Sonic Temple
Encyclopedia
Sonic Temple is the fourth album
by The Cult
, released in 1989. In addition to being a continuation of the band's hard rock
sound that was introduced on their previous album, Electric
, Sonic Temple features some of the band's most popular songs, "Fire Woman
", "Sun King", "Edie (Ciao Baby)
" and "Sweet Soul Sister
". With this album, The Cult obtained critical and commercial success with a ranking of #10 on the Billboard 200
.
Sonic Temple was also the last album recorded with long time bassist Jamie Stewart
, who left in 1990. After his departure, the band's music would take a different direction on their next album, 1991's Ceremony.
. The album marked the first time Bob Rock
produced an album by the band (he would later produce the band's 1994 self-titled
album, Beyond Good and Evil
and their upcoming 2012 album). The album got The Cult's highest chart position in the U.S.
, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200
charts and was certified Platinum
by the RIAA in 1993.
In Argentina
the record was released as Templo Sonico, and with the titles translated into Spanish on the jacket sleeve and record labels. In Taiwan
, it was released with a pink cover, and reportedly some of these were also distributed in mainland China
.
The album cover features guitarist Billy Duffy
with his Gibson Les Paul
and in the background features vocalist Ian Astbury
. An additional illustration in the CD booklet and cassette insert features bassist Jamie Stewart
.
and Billy Duffy
Singles - Billboard (United States)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
, released in 1989. In addition to being a continuation of the band's hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
sound that was introduced on their previous album, Electric
Electric (The Cult album)
Electric is the pivotal third album by The Cult. Released in 1987, the album marked a deliberate stylistic change in the band from a Gothic rock to a hard rock band. Rick Rubin, the producer on Electric, had been specifically hired to remake the band's sound...
, Sonic Temple features some of the band's most popular songs, "Fire Woman
Fire Woman
"Fire Woman" is a rock song by the band The Cult, written by singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album Sonic Temple, and was subsequently featured on all of The Cult's compilation/ greatest hits albums, as well as being a steady...
", "Sun King", "Edie (Ciao Baby)
Edie (Ciao Baby)
"Edie " is hard rock song by English band The Cult. It appeared on their fourth studio album Sonic Temple in 1989. It was also released as the second single from that album in 1989. A promotional video was also created...
" and "Sweet Soul Sister
Sweet Soul Sister
"Sweet Soul Sister" is a song by English hard rock band The Cult. It was first released on their 1989 album Sonic Temple, and was later released as a single. It reached number 42 in the UK Singles Chart, while peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the US...
". With this album, The Cult obtained critical and commercial success with a ranking of #10 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Sonic Temple was also the last album recorded with long time bassist Jamie Stewart
Jamie Stewart (The Cult)
Jamie Stewart was bassist of the 1980s British post-punk/hard rock group The Cult. He played bass guitar and keyboards on each of The Cult's first four albums and rhythm guitar on tour in 1987.After leaving The Cult, Stewart worked as a record producer in Canada...
, who left in 1990. After his departure, the band's music would take a different direction on their next album, 1991's Ceremony.
Album information
Sonic Temple follows The Cult's critically acclaimed 1987 album ElectricElectric (The Cult album)
Electric is the pivotal third album by The Cult. Released in 1987, the album marked a deliberate stylistic change in the band from a Gothic rock to a hard rock band. Rick Rubin, the producer on Electric, had been specifically hired to remake the band's sound...
. The album marked the first time Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
produced an album by the band (he would later produce the band's 1994 self-titled
The Cult (album)
The Cult is the sixth studio album from English rock band, The Cult. It was released in October, 1994 on Beggars Banquet Records and it is also the band's last album on Sire Records in the USA. It is also commonly referred to as the "Black Sheep" record, due to the image of a Manx Loaghtan black...
album, Beyond Good and Evil
Beyond Good and Evil
Beyond Good and Evil is a book by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, first published in 1886.It takes up and expands on the ideas of his previous work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, but approached from a more critical, polemical direction....
and their upcoming 2012 album). The album got The Cult's highest chart position in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
charts and was certified Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
by the RIAA in 1993.
In Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
the record was released as Templo Sonico, and with the titles translated into Spanish on the jacket sleeve and record labels. In Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, it was released with a pink cover, and reportedly some of these were also distributed in mainland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
The album cover features guitarist Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
with his Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
and in the background features vocalist Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
. An additional illustration in the CD booklet and cassette insert features bassist Jamie Stewart
Jamie Stewart (The Cult)
Jamie Stewart was bassist of the 1980s British post-punk/hard rock group The Cult. He played bass guitar and keyboards on each of The Cult's first four albums and rhythm guitar on tour in 1987.After leaving The Cult, Stewart worked as a record producer in Canada...
.
Track listing
All tracks written by Ian AstburyIan Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
and Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
- "Sun King" – 6:09
- "Fire WomanFire Woman"Fire Woman" is a rock song by the band The Cult, written by singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album Sonic Temple, and was subsequently featured on all of The Cult's compilation/ greatest hits albums, as well as being a steady...
" – 5:11 - "American Horse" – 5:19
- "Edie (Ciao Baby)Edie (Ciao Baby)"Edie " is hard rock song by English band The Cult. It appeared on their fourth studio album Sonic Temple in 1989. It was also released as the second single from that album in 1989. A promotional video was also created...
" – 4:46 - "Sweet Soul SisterSweet Soul Sister"Sweet Soul Sister" is a song by English hard rock band The Cult. It was first released on their 1989 album Sonic Temple, and was later released as a single. It reached number 42 in the UK Singles Chart, while peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the US...
" – 5:08 - "Soul Asylum" – 7:26
- "New York City" – 4:41
- "Automatic Blues" – 3:51
- "Soldier Blue" – 4:36
- "Wake Up Time For Freedom" – 5:17
Extra tracks
- "Medicine Train" – 4:42 (On CD and, in some countries, cassette release)
- "The River" (only on RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and Eastern European pressings) - "Lay Down your Gun" (version two) (only on RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and Eastern European pressings)
- There was a Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n version released, with the tracklisting expanded and slightly rearranged:
- Sun King
- Fire Woman
- American Horse
- Edie (Ciao Baby)
- Sweet Soul Sister
- NYC [ sicSicSic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
] - Automatic Blues
- Soldier Blue
- Wake up time for Freedom
- Medicine Train
- Electric Ocean
- King Contrary Man
- Born to be Wild
- Outlaw
Personnel
- Ian AstburyIan AstburyIan Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
– VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Billy DuffyBilly DuffyBilly Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
– 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... - Jamie StewartJamie Stewart (The Cult)Jamie Stewart was bassist of the 1980s British post-punk/hard rock group The Cult. He played bass guitar and keyboards on each of The Cult's first four albums and rhythm guitar on tour in 1987.After leaving The Cult, Stewart worked as a record producer in Canada...
– BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, 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... - Mickey CurryMickey CurryMichael Timothy Curry is an American drummer. He is best known for his long-term collaboration with the singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, although he has also worked with Hall & Oates, Cher, Tina Turner, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Sam Phillips, Tom Waits, The Cult, Steve Jones and...
– 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 ....
Additional personnel
- Iggy PopIggy PopIggy 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...
– Background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on "New York City" - John WebsterJohn Webster (musician)John Webster is a musician, engineer and producer who primarily plays keyboards. He was a member of Tom Cochrane's Red Rider from 1984 until they disbanded in 1989...
– Keyboards - Bob Buckley – StringString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
arrangementArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
on "Edie (Ciao Baby)"
- Engineered and Mixed by Mike FraserMike FraserMike Fraser is a Canadian record producer, engineer, and mixer. Mike is best known for his work with AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith and Joe Satriani...
Charts
Album - Billboard (United States)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 | 10 |
Singles - Billboard (United States)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Fire Woman" | Billboard Hot 100 | 46 |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 2 | ||
| Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4 | ||
| "Sun King" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 18 | |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 21 | ||
| "Edie (Ciao Baby)" | Billboard Hot 100 | 93 | |
| Mainstream Rock Tracks | 17 | ||
| 1990 | "Sweet Soul Sister" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 14 |