Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991, by Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, its musical style differed notably from the band’s previous album Mother’s Milk (1989), reducing the use of heavy metal guitar riffs and accentuating the melodic songwriting contributions of guitarist John Frusciante. The album’s subject matter incorporates sexual innuendos and references to drugs and death, as well as themes of lust and exuberance.
Blood Sugar Sex Magik peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200, and produced hit singles “Under the Bridge,” “Give It Away,” “Suck My Kiss,” “Breaking the Girl” and “If You Have to Ask.” The album propelled the band into worldwide popularity and critical acclaim. Frusciante quit the band during its 1992 tour, uncomfortable with fame; he rejoined in 1998.
Blood Sugar Sex Magik is widely recognized as an influential and seminal release of the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s. It is the band’s second best-selling album behind Californication.
Tracklist:
- The Power of Equality
- If You Have to Ask
- Breaking the Girl
- Funky Monks
- Suck My Kiss
- I Could Have Lied
- Mellowship Slinky in B Major
- The Righteous & the Wicked
- Give It Away
- Blood Sugar Sex Magik
- Under the Bridge
- Naked in the Rain
- Apache Rose Peacock
- The Greeting Song
- My Lovely Man
- Sir Psycho Sexy
- They’re Red Hot (Robert Johnson cover)
iTunes bonus tracks (2006) - Little Miss Lover (Jimi Hendrix cover)
- Castles Made of Sand
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis: lead vocals, percussion on “Breaking the Girl”
John Frusciante: electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals, percussion on “Breaking the Girl”
Flea: bass, backing vocals, trumpet on “Apache Rose Peacock”, piano on “Mellowship Slinky in B Major”, percussion on “Breaking the Girl”
Chad Smith: drums, tambourine on “Funky Monks”, “Mellowship Slinky in B Major”, “If You Have to Ask”, “Sir Psycho Sexy” and “Give It Away”, marimba on “Sir Psycho Sexy”, percussion on “Breaking the Girl”
Additional musicians
Brendan O’Brien: Mellotron on “Breaking the Girl” and “Sir Psycho Sexy”, Hammond B-3 Organ on “Suck My Kiss”, “Under The Bridge” and “Give It Away”, synthesizer on “If You Have to Ask”, toy celeste on “Apache Rose Peacock”
Gail Frusciante and her friends: choir vocals on “Under the Bridge”
Pete Weiss: Jew’s harp (credited as juice harp) on “Give It Away”
Production
Brendan O’Brien: engineering, mixing (with Rick Rubin)
Rick Rubin: producer
Howie Weinberg: mastering
Chris Holmes: mixing
Design
Gus Van Sant: art direction
