| Blind Melon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 22, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | February–June 1992 | |||
| Studio | London Bridge (Seattle) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 55:18 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Blind Melon chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Blind Melon | ||||
| ||||
Blind Melon is the debut studio album by American rock band Blind Melon, released on September 22, 1992, through Capitol Records. "No Rain" became Blind Melon's breakthrough single.
In 1990, lead singer Shannon Hoon moved from Indiana to Los Angeles. Soon he met guitarist Rogers Stevens and bassist Brad Smith, both Mississippi natives who had come to Los Angeles a year earlier. They began playing together and then recruited a second guitarist, Christopher Thorn. The foursome then looked for a drummer in the local area, but months passed and their search was unsuccessful. Stevens and Smith eventually persuaded Glen Graham to come to Los Angeles and join the band.
After Blind Melon recorded a four-song demo called The Goodfoot Workshop, Capitol Records became interested and signed them in 1991 although they never released the band's demo as an EP. [1] Blind Melon then collaborated with producer David Briggs to put together their first EP titled The Sippin' Time Sessions. However, the record was not released due to "slick and doctored" results that were unanticipated. [2]
In late 1991, Blind Melon decided to leave Los Angeles to record its debut album since they felt the city did not reflect their music style. The band retreated to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, because of its "good music scene", however they could not find an affordable house big enough there for them and their equipment. [3] The band eventually rented a house at 926 West Trinity Avenue in Durham, North Carolina. [4]
Some recording sessions for the album took place at their Durham, North Carolina, residence, nicknamed the 'Sleepyhouse'. Thorn stated, "We rehearsed in the house and recorded in the house. We became a much better band in the house, and that's where we really developed our sound." [3] However, Blind Melon recorded the bulk of the album with producer Rick Parashar (who had produced Pearl Jam's Ten ) at London Bridge Studio in Seattle. The recording sessions for Blind Melon were completed in the spring of 1992. [2]
Blind Melon's production is marked by the use of outdated amplifiers and other antiquated studio technology. [5] Modern studio effects were not used in its production as the band wanted to create a pure and "intimate" sounding record. [4] Hoon stated, "We all kind of liked the production that was on a lot of early Stones records, [where] whatever it is you're playing is what it's going to sound like." [4]
On the album, Rogers Stevens's guitar playing is predominantly heard in the right channel, while Chris Thorn's is in the left.
The album's music style has been described as alternative, southern rock with a '70s retro-rock feel. [4] [6] Hoon's vocals on the record are high-pitched, and "scratchy" sounding. [6] A couple of the songs on Blind Melon criticize religion. "Holyman" slams people who maintain that only their religious views are right, and "Dear Ol' Dad" is about Hoon's ex-girlfriend who left him because of religion. [4] The song "Sleepyhouse" is a recollection of a time the band spent at their residence of the same name, and with friends at a yellow house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. [3] The lyrics to "Tones of Home" were written collaboratively.
Blind Melon's cover art is based on a 1975 photograph of Georgia Graham, Glen Graham's younger sister, in a bee costume at a "long-ago" school play. “We were all sitting around in the living room and that picture just jumped out at us. Someone jokingly said, ‘That would make a great album cover.’ ” [7] [8] [9] The cover art further inspired the concept of the 'Bee Girl' character in the band's video for "No Rain". Samuel Bayer, the video's director, selected Heather DeLoach for the 'Bee Girl' role because she looked similar to Graham's sister in the photograph. [7]
In 2021, the band shared this comment by Glen Graham on Facebook: "This photo was taken around 1976 at Joe Cook Jr. High School auditorium in Columbus, MS during a Jazz/Tap/Ballet recital of 4-6 year olds conducted by Mrs. Betty Lott's English School of Dance. Blind Melon spent about six weeks in Columbus in the winter of '91 before moving to what we dubbed the Sleepy House in Durham, NC. During that time, Christopher Thorn spotted the photo in my parents house and suggested using it for the album cover." [10]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide | C+ [12] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10 [13] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [14] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+ [15] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
Rolling Stone noted that "influences from the '70s abound, from Shannon Hoon's sunny Steve Miller-style vocals to tempo shifts of Jethro Tull-ish trickiness and whole pastures for jamming, jamming and jamming." [17]
In 2022, Guitar World ranked Blind Melon No. 8 on their list of "The 30 greatest rock guitar albums of 1992". [18]
All songs written by Blind Melon.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Soak the Sin" | 4:01 |
| 2. | "Tones of Home" | 4:26 |
| 3. | "I Wonder" | 5:31 |
| 4. | "Paper Scratcher" | 3:14 |
| 5. | "Dear Ol' Dad" | 3:02 |
| 6. | "Change" | 3:41 |
| 7. | "No Rain" | 3:37 |
| 8. | "Deserted" | 4:20 |
| 9. | "Sleepyhouse" | 4:29 |
| 10. | "Holyman" | 4:47 |
| 11. | "Seed to a Tree" | 3:29 |
| 12. | "Drive" | 4:39 |
| 13. | "Time" | 6:02 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Dear Ol' Dad" | 3:03 |
| 15. | "Soul One" | 3:41 |
| 16. | "Tones of Home" | 4:51 |
| 17. | "Seed to a Tree" | 3:25 |
| 18. | "Mother" | 6:14 |
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Tones of Home" | US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks [26] | 20 |
| 1993 | "No Rain" | US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks [26] | 1 |
| 1993 | "No Rain" | US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks [26] | 1 |
| 1993 | "No Rain" | US Billboard Hot 100 [26] | 20 |
| 1993 | "No Rain" | US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 [26] | 4 |
| 1993 | "Tones of Home" | US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks [26] | 10 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) [29] | 4× Platinum | 400,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [30] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [31] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Vitalogy is the third studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994, on Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote and recorded Vitalogy while touring behind its previous album Vs. (1993). The album's sound is more diverse than previous releases and consists of aggressive rock songs, ballads, and other stylistic elements, making it Pearl Jam's most experimental album at that period. Considered a departure from the grunge sound of the band's first two albums, the record focuses more on punk rock and hardcore styles in its production.
