Sublime

Sublime
Studio album by Sublime
Released	July 30, 1996
Recorded	1996 at Pedernales Studio in Austin, Texas & Total Access Recording in Redondo Beach, California
Genre	Ska punk[1] Alternative rock[1]
Length	58:31
Label	MCA
Producer	Paul Leary & David Kahne
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (A-) link Rolling Stone link
Sublime chronology
Robbin' the Hood (1994) Sublime (1996) Second-hand Smoke (1997)

Sublime is the third and final album released by ska-punk band Sublime. Originally intended to be titled Killin' It, the band and record label agreed to substitute an eponymous title due to lead singer Bradley Nowell's death prior the album's release. After debating whether to hire a replacement for Nowell or break up, the surviving members decided to end Sublime. The band would not officially reunite with a new singer until August 2009, when Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival in San Bernardino, California offered Sublime a one-day gig to play in October 2009.

The album was a major commercial success, going five times platinum in 1999 and etching Sublime into a permanent place among the stars of mid-90s alternative rock. The album was faithful to Sublime's ska, dub, and reggae influences, with tempos ranging from the frantic — such as "Seed," "Same in the End," and "Paddle Out" — to the slow and deliberate, such as "Pawn Shop" and "Jailhouse."

Sublime marked the band's only album on a major label (MCA) after several releases on Skunk Records.

Background

Sublime formed in Long Beach in 1988 by Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass guitar). Their debut album, 40oz. to Freedom, was released on Skunk Records in 1992 to mixed critical reviews. The album established Sublime's blend of reggae, punk, ska, and hip hop, and helped to further strengthen the group's growing California following. Initially being sold exclusively at their live shows, the album became widely known in the greater Los Angeles area when the modern rock radio station KROQ began playing the song "Date Rape" in 1995. Sublime returned to the studio in 1993 to begin recording their second album, Robbin' the Hood. Released in 1994, the album noted low production values (the album sleeve boasts of its "13 self produced 4-track home recordings"). Although there is no reason behind the low budget recording techniques, it has been speculated that it was Nowell's answer to the people who were beginning to feel he was in the music business for the money. Following the release of Robbin' the Hood, Sublime embarked on a successful tour and co-headlined the first annual Vans Warped Tour in 1995. Following the success of then-current acts such as The Offspring, Green Day and Rancid at the time, Sublime was signed to the label Gasoline Alley of MCA Records by Jon Phillips, who subsequently became the band's manager.

In early 1996, Sublime headlined the very first SnoCore Tour. In February of that year, they began recording what would comprise the band's self-titled third record and their major label debut album. They completed it before Nowell died of a heroin overdose on May 25, 1996 at the Oceanview Motel in San Francisco, two months prior to the release. Following Nowell's death, the surviving members considered disbanding Sublime.

Musical style

The musical styles throughout the album vary nearly as much as the subjects discussed, ranging from the mellow Hip hop groove of "Doin' Time" and reggae beat of "Caress Me Down" to the ska "What I Got" and the hardcore punk sound of "Paddle Out". The genre-crossing musical diversity expressed on the album is one of the more compelling reasons for the record's wide mainstream appeal.^{[original research?]}

Covers

Sublime's myriad influences can be seen in the album's covers songs. "What I got" is based on Half Pint's "Loving" and notably features a similar melody to Beatles's Lady Madonna.^[2][3] Sublime also covers the 1965 Bob Marley song "Jailhouse".^[4] "Pawn Shop" is a cover of the reggae group The Wailing Souls's 1984 song "War Deh Round A John Shop".^[5] "The Ballad of Johnny Butt" is a cover of a Secret Hate song which can be found on their Vegetables Dancing + Live & More album. Additionally, "Doin' Time" is a loose cover of the ever-popular Jazz hit "Summertime" by George Gershwin.^[6]

Some of the album's original compositions also have borrowed elements. While "April 29, 1992" is an original song it features samples from "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh featuring MC Ricky D (a.k.a. Slick Rick), "Original Gangster of Hip-Hop" by Just Ice, and "Shook One (Part 1)" by Mobb Deep.^[7] The melody heard in "Santeria" was a reuse of the melody from "Lincoln Highway Dub" featured on their previous album, Robbin' the Hood. "Caress Me Down" uses the Sleng Teng riddim from Wayne Smith's 1985 song "Under Me Sleng Teng" and lyrics/melody from "Caress Me Down" by Clement Irie.

Critical reception and legacy

Sublime met high critical reception upon release, and is now considered a classic ska album by fans and critics. The album reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and was the band's first Gold record for sales of (over) 500,000 copies. This was done without support through touring. It is now 5× Platinum in the U.S., with over 5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone. Almost every song now has radio play, with "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time" and "April 26, 1992 (Miami)" receiving the heaviest airplay.

