The Reality of My Surroundings

Last updated

The Reality of My Surroundings
The Reality of My Surroundings.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 23, 1991 (1991-04-23)
RecordedNovember 1990 – January 1991
Studio Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length59:39
Label Columbia [3]
Producer Fishbone, David Kahne
Fishbone chronology
Set the Booty Up Right
(1990)
The Reality of My Surroundings
(1991)
Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe
(1993)
Singles from The Reality of My Surroundings
  1. "Fight the Youth"
    Released: 1991
  2. "Everyday Sunshine"
    Released: 1991
  3. "Sunless Saturday"
    Released: 1991

The Reality of My Surroundings is the third studio album by the American rock band Fishbone, released on April 23, 1991 through Columbia Records. [4] It was their first album to include former Miles Davis music director John Bigham (guitar, keyboards), who joined in 1989 during the Truth and Soul tour. [5]

Contents

Album information

Fishbone took the rest of 1989 off before beginning to write songs for the follow-up to Truth and Soul. The project was plagued by production delays until November 1990, when the band entered Ocean Way Recording, booking two months of studio time in which to record the album. Fishbone self-produced the album with assistance of David Kahne which includes the singles, "Fight the Youth", "Everyday Sunshine" and "Sunless Saturday".

The album's title comes from a line in track 3, "So Many Millions", which reads "I cannot get over legitimately, the Reality of My Surroundings do not point to the sky".

Packaging

The CD cover shows only John Norwood Fisher, with a larger picture of the band sitting in a living room being visible when the CD cover is unfolded. The vinyl version shows the full band's living-room portrait, spanning both sides of the outer gatefold cover.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Entertainment Weekly A− [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]

With this album, Fishbone obtained critical and commercial success with a ranking of No. 49 on the Billboard 200 on May 18, 1991. Due to the sudden implementation of Nielsen SoundScan tracking figures on the Billboard charts, The Reality of My Surroundings sharply dropped to No. 182 in two weeks. [10] The album ultimately spent ten weeks on the Billboard 200, and by 1997 the album had sold nearly 200,000 copies in the United States. [11] [12]

The album is widely considered by fans and critics as the creative peak of the band. People called The Reality of My Surroundings Fishbone's most impressive album. [13] Trouser Press wrote that "the sprawling [album] reprises much of Truth and Soul‘s spirit and sound, but is far more ambitious in scope and philosophy." [14]

Fishbone experienced a large growth in concert tickets and record sales during this period, making two memorable television appearances: performing "Sunless Saturday" and "Everyday Sunshine" on Saturday Night Live , and "Everyday Sunshine" on The Arsenio Hall Show . The SNL performance of "Sunless Saturday" has been re-edited in reruns. The original television broadcast showed a brief glimpse of Angelo Moore doing a backflip on stage. The re-edited version simply switches the camera angle, making it possible to see the full flip right after signaling "Special K" (Kendall Jones) to do his guitar solo.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fight the Youth"John Norwood Fisher, Philip Fisher, Kendall Jones5:01
2."If I Were A...I'd"Chris Dowd, Angelo Moore 0:54
3."So Many Millions"J. N. Fisher, Moore5:50
4."Asswhippin'"John Bigham, Dowd, J. N. Fisher, P. Fisher, Jones, Walter A. Kibby II, Moore0:40
5."Housework"J. N. Fisher, P. Fisher, Jones, Kibby, Moore4:46
6."Death March"Dowd, Moore0:34
7."Behavior Control Technician"J. N. Fisher, P. Fisher3:09
8."If I Were A...I'd"Dowd, Moore0:29
9."Pressure"Jones, Moore4:47
10."Junkies Prayer"Dowd, J. N. Fisher, Jones, Moore, Byron West3:01
11."Pray to the Junkiemaker"Dowd, Moore4:03
12."Everyday Sunshine"Dowd, Moore4:57
13."If I Were A...I'd"Dowd, Moore0:29
14."Naz-Tee May'en"J. N. Fisher, P. Fisher, Jones, Moore4:56
15."Babyhead"Kibby5:31
16."If I Were A...I'd"Dowd, Moore0:53
17."Those Days Are Gone"Dowd, J. N. Fisher5:23
18."Sunless Saturday"Jones4:18

Personnel

Fishbone

Additional

Engineers

Accolades

YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRank
1991Rock de LuxSpain"Albums of the Year"2 [15]
1991 OOR Netherlands "Albums of the Year"40 [15]
"*" denotes an unordered list.

