Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Contains explicit content
Genre: Comedy
Review
Since Spinal Tap only existed for the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap, the idea that Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer were actually going to release a studio album rather than a soundtrack brought on a tremendous amount of anticipation. The resulting product is Break Like the Wind, a record that, like the 1984 soundtrack, boasts powerful guitar and surprisingly decent vocals, along with some quite silly song themes. Unfortunately, when it comes to satirical bands, one can only hear these kind of songs a certain number of times before they become tedious. Instead of sticking to its roots, the album is also sometimes overshadowed by its celebrity appearances and heavy performances, which make it seem like the players were actually trying to make their listeners think that the album wasn't just a big joke. Break Like the Wind may have not been the comeback everyone was hoping for, but it certainly has enough amusing moments to be worth a listen. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide
Jeff Beck (Guitar), Joe Satriani (Guitar), Dweezil Zappa (Guitar), Spinal Tap (Producer), Spinal Tap (Main Performer), Nicky Hopkins (Keyboards), Sid Page (?), Walter Becker (Liner Notes), John Acevedo (?), Danny Alonso (Assistant Engineer), Danny Alonso (Mixing), Danny Alonso (Mixing Assistant), David Bianco (Mixing), Tchad Blake (Engineer), Niko Bolas (Engineer), Niko Bolas (Mixing), T Bone Burnett (Producer), T Bone Burnett (Mixing), Bryan Carlstrom (Engineer), Annette Cisneros (Assistant Engineer), Luis Conte (Percussion), Larry Corbett (?), Marc DeSisto (Engineer), Tommy Funderburk (Vocals (Background)), Christopher Guest (?), Dave Jerden (Producer), Dave Jerden (Mixing), Peter Kent (?), Danny Kortchmar (Producer), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Steve Lukather (Piano), Steve Lukather (Arranger), Steve Lukather (Producer), Steve Lukather (Orchestration), David Mansfield (String Arrangements), Leif Mases (Engineer), Timothy B. Schmit (Vocals (Background)), Eddy Schreyer (Mastering), Ric Shrimpton (Drums), Slash (Guitar), Derek Smalls (Bass), Derek Smalls (Vocals), David St. Hubbins (Guitar), David St. Hubbins (Vocals), Barton Stevens (Assistant Engineer), Nigel Tufnel (Guitar), Nigel Tufnel (Sitar), Nigel Tufnel (Vocals), Jeffrey C.J. Vanston (Arranger), Jeffrey C.J. Vanston (Keyboards), Jeffrey C.J. Vanston (Orchestration), Harry Shearer (?), Waddy Wachtel (Slide Guitar), Jimmie Wood (Harmonica), Michael McKean (?), Kosh (Design), Dave Collins (Mastering), Noel Hazen (Assistant Engineer), Erick Labson (Remastering), Greg Loskorn (Assistant Engineer), Greg Loskorn (Mixing Assistant), Peter Darley Miller (Photography), Jeanne Bradshaw (?), Jeanne Bradshaw (Liner Notes), Mike Piersante (Assistant Engineer), Terri Apanasewicz (?), Terri Apanasewicz (Make-Up), Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs (Drums), Marc Hazen (Engineer), Kathy Hiraga (Design), Fleur Thiemeyer (Stylist), Jonas Livingston (Art Direction), Joe Henry (Production Assistant), Joe Henry (Assistant Producer)
Break Like the Wind is an album by the semi-fictional band Spinal Tap. The title, from the album's title track, is a double entendre that combines and confuses the idiom "make like the wind [and blow]" (ie. "go away") with "break[ing] wind" — a euphemism for flatulence. The songs depict the range of genres that Spinal Tap endured, from the glam metal anthem "Bitch School" down to the skiffle satire of "All the Way Home".
In the film, David St. Hubbins (portrayed by Michael McKean) and Nigel Tufnel (portrayed by Christopher Guest) claim "All the Way Home" is the first song they wrote together. Six years after it was written, David and Nigel recorded the song 14 December 1961. At this point the two were in different bands, David being in the 'Creatures' and Nigel with the 'Lovely Lads'.
