Godsmack (album)
| Godsmack | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 25, 1998[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1997–1998 | |||
| Studio | New Alliance Studios, Boston, Massachusetts | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 55:14 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | ||||
| Godsmack chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Godsmack | ||||
Godsmack is the debut album by the band Godsmack. The album was initially paid for by the band and released as All Wound Up, before the band was signed to Universal Records and Republic Records. It was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City.
The album differs from All Wound Up by splitting the song "Get Up, Get Out!" into two tracks (the intro portion being re-titled "Someone in London"), while the song "Goin' Down" was removed. "Goin' Down" later appeared on the band's second major album Awake, along with another song left off the self-titled album, "Bad Magick" (originally titled "Bad Magik").
Reception[]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Hip Online | 7/10[4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
After playing the Boston area over the following two years, local radio stations WAAF, WBCN WFNX began playing the singles "Keep Away" and "Whatever", both of which helped the band to sell copies of their self-financed album All Wound Up. After the demand for their album became too high, Republic Records/Universal Records stepped in and signed the band to their label in 1998. The band replaced drummer Joe D'Arco with Tommy Stewart and All Wound Up was remastered and released six weeks later as their self-titled debut album Godsmack.
On December 4, 2001, the album was certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA.[6]
Loudwire named Godsmack as one of the top 10 hard rock albums of 1998.[7]
Controversy[]
The album caused controversy due to its profane lyrics, and liner notes containing a Wiccan pentagram and reference to "Salem witches", minus a Parental Advisory warning label.[8] After listening to his son's copy of the album, a father in the U.S. complained to Walmart, who sold him the album, that the lyrics were offensive. Walmart and Kmart took the album off the shelves. The band and its record label later added a Parental Advisory sticker to the album, and some stores ordered amended copies of the album. Erna commented on the situation to Rolling Stone magazine, stating, "Our record has been in the marketplace for more than a year now without a parental advisory sticker and this is the one and only complaint. Stickers and lyrics are by nature subjective. We have decided to put a sticker on the record." This controversy did not hurt album sales, but according to Erna, helped, stating, "It's almost taunting kids to go out and get the record to see what we're saying on it."
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Moon Baby" | Sully Erna | 4:23 |
| 2. | "Whatever" |
| 3:26 |
| 3. | "Keep Away" | Erna | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Time Bomb" | Erna | 4:00 |
| 5. | "Bad Religion" |
| 3:14 |
| 6. | "Immune" |
| 4:50 |
| 7. | "Someone in London" (instrumental) | Rombola | 2:03 |
| 8. | "Get Up, Get Out!" | Erna | 3:30 |
| 9. | "Now or Never" | Erna | 5:06 |
| 10. | "Stress" | Erna | 5:03 |
| 11. | "Situation" |
| 5:47 |
| 12. | "Voodoo" (the hidden track "Witch Hunt" begins at 6:40, after two minutes of silence) |
| 9:03 |
| Total length: | 55:14 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Goin' Down" |
| 3:27 |
| 13. | "Bad Magik" | Erna | 4:14 |
| Total length: | 62:53 | ||
Notes
- The Japanese bonus tracks are situated before "Voodoo" as tracks 12 and 13.
- Track 13 is a misspelling of "Bad Magick", later released on Awake.
Personnel[]
Godsmack[]
- Sully Erna – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, drums, producer, additional keyboards
- Tony Rombola – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Robbie Merrill – bass
Others[]
- Andrew Murdock – co-production, engineering, additional percussion
- Joseph M. Palmaccio – mastering
- Toni Tiller – girl on CD layout
- Dale May – photography
Charts[]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2011) |
|
Album
|
Singles
|
|
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[11] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[6] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history[]
| Country | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United States | August 25, 1998 |
|
| Japan | May 30, 2000 | Republic |
References[]
- ^ https://loudwire.com/godsmack-self-titled-album-anniversary/
- ^ Weinstein, Deena (2015). Rock'n America: A Social and Cultural History. University of Toronto Press. (January 27th, 2015)
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Godsmack at AllMusic
- ^ Hip Online Review
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 334. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "American album certifications – Godsmack – Godsmack". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1998". Loudwire.
- ^ "Godsmack - Godsmack". PR Newswire. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
GODSMACK to Shoot Video for 'Voodoo'
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Godsmack - Godsmack". Billboard.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Godsmack Alternative Songs Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Godsmack – Godsmack". Music Canada.
| hide | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio albums | |
| Demo albums | |
| Extended plays | |
| Live albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Videos | |
| Singles |
|
| Other songs | |
| Related articles | |
| |
Authority control  |
|
|---|
- 1998 debut albums
- Godsmack albums
- Obscenity controversies in music
- Republic Records albums
- Universal Records albums