Charts

AlbumBillboard (United States)

YearChartPosition
1991The Billboard 20049 [16]

Singles – Billboard (United States)

YearSingleChartPosition
1991"Sunless Saturday"Modern Rock Tracks7
"Everyday Sunshine"Modern Rock Tracks14

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishbone</span> American rock band

Fishbone is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1979, the band plays a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. AllMusic has described the group as "one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s. With their hyperactive, self-conscious diversity, goofy sense of humor, and sharp social commentary, the group gained a sizable cult following".

<i>Truth and Soul</i> 1988 studio album by Fishbone

Truth and Soul is the second studio album by American rock band Fishbone. It was released on September 13, 1988. As is typical of the band's history of music the album features a wide array of genres including punk, ska, reggae, soul, funk, and blues. Additionally, Truth and Soul includes the band's earliest foray into hard rock and heavy metal. The album begins with a cover version of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead", originally from the soundtrack to the film Super Fly.

<i>In Your Face</i> (Fishbone album) 1986 studio album by Fishbone

In Your Face is the debut studio album by American rock band Fishbone, released in November 1986. It is the band's second major label release for Columbia Records following their self-titled EP from the previous year.

<i>Fishbone</i> (EP) 1985 EP by Fishbone

Fishbone is the recording debut of alternative group Fishbone. This six-song EP was released in 1985 and captures the band at the height of their early funk/ska era. The track "Party at Ground Zero" remains one of the band's most popular tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Your Soul</span> 1990 promotional single by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Show Me Your Soul" is a song by the funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers that was recorded in 1989 and produced by John Norwood Fisher of Fishbone and features Billy Preston on keyboard. It was not, as is commonly believed, recorded during the Mother's Milk sessions. However, it was recorded during the first part of the Mother's Milk tour. "Show Me Your Soul" was recorded for the soundtrack of the film Pretty Woman, and was shortly after released as the B-side to "Taste the Pain" in the US and UK. In Australia, it appeared as the B-side to the belated 1990 release of "Knock Me Down". Both singles credit the song as coming from the Pretty Woman soundtrack. A promo only single was released to promote the soundtrack and it is thought that it was meant to be a full single until a last minute change of plan. This peaked at number ten on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The track was later included as the sole exclusive track on the 1992 compilation album What Hits!?.

<i>Its a Wonderful Life</i> (EP) 1987 EP by Fishbone

It's a Wonderful Life is a four-song Christmas extended play (EP) release by the alternative rock band Fishbone in 1987. The EP quickly went out of print, but its four songs were preserved on the 1996 retrospective Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin' the Fonkay and the title track was featured on the 2003 greatest hits compilation album The Essential Fishbone.

<i>Give a Monkey a Brain and Hell Swear Hes the Center of the Universe</i> 1993 studio album by Fishbone

Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fishbone. It was the last album to feature all six original members, as guitarist Kendall Jones left the band a few months after the album's release, and keyboardist/trombonist Chris Dowd would leave the next year.

<i>Chim Chims Badass Revenge</i> 1996 studio album by Fishbone

Chim Chim's Badass Revenge is the fifth full-length album and concept album from alternative rock band Fishbone. It was Fishbone's first studio album in three years following the departure of founding members Kendall Jones and Chris Dowd and the band being dropped by Sony Records. It was also their last album with founding member Philip "Fish" Fisher, who would eventually leave the band two years later.

<i>Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx</i> 2000 studio album by Fishbone

Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx is an album by alternative rock band Fishbone, released in 2000. It features a large number of special guests and is the only Fishbone album released on Disney's Hollywood Records.

<i>Live in Amsterdam</i> (Fishbone album) 2005 live album by Fishbone

Live in Amsterdam is a live combination CD/DVD set from alternative rock band Fishbone. It was shot and recorded in digital 24 track sound at the Melkweg Theatre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands during the infamous High Times Cannabis Cup Festival in 2002 on the last night of a 14-week tour. High Times Creative Director Steven Hager was the director of the video recording, and Aaron Strebs edited the live 4-camera mix. Interviews for the DVD were shot later by Mike Esterson, producer of the CD and DVD.

<i>Set the Booty Up Right</i> 1990 EP by Fishbone

Set the Booty Up Right is a five-song EP released by the ska/funk metal/rock band Fishbone in 1990. It was recorded shortly after the band hired former Miles Davis music director John Bigham on guitar and keyboard. The EP served as a stopgap release for fans, due to production delays for the full album The Reality of My Surroundings, which was released in 1991. The EP features two alternate versions of the song "Bonin' in the Boneyard" as well as three new studio tracks. It has long been out of print, but the track "Love and Bullshit" was included on the 1996 retrospective Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin' the Fonkay.

