SUBLIME DISCOGRAPHY & VIDEOS

1. 40 oz. to Freedom (1992)
2. Robbin' the Hood (1994)
3. Sublime (1996)





40 oz. to Freedom
Released June, 1992, Length 69:15, Label Skunk/Gasoline Alley/ MCA

1. Waiting for My Ruca 2:20

2. 40oz. to Freedom 3:02

3. Smoke Two Joints 2:53

4. We're Only Gonna Die for Our Arrogance  3:27

5. Don't Push 4:18

6. 5446 That's My Number/ Ball and Chain 5:17

7.Badfish 3:04

8.Let's Go Get Stoned 3:32

9.New Thrash 1:30

10.Scarlet Begonias 3:31

11.Live at E's 3:08

12.D.J.s 3:18

13.Chica Me Tipo 2:16

14.Right Back 2:49

15.What Happened 3:27

16.New Song 3:14

17.Ebin 3:32

18.Date Rape 3:37

19.Hope 1:43

20.KRS-One 2:23

21.Rivers of Babylon 2:29

22.Thanx Dub 4:23

40oz. to Freedom is the 1992 debut album by the Southern California ska-punk band Sublime released by Skunk Records and again by MCA. 40oz. to Freedom received mixed critical reviews upon its first release, but has earned an improved public perception since. Sublime would not achieve any mainstream success until the release of their eponymous album, two months after the overdose death of their lead singer and guitarist, Bradley Nowell, in 1996 (see 1996 in music). As of 2011, the album has certified sales of two million copies in the US, and is Sublime's second best-selling studio album there (the self-titled album leads with six million). Along with The Offspring's 1994 album Smash, 40oz. to Freedom is one of the highest-selling independently released albums of all time.

40oz. to Freedom's sound blended various forms of Jamaican music, including ska ("Date Rape"), rocksteady ("5446 That's My Number"), roots reggae ("Smoke Two Joints") and dub ("Let's Go Get Stoned", "D.J.s") with British and American hardcore punk ("New Thrash", "Hope"), and hip hop (as in "Live at E's").

History

Early in their career, Sublime had developed a large following in California. After concentrating on playing live shows, the band released 40oz. to Freedom in 1992 under Nowell's label, Skunk Records. The record established Sublime's blend of reggae, punk, surf rock, and hip hop, helping to further strengthen the group's growing California following. Initially being sold exclusively at their live shows, the album became widely known in the greater Los Angeles area after rock radio station KROQ-FM began playing the song, "Date Rape". In June 1994, Sublime was signed to the label Gasoline Alley of MCA records by Jon Phillips, who subsequently became Sublime's manager.

On the original pressing of the album, which was distributed independently by Skunk Records, there were two additional songs. "Get Out!" appeared as the second track, and the theme from "Rawhide" was included on the same track as "Date Rape". Also, there were some samples included in "We're Only Gonna Die" and "Let's Go Get Stoned". The former two tracks and the latter samples had to be removed for national distribution due to copyright issues. Other differences on the original pressing include the fact that "Rivers of Babylon", a reggae song originally by The Melodians, and the outro, "Thanx", were hidden tracks. "Thanx" was also about 2 minutes longer in the original version.

Influences

Sublime themselves credit a number of local reggae and rap bands from California for inspiration in their Thanx Dub. In addition to explicit mentions of bands like KRS-One and Half Pint, Nowell makes copious allusions to others through his lyrics. "Stolen from an Africa land" in Don't Push, for example, alludes to Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier". References are also made to Boomtown Rats, Beastie Boys, Tenor Saw, Pink Floyd, The Specials, The Ziggens, Minutemen, Jimi Hendrix, Just-Ice, Fishbone, Public Enemy and Flavor Flav among others.

