The Real Thing is the third studio album by Faith No More, released on June 20, 1989 by Slash and Reprise Records. It was the first album by the band not to feature vocalist Chuck Mosley (December 26, 1959 – November 9, 2017), instead, the album featured Mike Patton from the experimental funk band Mr. Bungle.
On this album, Faith No More continued to advance their sound range, combining thrash metal, funk, hip hop, rap metal, progressive rock, synthpop, carousel music and hard rock, along with what has been described as “a black sense of humor“.
Singles from The Real Thing: From Out of Nowhere (August 30, 1989), Epic (January 30, 1990), Falling to Pieces (July 2, 1990), Surprise! You’re Dead! (1990) Edge of the World (1991). The Real Thing is one of Faith No More‘s most successful albums to date. It is now considered a classic metal album by fans and critics alike.
Although released in mid-1989, The Real Thing did not enter the Billboard 200 until February 1990, after the release of the second single from the album, Epic. The album eventually peaked at number eleven on the chart in October 1990, following the reissue of Epic almost a year and half after the initial release of the album. It was eventually certified platinum in U.S. and Canada as well as being certified Silver in the United Kingdom.
Tracklist:
- From Out of Nowhere
- Epic
- Falling to Pieces
- Surprise! You’re Dead!
- Zombie Eaters
- The Real Thing
- Underwater Love
- The Morning After
- Woodpecker from Mars (instrumental)
Bonus tracks - War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover, non-vinyl track)
- Edge of the World (appears as track 6 on cassette editions, non-vinyl track)
Faith No More
Mike Bordin: drums
Roddy Bottum: keyboards
Bill Gould: bass
James Martin: guitars
Mike Patton: vocals
Production
Matt Wallace: producer, engineer
Jim “Watts” Vereecke: assistant engineer
Craig Doubet: assistant engineer
John Golden: mastering
Lendon Flanagon: photography
Jeff Price: artwork
Terry Robertson: CD design
