311 (album)
311 (commonly known as the Blue Album) is the eponymous third studio album by American rock band 311, released on July 11, 1995 by Capricorn Records. The album contains the successful singles "Don't Stay Home", "All Mixed Up", and "Down", and was certified triple platinum with sales of over three million copies.
| 311 | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 11, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:58 | |||
| Label | Capricorn | |||
| Producer | Ron Saint Germain | |||
| 311 chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 311 | ||||
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Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | (average)[2] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [3] |
Allmusic gave the album a positive review, commenting that Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez lends the band an edge not found in most rock bands that feature rapping.[1] Rolling Stone says the album has "ear candy with good beats" and "remarkably adept at genre juggling". They also describe the album as "Beasties-cum-Chili Peppers traits has a potent reggae undertow".[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Down" | Nick Hexum, SA Martinez | 2:53 |
| 2. | "Random" | Hexum, Martinez, Chad Sexton | 3:07 |
| 3. | "Jackolantern's Weather" | Hexum, Martinez, Sexton | 3:24 |
| 4. | "All Mixed Up" | Hexum, Martinez | 3:02 |
| 5. | "Hive" | Hexum, Martinez, Sexton | 2:59 |
| 6. | "Guns (Are for Pussies)" | Hexum, Martinez, Sexton | 2:16 |
| 7. | "Misdirected Hostility" | Hexum, Martinez | 2:59 |
| 8. | "Purpose" | Hexum | 2:44 |
| 9. | "Loco" | Hexum, Tim Mahoney | 1:53 |
| 10. | "Brodels" | Hexum, Martinez, Sexton | 3:32 |
| 11. | "Don't Stay Home" | Hexum | 2:43 |
| 12. | "DLMD" | Hexum, Martinez | 2:13 |
| 13. | "Sweet" | Hexum, Mahoney, Martinez | 3:15 |
| 14. | "T & P Combo" | Hexum, Mahoney, Martinez, Wills | 2:49 |
| Total length: | 39:58 | ||
"Misdirected Hostility" was written in reference to the violence between the Phunk Junkeez and their back-up vocalist K-Tel Disco.
The initial pressing of the album was distributed by "RED" and later re-pressed and distributed by Mercury Records in 1996 (note the tray card and disk updated with Mercury contact information and slightly washed out color on the disk front).
Outtakes
- "Tribute", "Let the Cards Fall", "Gap" and "Firewater (Slo-mo)" (available on the "Enlarged to Show Detail" EP)
- "Who's Got the Herb?" (studio version available on the "Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML" compilation, live version available on the "Live" album)
- "Outside" (available on the "National Lampoon's Senior Trip" soundtrack)
- "Juan Bond", "Next (Instrumental)", "Sweet (Demo)" without SA's vocal and "Firewater" at its normal speed (leaked on the internet around '96)
Personnel
- Nick Hexum – vocals, guitar
- Chad Sexton – drums, percussion
- Tim Mahoney – Guitar
- P-Nut – Bass
- S. A. Martinez – vocals, scratches
Production
- Ron Saint Germain – producer, recording, mixing
- 311 – producers
- Scott Ralston – recording, mixing
- John Ewing Jr. – assistant engineer
- Joe Gastwirt – mastering
- Diane Painter – art direction
- Terry Robertson – design
- Catherine Wessel – photography
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Heatseekers | 1 |
| 1995 | The Billboard 200 | 12 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Don't Stay Home" | Modern Rock Tracks | 29 |
| 1996 | "Down" | Hot 100 Airplay | 37 |
| 1996 | "Down" | Modern Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1996 | "Down" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 19 |
| 1996 | "All Mixed Up" | Hot 100 Airplay | 36 |
| 1996 | "All Mixed Up" | Modern Rock Tracks | 4 |
References
- Allmusic review
- Fricke, David (1996-12-09). "Review on 311 and No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
- Cross, Charles R. (2004). "311". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 813. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
