Native Tongue (Poison album)
Native Tongue is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Poison, released in 1993 through Capitol Records. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200,[5] #20 on the UK Albums Chart[6] and was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 21, 1993.[7] It has also been certified by CAN platinum. This is the only album to feature lead guitarist Richie Kotzen. Kotzen was hired as the band's guitarist following the firing of C.C. DeVille in late 1991. The album features the singles "Stand", "Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)" and "Body Talk".
Native Tongue | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 8, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1992 at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California and Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California | |||
Genre | Hard rock[1] | |||
Length | 56:20 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Richie Zito | |||
Poison chronology | ||||
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Singles from Native Tongue | ||||
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Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | C+[2] |
Q | [3] |
Rolling Stone | [4] |
Production and marketing
Admitted as a full-fledged member of the band rather than a "hired gun", Kotzen was given considerable creative freedom. Resultingly, Kotzen's writing and performing contributions dominated the album.
Kotzen would later be expelled from the band following the world tour, after it was discovered that he had been romantically involved with the fiancee of drummer Rikki Rockett. Recollections of the album, while no doubt soured by these events, nonetheless appear to faithfully reflect the basic clash between Kotzen's style and that of the band's founding members. Kotzen would later claim that "being in Poison helped me forget I was a musician"[8] while Rockett would lament the loss of the band's original "attitude" [9]
The album was recorded and mixed at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California, and Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California with producer Richie Zito. It was dedicated to Van Halen tour manager Scotty Ross and former Poison guitarist DeVille. The album peaked at #16 on the Billboard chart.
The first two singles "Stand" and "Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)" featured music videos and charted in the US and the UK. "Stand" reached number 15 on the Mainstream rock chart, #35 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart and #50 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] The song also charted at number 25 on the UK Singles chart and "Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)" peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles chart.[11]
Following the album the band released a video/DVD titled Seven Days Live which featured a concert from the Native Tongue world tour.
Songs
Lyrically, the band continued on the growing sophistication that began in Flesh and Blood. The album's themes include battles against injustice ("Scream", "Stand"), heartbreak ("Until You Suffer Some", "7 Days Over You", "Theatre of the Soul"), and inner demons ("Stay Alive").
"When The Whip Comes Down" is a track not included on the album but used as a b side for the singles.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, Rikki Rockett, and Richie Kotzen.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Native Tongue" | 1:03 |
2. | "The Scream" | 3:51 |
3. | "Stand" | 5:17 |
4. | "Stay Alive" | 4:25 |
5. | "Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)" | 4:16 |
6. | "Body Talk" | 4:03 |
7. | "Bring It Home" | 3:57 |
8. | "7 Days over You" | 4:15 |
9. | "Richie's Acoustic Thang" | 0:58 |
10. | "Ain't That the Truth" | 3:27 |
11. | "Theatre of the Soul" | 4:43 |
12. | "Strike Up the Band" | 4:17 |
13. | "Ride Child Ride" | 3:55 |
14. | "Blind Faith" | 3:34 |
15. | "Bastard Son of a Thousand Blues" | 4:57 |
Total length: | 56:20 |
Charts
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA Charts)[12] | 60 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[13] | 26 |
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) | 20 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 16 |
Band members
- Bret Michaels - Lead Vocals; Rhythm Guitar Acoustic Guitars; Harmonica
- Bobby Dall - Bass Guitars; Backing Vocals
- Rikki Rockett - Drums; Percussion
- Richie Kotzen - Lead Guitar; Piano; Mandolin; Dobro; Backing Vocals
With:
- Jai Winding - Piano (Tracks 3 & 11)
- Billy Powell - Piano (8 & 15)
- Mike Finnigan - Organ (5)
- Tower of Power - Horns (8)
- Timothy B. Schmit - Backing Vocals
- Tommy Funderburk - Backing Vocals
- First AME Church Choir (3)
- Shelia E. - Percussion (1 & 2)
References
- AllMusic review
- Entertainment Weekly review
- Album reviews at CD Universe
- Rolling Stone review
- "Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard albums".
- "The Official Charts Company - Poison". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
- "Gold and Platinum Database Search". Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- Metal-rules.com, Heart of Steel; Interview with Richie Kotzen by McDonald K. Retrieved January 5, 2005.
- KAOS 2000 Magazine, Interview with Rikki Rockett by Wilson DL Archived 2005-02-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 6, 2005.
- "Allmusic (Poison charts and awards) Billboard singles".
- "Poison The Official Charts Company".
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1340". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- "Poison Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2020.