Maps of Music

Brick by Brick (1990)

Where the lyrics of Brick by Brick take you, and where it was really made.

Iggy Pop's ninth album reached only number 90 on the Billboard 200, yet its single "Candy" made the Hot 100 top 30.

Key places

Recorded at Ocean Way, Hollywood (1990)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — Brick by Brick was recorded in Hollywood at Ocean Way Recording and Hollywood Sound Recorders. The sessions ran from 15 February to 23 March 1990. The point marks the Hollywood city area, not the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Brick by Brick: ninth studio album by American singer Iggy Pop
• Released June 1990 by Virgin Records
• Produced by Don Was, a longtime fan of the Stooges
• Hard rock sound chosen after mixed reviews for much of the 1980s output
• Many songs share a lyrical theme of the United States facing cultural decay and implosion
• First studio album on which Pop contributes guitar
• Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses appear as songwriters and performers
• "Candy" is a duet with Kate Pierson of the B-52's
• "Something Wild" is a John Hiatt composition and duet

Background

• Pop hired Don Was after mixed reviews for much of his 1980s work
• Studio musicians Waddy Wachtel and Kenny Aronoff took part in the sessions
• "Livin' on the Edge of the Night" was released before the album as a soundtrack for the movie Black Rain
• Was later produced Pop's album Avenue B (1999)

Recording

• Recorded at Oceanway and Hollywood Sound Recorders in Hollywood, 15 February to 23 March 1990
• Ed Cherney handled recording and mixing
• Greg Fulginiti mastered the album
• Pop plays most of the guitar parts along with Waddy Wachtel and Slash

Cover

• Cover drawn by American cartoonist Charles Burns
• Charles Burns credited for the cover illustration

Sources: fr.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• James Newell Osterberg Jr., born April 21, 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan, known as Iggy Pop.
• Began as drummer in Ann Arbor high school bands, including the Iguanas and the Prime Movers, where he got the nickname "Iggy".
• Formed the Psychedelic Stooges with Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander; he became the lead vocalist, nicknamed "Pop".
• Signed with Elektra Records in 1968, following the Doors.

Members

• Original Stooges lineup: Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar), Scott Asheton (drums), Dave Alexander (bass).
• Later lineup included James Williamson (guitar) and Scott Thurston; the band reunited with Mike Watt and Steve Mackay in 2003-2005.

Career

• The Stooges' albums sold poorly, but they became known for confrontational live performances, including self-mutilation and stage-diving.
• Raw Power (1973) became influential on the Sex Pistols, the Smiths and Nirvana.
• Solo debut with David Bowie: The Idiot and Lust for Life (1977), with Bowie producing; "China Girl" was later a hit for Bowie in 1983.
• Only Top 40 US hit "Candy" (1990), a duet with Kate Pierson of the B-52's.
• "Lust for Life" was featured in the film Trainspotting (1996).
• The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010; Pop received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
• Also an actor and voice performer in films and television, and hosts the radio show Iggy Confidential on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album gave Pop some of his strongest reviews since his David Bowie collaborations
• Critics and fans received the album well, driven especially by the single "Candy"
• "Candy", with B-52's vocalist Kate Pierson, became Pop's first MTV hit
• The video for "Candy" got fairly heavy rotation on MTV
• Videos were also made for "Home", "Butt Town" and "Livin' on the Edge of the Night"
• Beavis and Butt-Head gave high praise to "Butt Town"

Records

• Peaked at number 90 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the charts for 37 weeks
• "Livin' on the Edge of the Night" reached number 16 on Modern Rock Tracks
• "Candy" reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 30 on Mainstream Rock Tracks and number 5 on Modern Rock Tracks
• "Home", the first single, reached number 2 on Modern Rock Tracks
• "Candy" is Pop's only single to enter the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Beavis and Butt-Head praised "Butt Town", and the latter said it had the best lyrics it had ever heard.
• "Candy" with Kate Pierson became Pop's first MTV hit.
• "Livin' on the Edge of the Night" was released before the album as a soundtrack for Black Rain, a film starring Michael Douglas and Andy García.
• The Leeching Delinquents provided backing vocals on "The Undefeated".
• The album is credited with Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses as songwriters and performers.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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