Blind Melon is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of guitarists Rogers Stevens and Christopher Thorn, drummer Glen Graham, vocalist Travis Warren and bassist Nathan Towne. They are best known for their 1993 hit "No Rain", and enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock. The band has sold over 3.2 million albums in the United States as of 2008.
Ten is the debut studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991, through Epic Records. Following the dissolution of their previous band Mother Love Bone in 1990, bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard began rehearsing with new guitarist Mike McCready. The group recorded a five-song instrumental demo tape which included contributions from Matt Cameron on drums. Copies of the demo were eventually given to drummer Dave Krusen and vocalist Eddie Vedder, both of whom were invited to audition for the band in Seattle. Many of the songs on Ten were instrumental jams or reworked Mother Love Bone songs for which Vedder provided lyrics.
Nico is a compilation album by American rock band Blind Melon, released in 1996 by Capitol Records. The album was released after lead singer Shannon Hoon's cocaine overdose that resulted in his death in 1995. The album was named for his daughter, Nico Blue, and the proceeds arising from album sales were placed in a college trust for her. It features unreleased tracks, recordings started by Hoon and finished by the band, unreleased versions of previous songs and the cover songs "The Pusher" (Steppenwolf) and "John Sinclair".
Vs. is the second studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on October 19, 1993, through Epic Records. After a relentless touring schedule in support of their 1991 debut album Ten, Pearl Jam headed into the studio in early 1993 facing the challenge of following up the commercial success of its debut. The resulting album, Vs., featured a rawer and more aggressive sound compared with the band's previous release. It was the band's first collaboration with producer Brendan O'Brien and its first album with drummer Dave Abbruzzese.
Richard Shannon Hoon was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer of the band Blind Melon from 1990 until his death in 1995.
Lost Dogs is a two-disc compilation album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 11, 2003 through Epic Records. The album has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States.
Soup is the second studio album by American rock band Blind Melon, released on August 15, 1995, through Capitol Records. It is the band's last album released during the lifetime of vocalist Shannon Hoon.
The Frames are an Irish rock band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six studio albums. In addition to Hansard, the band's current line-up includes original member Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Dave Hingerty, Joe Doyle, and Rob Bochnik.
Classic Masters is a compilation album by Blind Melon. Classic Masters was released on January 29, 2002.
Away from the Sun is the second studio album by American rock band 3 Doors Down. It was released by Universal Music Group on November 12, 2002. The four singles released for the album were as follows: "When I'm Gone", "The Road I'm On", "Here Without You", and "Away from the Sun". The song "Sarah Yellin'" was originally recorded as "Sarah Yellin' 86" on 3 Doors Down's self-titled demo in 1997. The Away from the Sun recording sessions took place during the summer of 2002 with producer and engineer Rick Parashar at London Bridge Studio, in Seattle, Washington. Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson performed live with the band during their premiere party in Biloxi, Mississippi for Away from the Sun. The album has sold eight million copies worldwide, including over four million in the US alone. Away from the Sun: Deluxe Edition, a remastered version with bonus tracks, was released on August 11, 2023.
Thomas Rogers Stevens is an American guitarist, best known for being a founding member of the alternative rock band Blind Melon. He has also been a member of the bands Extra Virgin and The Tender Trio, and he is an attorney.
"No Rain" is a song by American rock band Blind Melon. It was released in 1993 as the second single from the band's debut album Blind Melon. The song is well known for its accompanying music video, which features the "Bee Girl" character. The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, received heavy airplay on MTV at the time of its release. It subsequently helped propel Blind Melon to a multi-platinum level.
The Fallout is the debut studio album by Canadian hard rock band Default, released on October 2, 2001. Chad Kroeger, the frontman of Nickelback, contributed to the album's production and co-wrote six of its songs including its second single. With two hit singles, The Fallout is widely considered Default's best work and was their biggest commercial success, gaining platinum certification in the United States.
David Karl Krusen is an American musician. Krusen is best known as the first drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten. Krusen was also a member of the bands Hovercraft and Unified Theory. He was also the drummer for Candlebox from 1997 to 1999 and from 2015 to 2017.
Unified Theory, previously Luma, were an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. The lineup consisted of Chris Shinn, formerly of Celia Green, former Blind Melon members Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith (bass) as well as Dave Krusen (drums) formerly of Pearl Jam.
"Galaxie" is a single by American rock band Blind Melon. It was originally recorded for their second studio album Soup.
"Tones of Home" is a song by American rock band Blind Melon, released in 1992 as their first single. It reached number 20 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. After the breakthrough success of the next single, "No Rain", "Tones of Home" was released again; it was accompanied by a new video which was a sequel to the "No Rain" video and its "Bee Girl" storyline. Upon its re-release, the song reached number 10 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
Blind Melon is an alternative rock band, whose most notable work dates from 1992 to 1995, and ceased with the death of lead vocalist Shannon Hoon. In 2006, the band reformed with a new lead vocalist, Travis Warren. From 1992–1996 the band released three studio albums. They have also released two compilations albums and one live album. They are best known for the 1993 song "No Rain" which reached number 1 in the United States and Canada. Other songs that charted include "Tones of Home" (1992) and "Galaxie" (1995).
For My Friends is the third studio album by American rock band Blind Melon, released April 22, 2008. It is their first album in thirteen years, and the first to feature lead singer Travis Warren who was recruited after the death of previous lead singer Shannon Hoon.
Footnotes
Bibliography
