Blind Melon is the debut studio album by the rock band Blind Melon, released on September 22, 1992 through Capitol Records. Blind Melon released 4 singles in support of their debut album: Tones of Home released in 1992, No Rain released in 1993, I Wonder released in 1993, and Change released in 1993.
Blind Melon recorded most of the album with producer Rick Parashar (who had produced Pearl Jam‘s Ten) at London Bridge Studio in Seattle, Washington. The recording sessions for Blind Melon were completed in the spring of 1992.
Blind Melon‘s production is marked by the use of outdated amplifiers and other dated studio technology. No modern studio effects were used in its production as the band wanted to create a record with a pure and “intimate” sound. On the album, Rogers Stevens‘ guitar playing is heard predominantly on the right channel, while Chris Thorn‘s is on the left.
The album’s music style has been described as alternative, southern rock with a ’70s retro-rock feel. Hoon‘s vocals on the record are high-pitched, and “scratchy” sounding. A couple of the songs on Blind Melon criticize religion.
Holyman slams people who maintain that only their religious views are right, and Dear Ol’ Dad is about Hoon‘s ex-girlfriend who left him because of religion. The song Sleepyhouse is a recollection of a time the band spent at their residence of the same name, and with friends at a yellow house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The lyrics to Tones of Home were written collaboratively.
Tracklist:
- Soak the Sin
- Tones of Home
- I Wonder
- Paper Scratcher
- Dear Ol’ Dad
- Change
- No Rain
- Deserted
- Sleepyhouse
- Holyman
- Seed to a Tree
- Drive
- Time
Blind Melon
Blind Melon: producer, art direction, mixing
Shannon Hoon: vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine
Brad Smith: bass guitar, flute, backing vocals
Rogers Stevens: lead guitar
Christopher Thorn: rhythm guitar, mandolin
Glen Graham: percussion, drums
Additional musician
Ustad Sabri Khan: sarangi on Sleepyhouse
Production
George Marino: mastering
Rick Parashar: producer, engineer, mixing
Jon Plum: assistant engineer
Tommy Steele: art direction
Heather Devlin: photography
Shannon Hoon (September 26, 1967 – October 21, 1995).
