Mellow Gold

Mellow Gold
Studio album by Beck
Released	March 1, 1994
Recorded	1993
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	47:36
Label	DGC
Producer	Beck Hansen, Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf, Carl Stephenson
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (A) link Rolling Stone (favorable) link
Beck chronology
Mellow Gold (1994) Stereopathetic Soulmanure (1994)

Mellow Gold is Beck's major label debut, and despite previous low-fi recordings, is considered his first official album. Mellow Gold was released on March 1, 1994 (see 1994 in music) on the strength of the surprise hit "Loser" (U.S. #10). Critics noted its hybrid of styles and ironic and witty lyrics. Because of "Loser"'s novelty style, Beck was initially perceived by some as a flash in the pan, but the subsequent release of the critically-acclaimed album Odelay silenced these claims. Mellow Gold reached #13 in the U.S., going platinum, and #41 in the UK.

In an effort to get the album into stores such as Wal-Mart and Kmart, which do not stock albums with a Parental Advisory sticker, a "clean" version of the album was released shortly after the original version. This version removes all profanity and replaces the "offensive" song titles. The song titles in question are listed as "Fuckin With My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)" and "Mutherfuker."

Track listing

All songs by Beck, except where noted.

1. "Loser" (Beck, Carl Stephenson) – 3:55
2. "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)" – 3:15
3. "Fuckin With My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)" – 3:41
4. "Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997" – 3:28
5. "Soul Suckin' Jerk" (Beck, Stephenson) – 3:57
6. "Truckdrivin' Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)" – 2:55
7. "Sweet Sunshine" (Beck, Stephenson) – 4:14
8. "Beercan" (Beck, Stephenson) – 4:00
9. "Steal My Body Home" – 5:34
10. "Nitemare Hippy Girl" – 2:55
11. "Mutherfuker" – 2:04
12. "Blackhole" – 7:33
    • Includes the hidden track "Analog Odyssey".

Samples

Personnel

• Beck – producer
• Mike Boito – organ (track 8)
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering
• Tom Rothrock – producer, mixing
• Rob Schnapf – producer, mixing
• Carl Stephenson – producer
• Petra Haden – violin (track 12)
• David Harte – drums (tracks 2, 10, 11)
• Rob Zabrecky – bass (track 12)
• Robert Fisher – art direction, design
• Ross Harris – photography

External links

• 10 Years of Mellow Gold Documentary (retrospective documentary done for anniversary of the album)
• Mellow Gold at MusicBrainz

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