Mother’s Milk is the fourth studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on August 16, 1989 by EMI Records. After the death of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak and the subsequent departure of drummer Jack Irons, vocalist Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea regrouped with the addition of guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith.
Frusciante‘s influence altered the band’s sound by placing more emphasis on melody than rhythm, which had dominated the band’s previous material. Returning producer Michael Beinhorn favored heavy metal guitar riffs as well as overdubbing. Frusciante perceived Beinhorn‘s taste as excessive, and as a result, the two constantly fought over the album’s guitar sound.
Mother’s Milk was a greater commercial success than the band’s first three albums, peaking at number 52 on the US Billboard 200. It received widespread airplay for the three singles which included the cover of Stevie Wonder‘s Higher Ground, Knock Me Down and Taste the Pain, and it became their first gold record in early 1990. Although it was not met with the same positive critical reception that its predecessor The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987) had garnered, Mother’s Milk was the first step for the band in achieving international success.
Tracklist:
- Good Time Boys
- Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder cover)
- Subway to Venus
- Magic Johnson
- Nobody Weird Like Me
- Knock Me Down
- Taste the Pain
- Stone Cold Bush
- Fire (Jimi Hendrix cover)
- Pretty Little Ditty
- Punk Rock Classic
- Sexy Mexican Maid
- Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis: lead vocals (all tracks except 6 and 10), co-lead vocals (track 4 & 6), art concept
John Frusciante: guitar (all tracks except 9), co-lead vocals (track 6), backing vocals
Flea: bass, trumpet (tracks 3, 7, 10), backing vocals, co-lead vocals (track 4)
Chad Smith: drums (all tracks except 7 and 9), percussion, tambourine
Hillel Slovak: guitar (track 9), backing vocals (track 9), back cover painting
Jack Irons: drums (track 9)
Additional musicians
Philip “Fish” Fisher: drums (track 7)
Keith “The Tree” Barry: tenor saxophone (tracks 3, 12)
Patrick English: trumpet (track 3)
Lon: trombone (track 3)
Dave Coleman: cello (track 7)
Vicki Calhoun: backing vocals (1, 2, 6, 13)
Wag: backing vocals (1, 2)
Randy Ruff: backing vocals (1, 2)
Aklia Chinn: backing vocals (1, 2, 13)
Jack Sherman: backing vocals (1, 2)
Joel Virgel Viergel: backing vocals (1, 2)
Iris Parker: backing vocals (1, 2)
Julie Ritter: backing vocals (1, 2)
Gretchen Seager: backing vocals (1, 2)
Laure Spinosa: backing vocals (1, 2)
Sir Babs: backing vocals (1, 2)
Merill Ward: backing vocals (1, 2)
Bruno Deron: backing vocals (1, 2)
Kristen Vigard: backing vocals (1, 2, 13)
Production
Michael Beinhorn: producer, engineer
Eddie DeLena: engineer (Engineered “Taste the Pain”)
Sean Demey: engineer
Dave Jerden: mixing
Garth Richardson: engineer
George Marino: mastering
Design
Henry Marquez, Peter Shea: art direction/design
Nels Israelson: photography
Hillel Slovak (April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988)
Jack Sherman (January 18, 1956 – August 18, 2020)