Original release (1996)

1. "Garden Grove" – 4:27
2. "What I Got" – 2:55
3. "Wrong Way" – 2:11
4. "Same in the End" – 2:30
5. "April 26, 1992 (Miami)" – 3:59
6. "Santeria" – 3:07
7. "Seed" – 2:15
8. "Jailhouse" – 4:58
9. "Pawn Shop" – 6:02
10. "Paddle Out" – 1:17
11. "The Ballad of Johnny Butt" – 2:17
12. "Burritos" – 3:50
13. "Under My Voodoo" – 3:22
14. "Get Ready" – 4:56
15. "Caress Me Down" – 3:38
16. "What I Got (Reprise)" – 3:07
17. "Doin' Time" – 4:15

Special 2-CD set (1996)

A limited edition of the original release contained an extra CD, with:

1. "Doin' Time (Eerie Splendor Remix)"
2. "Date Rape"
3. "All You Need"
4. "Lincoln Highway Dub"
5. "Rivers of Babylon"
6. "What I Got (Demo)"

Deluxe edition (2006)

On August 15, 2006, the album was re-released to commemorate its tenth anniversary as a deluxe two-disc set through Universal Music.^[8] The album was restored to its "original" track listing including a cover of Bob Marley's "Trenchtown Rock" and the original version of "Doin' Time."

Copies of the deluxe edition purchased from Best Buy include a sticker on the packaging with instructions for downloading an exclusive WMA track, a live version of the 40 Oz. to Freedom track, "We're Only Gonna Die for Our Arrogance", which is a cover of Bad Religion. The sticker also mentions that the track is from a "Rarities" box set.

Disc one, "Deluxe Edition track listing" (different from original release)

The deluxe edition of Sublime restored the original album's sequence as Bradley Nowell had envisioned it.

1. "Trenchtown Rock"
2. "Doin' Time" [Original Mix]
3. "Wrong Way"
4. "Paddle Out"
5. "What I Got"
6. "Pawn Shop"
7. "April 26, 1992 (Miami)"
8. "Santeria"
9. "Seed"
10. "Jailhouse"
11. "Caress Me Down"
12. "The Ballad of Johnny Butt"
13. "Under My Voodoo"
14. "Burritos"
15. "Same in the End"
16. "Get Ready"
17. "What I Got (Reprise)"
18. "Garden Grove"

• Track 1 was originally released on the Second-hand Smoke album.
• Track 2 was originally released on the "Doin' Time" single as "Doin' Time (Bradley Version)."

Disc two

1. "I Love My Dog"
2. "Superstar Punani"
3. "April 26, 1992 (Miami)" [Alternate Version]
   • Previously entitled "April 26, 1992 (Leary)"
4. "Saw Red" [Acoustic Version]
5. "Little District" [Acoustic Version]
6. "Zimbabwe" [Acoustic Version] [Bob Marley & The Wailers Cover]
7. "What I Got" [Alternate Version]
8. "Doin' Time" [Uptown Dub]
9. "Doin' Time" [Eerie Splendor Remix featuring Mad Lion]
10. "Doin' Time" [Remix by Wyclef Jean]
11. "Doin' Time" [Remix by Marshall Arts featuring The Pharcyde]
12. "Doin' Time" [Marshall Arts Instrumental Version]
13. "April 26, 1992 (Miami)" [Instrumental Version]
14. "Caress Me Down" [Instrumental Version]
15. "What I Got" [Instrumental Version]

• Tracks 2, 3, 8 and 9 were originally released on the Second-hand Smoke album.
• Tracks 4 and 5 were originally released on the Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends album.
• Tracks 10 and 11 were originally released on the "Doin' Time" single.

Music videos (Enhanced portion of Disc 2)

1. "What I Got"
2. "Wrong Way"
3. "Santeria"
4. "Doin' Time" [Original Mix - Alternate Version]
5. "What I Got (Reprise)"

• A photo gallery, wallpaper and screen saver are also included on this CD.

Personnel

Sublime

• Bradley Nowell - vocals, guitar, organ, synthesizer
• Eric Wilson - bass, synthesizer
• Bud Gaugh - drums, percussion
• Lou Dog - mascot

Additional personnel

• Marshall Goodman - turntables, percussion
• Michael "Miguel" Happoldt - guitar, space echo
• David Kahne - organ, piano
• Paul Leary - guitar
• Todd Foreman - saxophone
• Jon Blondell - trombone

Production

• Producers: Paul Leary, David Kahne
• Engineers: Stuart Sullivan, Eddie Ashworth
• Mastering: Brian Gardner
• Artwork: Opie Ortiz
• Photos: Josh Coffman, John Dunne, Zach Fischel

Chart positions

Album

Singles

1. "What I Got"
2. "Santeria"
3. "Wrong Way"
4. "Doin' Time"
5. "April 29, 1992 (Miami)"
6. "Seed"
7. "Caress Me Down"

References

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