River of Deceit
Encyclopedia
"River of Deceit" is a song by the American rock
band Mad Season
, released in 1995 as the first single from the band's only studio album, Above (1995). The song reached number two on the Billboard
Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and is the band's most well known song.
joined the band.
by Khalil Gibran
, which Staley read during the making of the album. Drummer Barrett Martin
said, "Layne Staley felt as though he was on a spiritual mission through his music. Not a rock mission, a spiritual mission."Staley also wrote the song partially about his drug addiction which would eventually lead to his death on April 5, 2002.
Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia
and Austria
. In Canada
, the song reached the top 70 on the Canadian Singles Chart
, and later it charted on the Canadian Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number eight.
for "River of Deceit" was directed by Josh Taft
. The black-and-white
video features the band performing the song amid scenes of people engaged in various activities. It is the only music video the band released. The video can be found at the end of the concert video, Live at the Moore
.
. Live performances of "River of Deceit" can be found on the "I Don't Know Anything
" single and the compilation album Bite Back: Live at Crocodile Cafe. A performance of the song is also included on the Live at the Moore
home video release.
, Mike McCready
, John Baker Saunders
, and Layne Staley
.
CD (Australia and Austria) and Cassette (Australia)
Promotional CD (US)
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Mad Season
Mad Season
Mad Season was an American rock supergroup formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1994 by members of three popular Seattle-based bands: Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees. Mad Season only released one album, Above, and is best known for the single "River of Deceit"...
, released in 1995 as the first single from the band's only studio album, Above (1995). The song reached number two on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and is the band's most well known song.
Origin and recording
The music for "River of Deceit" came out of rehearsals that the group had before vocalist Layne StaleyLayne Staley
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the...
joined the band.
Lyrics
Much of "River of Deceit", lyrically, was inspired by The ProphetThe Prophet (book)
The Prophet is a book of 26 poetic essays written in English by the Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer Kahlil Gibran. It was originally published in 1923 by Alfred A. Knopf. It is Gibran's best known work...
by Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān,Jibrān Khalīl Jibrān, or Jibrān Xalīl Jibrān; Arabic , January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) also known as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer...
, which Staley read during the making of the album. Drummer Barrett Martin
Barrett Martin
Barrett Martin , is an American drummer, upright bassist, composer, producer, writer, and Zen artist. He was the drummer for the Seattle, Washington groups Skin Yard and Screaming Trees, as well as the supergroups Mad Season and Tuatara...
said, "Layne Staley felt as though he was on a spiritual mission through his music. Not a rock mission, a spiritual mission."Staley also wrote the song partially about his drug addiction which would eventually lead to his death on April 5, 2002.
Release and reception
The single for "River of Deceit" was released to radio across North America, Europe, and the world. "River of Deceit" became the most successful song from Above on the American rock charts. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It would go on to become the band's most well-known song as it received substantial radio play throughout the 1990s.Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the song reached the top 70 on the Canadian Singles Chart
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
, and later it charted on the Canadian Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number eight.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "River of Deceit" was directed by Josh Taft
Josh Taft
Josh Taft is an American music video director. He has directed music videos for Stone Temple Pilots , Nas , A Tribe Called Quest , Cypress Hill , Mother Love Bone , and Pearl Jam ,...
. The black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
video features the band performing the song amid scenes of people engaged in various activities. It is the only music video the band released. The video can be found at the end of the concert video, Live at the Moore
Live at the Moore
Live at The Moore is a home video featuring the final live performance by the American rock band Mad Season. It was released on August 29, 1995.-Overview:...
.
Live performances
"River of Deceit" was first performed live at the band's October 12, 1994 concert in Seattle, Washington at the Crocodile CafeCrocodile Cafe
The Crocodile is a music club at 2200 2nd Avenue at Blanchard Street in the neighborhood of Belltown in Seattle, Washington, USA. Opened as the "Crocodile Cafe" on April 30, 1991 by Stephanie Dorgan, it quickly became a fixture on the local music scene. It closed on December 15, 2007...
. Live performances of "River of Deceit" can be found on the "I Don't Know Anything
I Don't Know Anything
"I Don't Know Anything" is a song by the American rock band Mad Season, released in 1995 as the second single from the band's sole studio album, Above...
" single and the compilation album Bite Back: Live at Crocodile Cafe. A performance of the song is also included on the Live at the Moore
Live at the Moore
Live at The Moore is a home video featuring the final live performance by the American rock band Mad Season. It was released on August 29, 1995.-Overview:...
home video release.
Track listing
All songs written by Barrett MartinBarrett Martin
Barrett Martin , is an American drummer, upright bassist, composer, producer, writer, and Zen artist. He was the drummer for the Seattle, Washington groups Skin Yard and Screaming Trees, as well as the supergroups Mad Season and Tuatara...
, Mike McCready
Mike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
, John Baker Saunders
John Baker Saunders
John Baker Saunders was a founding member and bassist for the American grunge rock supergroup Mad Season, as well as a member of The Walkabouts. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama and later attended Providence College...
, and Layne Staley
Layne Staley
Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-lyricist of the rock group Alice in Chains, which was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the...
.
CD (Australia and Austria) and Cassette (Australia)
- "River of Deceit" – 5:04
- "November Hotel" (live) – 15:17
- Recorded live on November 20, 1994 at the Crocodile CafeCrocodile CafeThe Crocodile is a music club at 2200 2nd Avenue at Blanchard Street in the neighborhood of Belltown in Seattle, Washington, USA. Opened as the "Crocodile Cafe" on April 30, 1991 by Stephanie Dorgan, it quickly became a fixture on the local music scene. It closed on December 15, 2007...
in Seattle, Washington, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Some copies list the second track as just "November Hotel" (without "All Alone").
- Recorded live on November 20, 1994 at the Crocodile Cafe
Promotional CD (US)
- "River of Deceit" – 5:04
Chart positions
| Chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks | 9 |
| Canadian Singles Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
68 |
| Canadian Alternative Top 30 RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
8 |