1989 - May: The Cult “Sonic Temple”

What the Riff?!?

Some of the most popular songs from The Cult come from Sonic Temple, their fourth studio album. They garnered some attention in 1985 when the single “She Sells Sanctuary” off their second album hit the US charts, and they had established a solid following as a “post punk” or “goth rock” band, but Sonic Temple would put them over the top with its more hard rock appeal.

The band lineup for this album consisted of Ian Astbury on vocals and percussion, Billy Duffy on guitar, Jamie Stewart on bass and keyboards, and newcomer Mickey Curry on drums. Prior to Curry, the band had relied on Eric Singer for the first demos, and Chris Taylor for second demos at the drums.

While the critical reception was mixed with some considering the work too conventional, the commercial success was undeniable. The album shot up to the top 10 in both the UK and the US, and was certified gold in the UK and platinum in the US.

Creative differences would destabilize the group on their fifth studio album and the group would break up after 1998. However several reunions took place over the years, and the group is back together as of 2022.

Brian leads the discussion of this album.

Sun King
Astbury and Duffy wrote this song, inspired by Louis XIV. Known as the Sun King, Louis XIV is the French King who moved the royal court to Versailles. The track is an explicitly masculine one. “I’m a sun king, baby, let me take you by the hand. Sun king, honey, we can rule across the land.”

Fire Woman
The first single from the album is this well known track. As with all the tracks, Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy wrote this hit which peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts. Astbury has stated that this is a universal symbol, an archetype of the femme fatale.

Edie (Ciao Baby)
Edie Sedgwick is the inspiration for this song. Sedgwick was an actress and socialite who traveled in Andy Warhol's circles in 1960's New York. Sedgwick lived fast and died young of a drug overdose. She was 28 when she died. Her last film was “Ciao! Manhattan.” This is not the only song inspired by Sedgwick, as Bob Dylan's “Just Like a Woman” is supposedly inspired by Edie Sedgwick as well.

Sweet Soul Sister
This track was written in Paris, inspired by the Americanization of European culture. It was the fourth single released from the album. The song observes the love/hate relationship that comes with both the attraction and resistance experienced as a response to American culture, particularly in France.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The main theme from the television series "Saturday Night Live"
Mike Myers joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, and original cast member Gilda Radner died in this month in 1989.

STAFF PICKS:

So Alive by Love and Rockets
Rob begins the staff picks with a group that sounds a bit like INXS. This single is off the self-titled fourth album from Love and Rockets. “You're legs are strong and you're so, so long, and you don't come from this town.” The single made it to number 3 in the U.S., and was considered the number 1 modern rock song in the U.S. for 1989.

Walkin' Shoes by Tora Tora
Wayne features a rock-blues number from a group out of Memphis, Tennessee. This underrated song made it to number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the sound reminds us of Motley Crue and Led Zeppelin. The group won studio time in a Battle of the Bands contest. Tora Tora is still recording as of 2022.

Dreams In the Dark by Badlands
Bruce's staff pick is a hair band formed by former Black Sabbath members Ray Gillen (vocals) and Eric Singer (drums), former Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee, and former Surgical Steel bass player Greg Chaisson. After Lee was fired from Ozzy's band by Sharon Osborne, he was motivated to form this band. As mentioned previously Eric Singer had a hand in the demos of The Cult's album, and would go on to join KISS.

Good Thing by Fine Young Cannibals
Brian wraps up this week's staff picks with the second big hit from FYC's album, “The Raw & the Cooked.” Fine Young Cannibals hail from Birmingham, England, formed in 1984 and disbanded in 1992.

COMEDY TRACK:

Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child by Mojo Nixon
This boogie-woogie comedy track is a good example of the type of parody song for which Mojo Nixon is famous.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.