Mother's Milk

Description

Released on August 16, 1989 on the EMI label, "Mother's Milk" is the fourth studio album by the American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. It follows "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan", released in 1987 and the only album with the original lineup, guitarist Hillel Slovak having died of a heroin overdose in June 1988 and drummer Jack Irons suffering from depression. Singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea are then joined by guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith, the former significantly influencing the Red Hot's sound by favoring melody over rhythm. In addition to certain songs directly drawn from jam sessions, the record is recorded and produced in several Los Angeles studios under the direction of Michael Beinhorn, whose determination to produce a hit and his wishes regarding guitar effects eventually deteriorate his relationship with the musicians. Driven by its singles "Knock Me Down" and "Higher Ground" (a Stevie Wonder cover), but very poorly received by critics, the album proves to be the band's biggest commercial success at the time with 500,000 sales in the United States in six months, thus becoming the Red Hot's first gold record. Accompanied by an eighteen-month tour, during which the Red Hot Chili Peppers play in North America, Europe and Japan, and during which they have several run-ins with the law, "Mother's Milk" marks the turning point in their career, taking them from the ranks of unknowns with local success to that of the best band on the West Coast at the time.