Telepathic Surgery

Telepathic Surgery
Telepathic Surgery
Studio album by the Flaming Lips
Released	January 3, 1989
Recorded	1988
Studio	Goodnite Audio, Dallas
Genre	Alternative rock ; noise rock ; neo-psychedelia ;
Length	38:42; 64:37 (CD issue); 61:57 (2 Disc(3 sides) Vinyl issue)
Label	Restless/Enigma ; 1877-72350-2
Producer	Wayne Coyne, Richard English, Michael Ivins
The Flaming Lips chronology
Singles from Telepathic Surgery
	"Drug Machine in Heaven"; Released: February 1989;

Last updated October 30, 2024

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]
The Great Rock Discography	5/10^[3]
MusicHound Rock	^[4]
Paste	6.9/10^[5]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[6]

Telepathic Surgery is the third studio album by the Flaming Lips, released in 1989.

Overview

Telepathic Surgery began life as a concept album; the band initially set out to create a 30-minute sound collage. The plan was later scrapped; however, the remnants of this original idea are evident within the album's loose, meandering structure and the epic "Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory". The album is named after a line from the song "Chrome Plated Suicide".^[7]

"Chrome Plated Suicide" stands out as one of the group's most accomplished early recordings, possibly due to being based on Guns N' Roses' critically acclaimed "Sweet Child o' Mine".^[8] Sub Pop asked the group to record "Drug Machine in Heaven" for their 'single of the month' series. It was retitled as "Drug Machine" and is the group's first official single. The 'A-side' was backed with "Strychnine/What's So Funny (About Peace, Love and Understanding)", a cover of "Strychnine" by The Sonics and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" by Brinsley Schwarz, but based on the Elvis Costello and the Attractions cover version.^[9]

Similar to many albums of its time, the CD release of Telepathic Surgery had a track listing differing from its LP release due to the time restraints of a single vinyl LP. Extra tracks on CD versions were "Fryin' Up" and "Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory", which are included in between "Miracle on 42nd Street and "U.F.O. Story".

Reissue

The album was reissued and remastered as part of the Finally the Punk Rockers Are Taking Acid boxset in 2002, which included the extra tracks from the CD but "Hell's Angels Cracker Factory" was amended to just over three minutes in length.

Telepathic Surgery was reissued in limited quantities in 2005 on blue vinyl. The reissue is on 3 sides and contains the bonus track "Hell's Angels Cracker Factory", a 23-minute song with backward vocals and long guitar solos. The cover depicts promotional photos including the band standing in front of a staged fatal car crash. The inside sleeve contains a story about the early Lips by Michael Ivins, the bassist of the Flaming Lips.

Track listing

Original release

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Drug Machine in Heaven"	2:11
2.	"Right Now"	3:55
3.	"Michael, Time to Wake Up"	0:30
4.	"Chrome Plated Suicide"	5:39
5.	"Hari-Krishna Stomp Wagon (Fuck Led Zeppelin)"	3:54
6.	"Miracle on 42nd Street"	2:36

Side B
No.	Title	Length
7.	"U.F.O Story"	6:33
8.	"Redneck School of Technology"	2:55
9.	"Shaved Gorilla"	2:54
10.	"The Spontaneous Combustion of John"	0:52
11.	"The Last Drop of Morning Dew"	1:59
12.	"Begs and Achin'"	4:17

Side C
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory" (Only included on 2005 editions)	23:02

CD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Drug Machine in Heaven"	2:11
2.	"Right Now"	3:57
3.	"Michael, Time to Wake Up"	0:29
4.	"Chrome Plated Suicide"	5:41
5.	"Hari-Krishna Stomp Wagon (Fuck Led Zeppelin)"	3:45
6.	"Miracle on 42nd Street"	2:48
7.	"Fryin' Up"	2:40
8.	"Hell's Angel's Cracker Factory"	23:02
9.	"U.F.O Story"	6:41
10.	"Redneck School of Technology"	2:46
11.	"Shaved Gorilla"	2:58
12.	"The Spontaneous Combustion of John"	0:53
13.	"The Last Drop of Morning Dew"	1:58
14.	"Begs and Achin'"	4:24

Personnel

Wayne Coyne – lead vocals, guitar
Michael Ivins – bass, backing vocals
Richard English – drums, backing vocals, keyboards
Produced by The Flaming Lips
Ruben Ayala – recording engineer
Craig 'Niteman' Taylor – harmonica
Michelle Martin – photography
Michele Vlasimsky – layout design, photography

Related Research Articles

The Flaming Lips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The band currently consists of Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Derek Brown, Matt Duckworth Kirksey and Tommy McKenzie (bass). Coyne and Drozd have remained the band's only consistent members since 1991, with Coyne being the only remaining founding member following the departure of bassist and keyboardist Michael Ivins in 2021.

