Twisted Tenderness
Encyclopedia
Twisted Tenderness is the third album by English
supergroup
Electronic
, released in 1999 by Parlophone
in the UK and eighteen months later by Koch Records
in the USA
. It was re-released in 2001 as Twisted Tenderness::Deluxe by Koch with a second disc of B-sides and remix
es added.
, which had taken a year and a half to complete. Marr and Sumner remained the only official members of the band, but were joined by Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin
on bass and Black Grape
drummer Ged Lynch. The sound of the album reflected this back-to-basics approach in terms of the lineup, although subsequent production and mixing incorporated additional beats and samples.
Twisted Tenderness was co-produced by influential New York
club DJ and dance producer Arthur Baker
, with whom Sumner had previously worked on New Order
's 1983 hit "Confusion", amongst other songs.
The promo
issue of the album contained an uncleared sample of Ice T
proclaiming "this is not a pop album" on the track "Make It Happen
". This mix had a duration of 7:50; it was shortened for release when the sample was removed.
Early promos also included "King for a Day", which was eventually released as a B-side to "Late at Night
". Reviews in Q
and Mojo
were based on this configuration; the former stated that there were twelve tracks while the latter mentioned the reference to Dracula
in the song lyrics. The only country to include "King for a Day" on the album was Japan, where it was released a week before Britain.
The singles "Vivid
" and "Late at Night" featured three B-sides between them, namely "Radiation" (an instrumental co-written with Baker), "King for a Day" and "Warning Sign", all of which appeared on the Deluxe edition next to promo versions and previously released remixes.
Russia
n mystic
Grigori Rasputin
is featured on the cover.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Electronic
Electronic (band)
-Albums:-Singles:-Music videos:-External links:* *...
, released in 1999 by Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
in the UK and eighteen months later by Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was re-released in 2001 as Twisted Tenderness::Deluxe by Koch with a second disc of B-sides and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es added.
History
The writing and recording of the album was a reaction to the protracted sessions of its predecessor Raise the PressureRaise the Pressure
Raise the Pressure is Electronic's second album, released in July 1996.-Recording:Seven of the thirteen tracks were composed by full-time members Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner, and the other six co-written with former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos...
, which had taken a year and a half to complete. Marr and Sumner remained the only official members of the band, but were joined by Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin
Jimi Goodwin
Jimi Goodwin is the bassist, vocalist and guitarist for Doves. Before their incarnation as Doves, the three members were a dance-club music trio called Sub Sub....
on bass and Black Grape
Black Grape
Black Grape were a 1990s rock band from England, featuring former members of Happy Mondays. The group's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples.-History:...
drummer Ged Lynch. The sound of the album reflected this back-to-basics approach in terms of the lineup, although subsequent production and mixing incorporated additional beats and samples.
Twisted Tenderness was co-produced by influential New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
club DJ and dance producer Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
, with whom Sumner had previously worked on New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
's 1983 hit "Confusion", amongst other songs.
The promo
Promotional recording
A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available...
issue of the album contained an uncleared sample of Ice T
Ice T
Tracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
proclaiming "this is not a pop album" on the track "Make It Happen
Make It Happen (Electronic song)
"Make It Happen" is a dance/rock song written and performed by the Bernard Sumner/Johnny Marr band Electronic. Produced by Electronic with Arthur Baker, it is the first track on their third album Twisted Tenderness....
". This mix had a duration of 7:50; it was shortened for release when the sample was removed.
Early promos also included "King for a Day", which was eventually released as a B-side to "Late at Night
Late at Night (Electronic song)
"Late at Night" is a rock song by the English band Electronic. It was written and produced by its members Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr, and co-produced with Arthur Baker...
". Reviews in Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
and 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...
were based on this configuration; the former stated that there were twelve tracks while the latter mentioned the reference to Dracula
Count Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
in the song lyrics. The only country to include "King for a Day" on the album was Japan, where it was released a week before Britain.
The singles "Vivid
Vivid (Electronic song)
"Vivid" is a song by Electronic, the eighth single released by the group. It was released in April 1999 by Parlophone in Britain and by Virgin in Germany. "Vivid" reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart.-Recording:...
" and "Late at Night" featured three B-sides between them, namely "Radiation" (an instrumental co-written with Baker), "King for a Day" and "Warning Sign", all of which appeared on the Deluxe edition next to promo versions and previously released remixes.
Russia
Russia
Russia 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 mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei...
is featured on the cover.
Track listing
All songs written by Marr/Sumner, except where noted.- "Make It Happen" – 7:38
- "Haze" – 5:11
- "Vivid" – 5:36
- "Breakdown" – 5:50
- "Can't Find My Way HomeCan't Find My Way HomeThe New York No Wave band Swans version of "Can't Find My Way Home" appeared on their 1989 album The Burning World and was also released as a single.- Track listing :# "Can't Find My Way Home"...
" (Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
) – 4:52 - "Twisted Tenderness" – 5:31
- "Like No Other" – 4:38
- "Late at Night" – 4:12
- "Prodigal Son" – 7:10
- "When She's Gone" – 4:29
- "Flicker" – 6:25
- The 2000 American edition included three bonus tracks: "King for a Day", "Warning Sign" and "Make It Happen" (Album Remix).
Deluxe edition bonus disc
- "King for a Day" – 4:28
- "Warning Sign" – 4:45
- "Make It Happen" (Remix) – 5:58
- "Haze" (Alternative Mix) – 5:23
- "Prodigal Son" (Star in Your Own Mind Mix) – 10:05
- "Radiation" (Arthur BakerArthur Baker (musician)Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
, Johnny MarrJohnny MarrJohnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
, Bernard SumnerBernard SumnerBernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
) – 7:31 - "Prodigal Son" (Touched by the Hand of Inch) – 5:07
- "Prodigal Son" (Two Lone SwordsmenTwo Lone SwordsmenThe Two Lone Swordsmen are British house DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall and studio engineer Keith Tenniswood. Formed in early 1996, following the dissolution of Weatherall's influential Sabres of Paradise techno act, the Swordsmen have explored a variety of styles, from electro and 4/4 techno to...
remix) – 5:35 - "Prodigal Son" (HarveyDJ HarveyDj Harvey, , is a DJ from Cambridge, England. He has achieved a following the world over including places such as Singapore and Japan...
's Greatly Deluded Mix) – 3:16 - "Come Down" (Cevin FisherCevin FisherCevin Fisher is an American house music record producer. He is best known for songs such as "The Freaks Come Out" and " Burning Up," the latter of which featured vocals by Loleatta Holloway...
Mix) – 8:19
Singles
- "VividVivid (Electronic song)"Vivid" is a song by Electronic, the eighth single released by the group. It was released in April 1999 by Parlophone in Britain and by Virgin in Germany. "Vivid" reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart.-Recording:...
" (12 April 1999) - "Late at Night" (5 July 1999) (withdrawn in the UK)
Promos
- "Prodigal SonProdigal Son (Electronic song)"Prodigal Son" is a rock song by the English band Electronic. It was written by Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr and co-produced with Arthur Baker. The song was first released as a promotional single of four remixes in March 1999, and appeared in the following month on their third album Twisted...
" (March 1999) - "Make It HappenMake It Happen (Electronic song)"Make It Happen" is a dance/rock song written and performed by the Bernard Sumner/Johnny Marr band Electronic. Produced by Electronic with Arthur Baker, it is the first track on their third album Twisted Tenderness....
" (June 1999)