Adore is the fourth studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins, released on June 2, 1998, by Virgin Records. After the multi platinum success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and a subsequent yearlong world tour, follow up Adore was considered (one of the most anticipated albums of 1998) by MTV.
Recording the album proved to be a challenge as the band members struggled with lingering interpersonal problems and musical uncertainty in the wake of three increasingly successful rock albums and the departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Frontman Billy Corgan would later characterize Adore as made by “a band falling apart”.
Corgan was also going through a divorce and the death of his mother while recording the album. The album divided The Smashing Pumpkins fan base and sold only a fraction of their previous two albums. However, similar to the band’s other releases across the decade, the album was critically acclaimed, becoming the third straight Pumpkins album to be nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance, and has retrospectively gained a cult following.
A remastered and expanded version of the album was released on CD and vinyl in September 2014 as a part of the band’s project to reissue their back catalogue from 1991 to 2000. This is their only album to be recorded as trio, and their first album not to feature an official drummer.
Tracklist:
- To Sheila
- Ava Adore
- Perfect
- Daphne Descends
- Once Upon a Time
- Tear
- Crestfallen
- Appels + Oranjes
- Pug
- The Tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete
- Annie-Dog
- Shame
- Behold! The Night Mare
- For Martha
- Blank Page
- 17 (not on vinyl pressings)
The Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan: vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, piano, keyboards, production, mixing, art direction and design
James Iha: lead and rhythm guitar, vocals
D’arcy Wretzky: bass guitar, rhythm guitar (uncredited)
Additional musicians
Matt Walker: drums on To Sheila, Ava Adore, Daphne Descends, Tear, The Tale of Dusty and Pistol Pete, Annie Dog, and Behold! The Night Mare
Matt Cameron: drums on For Martha
Joey Waronker: drums on Perfect, additional drums on Once Upon a Time and Pug
Dennis Flemion: additional vocals in To Sheila and Behold! The Night Mare
Jimmy Flemion: additional vocals in To Sheila and Behold! The Night Mare
Bon Harris: additional programming on tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 13; additional vocals in For Martha
Brad Wood: additional production and engineering on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 13, and 15, additional vocals in Behold! The Night Mare, organ in Blank Page
Technical
Robbie Adams: engineering, mixing
Chris Brickley: recording assistant
Flood: additional production, mixing
Eric Greedy: mix assistant
Steve Johnson: recording assistant
Ron Lowe: recording assistant
Jay Nicholas: mix assistant
Frank Olinsky: art direction and design
Neil Perry: engineer, mixing
Matt Prock: recording assistant
Chris Shepard: engineer
Jamie Siegel: mix assistant
Bjorn Thorsrud: digital editing, engineering
Ed Tinley: recording assistant
Andy Van Dette: digital editing and compilation
Jeff Vereb: recording assistant
Howie Weinberg: mastering
Howard C. Willing: engineering, mix assistant
John Wydrycs: mix assistant
Yelena Yemchuk: photography, art direction and design