<i>Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots</i> 2002 studio album by the Flaming Lips

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is the tenth studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released on July 16, 2002, by Warner Bros. Records. The album saw the band pursue a more electronic direction than previous efforts, incorporating acoustic guitars and rhythms influenced by hip hop and top 40 music. The album was well-received critically and commercially, helping the band break into popularity, and was adapted into a musical in 2012. In 2022, the band announced a 20th anniversary box set version of the album and that they would perform the album in full twice in early 2023.

<i>The Soft Bulletin</i> 1999 studio album by the Flaming Lips

The Soft Bulletin is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released by Warner Bros. Records on May 17, 1999, in the United Kingdom, and on June 22, 1999, in the United States. The album was released to widespread acclaim, and was hailed by critics as a departure from their previous guitar-heavy alternative rock sound into a more layered, intricately arranged work.

<i>Transmissions from the Satellite Heart</i> 1993 studio album by the Flaming Lips

Transmissions from the Satellite Heart is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released in 1993 by Warner Bros. Records. The album marked the departure of Jonathan Donahue and Nathan Roberts, and the addition of guitarist Ronald Jones and drummer Steven Drozd.

<i>Embryonic</i> (album) 2009 studio album by the Flaming Lips

Embryonic is the twelfth studio album by experimental rock band the Flaming Lips released on October 13, 2009, on Warner Bros. The band's first double album, it was released to generally positive reviews and became their most successful album in the US, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard 200.

Zaireeka is the eighth studio album by the American rock band the Flaming Lips, released on October 28, 1997, by Warner Bros. Records. The album consists of four CDs designed so that when played simultaneously on four separate audio systems, they would produce a harmonic or juxtaposed sound; the discs could also be played in different combinations, omitting one, two or three discs. Each of its eight songs consists of four stereo tracks, one from each CD. The album's title is a portmanteau of two words: Zaire, chosen as a symbol of anarchy after Wayne Coyne heard a radio news story about the political instability of the African nation, and Eureka, an expression of joyous discovery.

<i>In a Priest Driven Ambulance</i> 1990 studio album by the Flaming Lips

In a Priest Driven Ambulance (With Silver Sunshine Stares) is the fourth album by the Flaming Lips, released in 1990. It is the first Flaming Lips album to feature Jonathan Donahue (also of Mercury Rev) and drummer Nathan Roberts. This line-up would subsequently be signed by Warner Bros. Records and go on to record the follow-up album Hit to Death in the Future Head. It is a concept album primarily focused on frontman Wayne Coyne's fascination with religion.

<i>Clouds Taste Metallic</i> 1995 studio album by The Flaming Lips

Clouds Taste Metallic is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released on September 19, 1995, by Warner Bros. Records. It was the last album to feature guitarist Ronald Jones. The album's recording is heavily featured in the Fearless Freaks documentary.

<i>The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg</i> 2002 compilation album by The Flaming Lips

The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg is a 2xCD compilation of material by the Flaming Lips released by Restless Records in late 2002. It is the second of two reissues compiling the band's work with the record label, and follows Finally the Punk Rockers Are Taking Acid.

<i>Oh My Gawd!!!</i> 1987 studio album by The Flaming Lips

Oh My Gawd!!! is The Flaming Lips' second album, released on Restless Records in 1987.

<i>Hear It Is</i> 1986 studio album by The Flaming Lips

Hear It Is is the debut studio album by American rock band The Flaming Lips, released on January 21, 1986, by Restless Records. It marked the official debut of Wayne Coyne on vocals after the departure of his brother Mark Coyne.

<i>The Flaming Lips</i> (EP) 1984 EP by The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips is the debut release by American rock group The Flaming Lips, released in 1984.

"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)" is a song by The Flaming Lips, released as the second single from their 2006 album At War with the Mystics. It is their highest-charting single so far in the UK, peaking at #16.

<i>The Dark Side of the Moon</i> (2009 album) 2009 studio album by The Flaming Lips, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Henry Rollins and Peaches

The Flaming Lips and Stardeath and White Dwarfs with Henry Rollins and Peaches Doing The Dark Side of the Moon is a collaborative studio album by the psychedelic rock group the Flaming Lips. The album is a complete track-for-track reimagining of Pink Floyd's seminal 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.

<i>The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends</i> 2012 studio album by the Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends is the first album in the "Fwends" series by the American rock band the Flaming Lips in collaboration with a variety of guests.