<i>Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Friendliest Psychosis of All</i> 2002 EP by Fishbone

Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Friendliest Psychosis of All is a three-song EP released by alternative rock band Fishbone in 2002. It features original outtakes from their 2000 album Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx, with cameos from funk pioneer George Clinton, Primus bass guitarist Les Claypool and comedic singer Blowfly.

Miranda Sex Garden are an English music group from London. They were originally active from 1990 to 2000, reforming in 2022.

<i>Still Stuck in Your Throat</i> 2006 studio album by Fishbone

Still Stuck in Your Throat is a 2006 studio album by Fishbone, and their most recent full-length release to date. It was their first album since Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx had been released six years previously, as well as their first to be released on an independent record label. It is also the first album to feature guitarist Rocky George, keyboardist Dre Gipson and trumpeter Curtis Storey, as well as their first to not feature founding member Walter A. Kibby II, who left the band in 2003, having since returned. Still Stuck in Your Throat was recorded in late 2005 and early 2006 with the support of David Kahne who produced all of Fishbone's recordings during the 1980s and early 1990s. Featuring five songs that were written during the unreleased "Hen House" sessions of 2001, the new album also contains six brand new tracks.

<i>Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin the Fonkay</i> 1996 compilation album by Fishbone

Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin' the Fonkay is a two-CD 1996 compilation album by the alternative/funk/rock band Fishbone. The first disc contains album tracks from the Fishbone albums up to 1993. The second disc contains B-sides, alternate versions, EP tracks, demos, and other non-album items from the same time period. "The Goose" is a previously unreleased cover of the song by the funk band Parliament. The previously unreleased demo track "Alcoholic" was later rerecorded for the 1996 studio album Chim Chim's Badass Revenge. The previously unreleased demo track "Pink Vapor Stew" was later reworked as "Party at Ground Zero" on the debut Fishbone and another demo recording "Game of Destruction" was also reworked as "Pressure" on their third LP The Reality of My Surroundings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday Sunshine</span> Rock n roll Song

"Everyday Sunshine" is a song by American rock band Fishbone. It was released as the second single from their third album, The Reality of My Surroundings (1991). A music video was made featuring the band playing the song first in an industrial underground complex before switching to a field on a sunny day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunless Saturday</span> 1991 single by Fishbone

"Sunless Saturday" is a song by American rock band Fishbone from their 1991 album The Reality of My Surroundings. It remains, to this day, the band's highest charting single.

<i>Fishbone Live</i> 2009 live album by Fishbone

Fishbone Live is the first officially released live album of Fishbone. It contains a 5.1 DVD with companion audio CD of a show filmed April 23, 2008 in Bordeaux, France. It was released worldwide on May 10, 2009. In 2010, the album was pressed on double picture disc vinyl and is for sale via the band's website.

<i>Candy Carol</i> 1991 studio album by Book of Love

Candy Carol is the third studio album by American synth-pop band Book of Love, released on January 23, 1991, by Sire Records.

References

  1. "Top 8 Iconic 'Funk Metal' Albums". Ultimate Guitar. October 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  2. Reynolds, Simon (May 24, 1991). "Hybrid sounds". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN   9780857125958 via Google Books.
  4. "Fishbone's New Line : The eclectic L.A. funk band never had trouble 'crossing over' to a white audience, but now it wants to cross back". Los Angeles Times. April 7, 1991.
  5. "Perfect Sound Forever: Fishbone". www.furious.com.
  6. Prato, Greg. "The Reality of My Surroundings Review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  7. "Robert Christgau: CG: Fishbone". www.robertchristgau.com.
  8. Bernard, James (April 1991). "The Reality of My Surroundings Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  9. Brackett, Nathan (November 2004). "Fishbone Overview". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. p. 298.
  10. Harrington, Richard (May 22, 1991). "Billboard Does a Number". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  11. Boehm, Mike (November 21, 1997). "The Art of Bait and Switch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. "Fishbone". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  13. "Picks and Pans Review: The Reality of My Surroundings". PEOPLE.com.
  14. "Fishbone". Trouser Press. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  15. 1 2 "OOR – Albums of the Year". OOR . Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  16. "Fishbone". Billboard.