow Gold has sold 1.2 million copies in the United States.
, except where noted.
Sweet Sunshine
Beercan
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
musician Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, as well as his major label debut. Mellow Gold was released on March 1, 1994 (see 1994 in music
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
) on the strength of the surprise hit "Loser" (U.S. #10). Informed by the irreverent Gen X slacker
Slacker
The term "slacker" is used to refer to a person who habitually avoids work. Slackers may be regarded as belonging to an antimaterialistic counterculture, though in some cases their behavior may be due to other causes ....
and punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
-influenced anti-folk
Anti-folk
Anti-folk is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next...
styles of his earlier independent
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
work, critics noted its hybrid of styles and ironic
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
, witty lyrics. The decidedly anti-commercial attitude of Mellow Gold unexpectedly became a commercial success, and the album went platinum.
In an effort to get the album into stores such as Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
and Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
, which do not stock albums with a "parental advisory
Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory is a message affixed by the Recording Industry Association of America to audio and recordings in the United States containing excessive use of profane language and/or sexual references. Albums began to be labeled for "explicit lyrics" in 1985, after pressure from the Parents...
sticker", a "clean" version of the album was released.
Mellow Gold reached #13 in the U.S., and #41 in the UK. As of July 2008, Mellow Gold has sold 1.2 million copies in the United States.
Reception
Track listing
All songs by BeckBeck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, except where noted.
- "Loser" (Beck, Karl Stephenson) – 3:55
- "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)Pay No Mind (Snoozer)"Pay No Mind " is a song by Beck, taken from his first major label album Mellow Gold and released as its second single.-Conception and recording:...
" – 3:15 - "Fuckin With My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)" – 3:41
- "Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997" – 3:28
- "Soul Suckin Jerk" (Beck, Stephenson) – 3:57
- "Truckdrivin Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)" – 2:55
- "Sweet Sunshine" (Beck, Stephenson) – 4:14
- "BeercanBeercan (song)"Beercan" is a single by Beck, taken from his first major record label release, Mellow Gold. It peaked at number 27 on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks charts.-Conception and recording:...
" (Beck, Stephenson) – 4:00 - "Steal My Body Home" – 5:34
- "Nitemare Hippy Girl" – 2:55
- "Mutherfuker" – 2:04
- "Blackhole" – 7:33
- Includes the hidden track "Analog Odyssey".
Samples
Loser- "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" by Dr. JohnDr. JohnMalcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
- Kill the MoonlightKill The Moonlight (film)Kill the Moonlight, completed in 1994, is an American independent film by Steve Hanft. It was not officially released until much later.Filmmaker and video director Steve Hanft's first independent feature film, started when he was enrolled in CalArts in the early '90s.The film inspired Beck's song...
dialogue
Sweet Sunshine
- "Save the World" by Southside MovementSouthside MovementThe Southside Movement was an American soul and funk musical group from Chicago, Illinois. Composed of vocalist Melvin Moore, guitarist Bobby Pointer, keyboardist Morris Beeks, bassist Ronald Simmons, drummer Willie Hayes, alto saxophonist Milton Johnson, trumpeter Stephen Hawkins, and trombonist...
Beercan
- "Hog Leg" by the Melvins
- Care BearsCare BearsThe Care Bears are characters created by American Greetings in 1981 for use on greeting cards. The original artwork for the cards was painted by artist Elena Kucharik. In 1983, Kenner turned the Care Bears into plush teddy bears...
dialogue.
Personnel
- Beck – guitar, vocals, harmonica, producer
- Mike Boito – organ (track 8)
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering
- Tom RothrockTom RothrockTom Rothrock is an international record producer, composer and musician. Tom Rothrock has produced albums with James Blunt, Badly Drawn Boy, R. L. Burnside, Yonder Mountain String Band, Athlete, Sloan and Roman Carter....
– producer, mixing - Rob SchnapfRob SchnapfRob Schnapf is an American record producer and musician. He was the co-producer of Elliott Smith's albums Either/Or, XO , Figure 8 and From a Basement on the Hill, for which he was recruited by Smith's family to complete after Smith's death.Schnapf, along with Rothrock and partner...
– producer, mixing - Karl Stephenson – producer
- Petra HadenPetra HadenPetra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
– violin (track 12) - David Harte – drums (tracks 2, 10, 11)
- Rob ZabreckyRob ZabreckyRob Zabrecky is an American songwriter, actor and magician. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon. He later found success as a magician and actor....
– bass (track 12) - Robert FisherRobert FisherRobert Fisher may refer to:* Robert M. Fisher , American artist* Robert Fisher , American writer on play The Impossible Years* Robert J. Fisher , American business manager and director of Gap Inc...
– art direction, design - Ross HarrisRoss HarrisRichard R. Harris , better known by his nickname, Rossie Harris is an American actor, artist, and musician.-Acting career:...
– photography - Mike O'Connor - drums
External links
- 10 Years of Mellow Gold Documentary (retrospective documentary done for anniversary of the album)