<i>The Flaming Lips with Prefuse 73</i> 2011 EP by The Flaming Lips and Prefuse 73

The Flaming Lips with Prefuse 73 is a four-track collaboration EP between the Flaming Lips and Guillermo Scott Herren. The EP was limited to between 1000 and 2000 copies, pressed on randomly colored 12" vinyls so that no two look alike.

<i>The Terror</i> (album) 2013 studio album by the Flaming Lips

The Terror is the thirteenth studio album by experimental rock band the Flaming Lips, released on April 1, 2013 worldwide and April 16 in the U.S., on Warner Bros in the United States and Bella Union in the United Kingdom. It is the first album for band member Derek Brown and last with drummer Kliph Scurlock. Lead vocalist Wayne Coyne described the album's general idea in a press release:

"We want, or wanted, to believe that without love we would disappear, that love, somehow, would save us that, yeah, if we have love, give love and know love, we are truly alive and if there is no love, there would be no life. The Terror is, we know now, that even without love, life goes on... we just go on… there is no mercy killing."

"7 Skies H3" is a composition by American experimental rock band The Flaming Lips, released on October 31, 2011.

<i>Oczy Mlody</i> 2017 studio album by the Flaming Lips

Oczy Mlody is the fourteenth studio album by experimental rock band the Flaming Lips, released on January 13, 2017, on Warner Bros in the US and Bella Union in the UK. It is the first album to feature band members Jake Ingalls, Nicholas Ley and Matt Duckworth.

<i>American Head</i> 2020 studio album by the Flaming Lips

American Head is the sixteenth studio album by experimental rock band the Flaming Lips, released on September 11, 2020, on Warner Records in the US and Bella Union in the UK. Produced by Dave Fridmann and Scott Booker, alongside the band itself, the album represents a return to the band's American roots. It is the final studio album to feature founding bass guitarist Michael Ivins and keyboardist Jake Ingalls, who both departed from the band in 2021, as well as drummer Nicholas Ley who departed in 2023. It is subsequently the final album featuring the expanded seven person line-up of the group that began with 2017's Oczy Mlody.

References

↑ Raggett, Ned. "Review: Telepathic Surgery – The Flaming Lips". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 May 2010.
↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). "The Flaming Lips". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
↑ Strong, Martin C. (2004). "Flaming Lips". The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 543–544. ISBN 1-84195-615-5.
↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). "The Flaming Lips". MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. p. 428–429. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
↑ Schonfeld, Zach (July 31, 2018). "The Flaming Lips: Hear It Is/Oh My Gawd!!!/Telepathic Surgery Reissues". Paste .
↑ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Flaming Lips". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 300. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
↑ Official Flaming Lips website Archived 2008-03-20 at the Wayback Machine . Telepathic Surgery album info. "The Flaming Lips third album for Restless records was based around their desire to create a piece of music which would be a half hour long collage of sound".
↑ [Wayne Coyne. Liner notes of A Collection of Songs Representing an Enthusiasm for Recording...By Amateurs , (1998) Restless Records. "I think someone showed me the chords to "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns 'N Roses"
↑ [Wayne Coyne. Liner notes of A Collection of Songs Representing an Enthusiasm for Recording...By Amateurs , (1998) Restless Records. "Sub-Pop asked us to do a cover of this Sonics' (they're from Seattle) song for their "single of the month" series and for some reason, which i can't remember now, we fused it with this Elvis Costello cover"

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Raggett, Ned. "Review: Telepathic Surgery – The Flaming Lips". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 May 2010.

[2] Larkin, Colin (2011). "The Flaming Lips". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.

[3] Strong, Martin C. (2004). "Flaming Lips". The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 543–544. ISBN 1-84195-615-5.

[4] Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). "The Flaming Lips". MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. p. 428–429. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.

[Paste-5] Schonfeld, Zach (July 31, 2018). "The Flaming Lips: Hear It Is/Oh My Gawd!!!/Telepathic Surgery Reissues". Paste .

[Cross-6] Cross, Charles R. (2004). "Flaming Lips". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 300. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[7] Official Flaming Lips website Archived 2008-03-20 at the Wayback Machine . Telepathic Surgery album info. "The Flaming Lips third album for Restless records was based around their desire to create a piece of music which would be a half hour long collage of sound".

[8] [Wayne Coyne. Liner notes of A Collection of Songs Representing an Enthusiasm for Recording...By Amateurs , (1998) Restless Records. "I think someone showed me the chords to "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns 'N Roses"

[9] [Wayne Coyne. Liner notes of A Collection of Songs Representing an Enthusiasm for Recording...By Amateurs , (1998) Restless Records. "Sub-Pop asked us to do a cover of this Sonics' (they're from Seattle) song for their "single of the month" series and for some reason, which i can't remember now, we fused it with this Elvis Costello cover"

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]