The album has six covers:

• "Smoke Two Joints" (by The Toyes)
• "We're Only Gonna Die" (by Bad Religion)
• "54-46 That's My Number" (by Toots & the Maytals)
• "Scarlet Begonias" (by Grateful Dead)
• "Rivers of Babylon" (by The Melodians)
• "Hope" (by the Descendents)

The song "Don't Push" contains lyrics from the Beastie Boys song "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun". The song "D.J.S" closes with lyrics from the Dandy Livingstone song "Rudy, A Message to You" which was popularized by The Specials, another band often credited as a Sublime influence. In "New Thrash," the words "There ain't no life nowhere" can be heard in the background, a reference to the Jimi Hendrix Experience song "Love or Confusion" where the same words can be heard.

Reception

Sales

Since its release in 1992, the album has proved to be a seller over time, moving over 2,000,000 copies in the US alone and being certified Multi Platinum by the RIAA.[2] It was successful for Sublime's first album. Although the album was released in 1992, it hit its peak on the Billboard 200 in 1995 after the band had risen in popularity. The band would later release a picture disc limited edition vinyl album in 2002.

Robbin' the Hood

Released October 1994, Length 60:52, Label Skunk Records/ Gasoline Alley/ MCA

1.Waiting for Bud 1:02

2.Steady B Loop Dub 1:23

3.Raleigh Soliloquy Pt. I 1:46

4.Pool Shark 0:57

5.Steppin' Razor 2:24

6.Greatest-Hits 2:53

7.Free Loop Dub 3:08

8.Q-Ball 0:43

9.Saw Red 1:57

10.Work That We Do 2:34

11.Lincoln Highway Dub 2:21

12.Pool Shark (Acoustic) 1:25

13.Cisco Kid 4:38

14.Raleigh Soliloquy Pt. II 3:39

15.S.T.P. 2:57

16.Boss D.J. 2:51

17.I Don't Care Too Much for Reggae Dub 5:20

18.Falling Idols 2:37

19.All You Need 2:45

20.Freeway Time in L.A. County Jail 3:17

21.Mary 1:34

22.Raleigh Soliloquy Pt. III / "Don't Push / untitled / The Farther I Go 8:29

Robbin' the Hood is the second album by the Southern California ska punk band Sublime, which was released in 1994.

Context and production values

Robbin' the Hood is a Sublime album with noted low production values (the album sleeve boasts of its "13 self produced 4-track home recordings"), and also has multiple samples and lyrics from other artists featured in some tracks. It has been speculated that it was Brad Nowell's answer to the people who were beginning to feel he was in the music business for the money. The album is full of fillers, instrumentals and 'Raleigh Soliloquies,' selections from a rant recorded by a mentally disturbed man named Raleigh Theodore Sakers. Raleigh Soliloquy Pt. III has Raleigh singing his interpretation of "You Don't Know What Love Is" by George Benson. This was done as it was originally only going to have 6 tracks. According to late lead singer Bradley Nowell's wife, Troy Dendekker, the majority of the album was recorded in a Long Beach, California crack house. She also stated that the album was written and recorded at the height of Nowell's heroin addiction, with many references to this reflected in the album's lyrics, particularly in "Pool Shark".

Follow up

Some of the songs on the album contain parts that were later reused by the band on other albums. For example, the principle chord progression in the solely instrumental "Lincoln Highway Dub" was featured again in the band's later hit "Santeria", and elements of "Work That We Do" would later appear in "Under My Voodoo". Furthermore, during the period of recording Robbin' the Hood, the band recorded demos of "What I Got" and "Garden Grove."

Influences and covers

Gwen Stefani, of No Doubt, contributes guest vocals on the track "Saw Red", notably before either Sublime or No Doubt enjoyed mainstream success. Steppin' Razor is a cover of The Wailers song of the same name, later popularized by Peter Tosh in his solo career. It was written by Joe Higgs, who later threatened the band legally for its use after Sublime achieved popularity. It appears he never received any compensation despite this. In "Greatest Hits", Nowells mentions The Ziggens, their "brother" band signed to the same label. The guitar riff and associated rhythm in the song was borrowed from Yellowman. Boss D.J. is partially a cover of a song by British reggae band Aswad, "Roots Rocking". The Free Loop Dub borrows melody from the song Loaded by Scottish alternative rock band Primal Scream. STP's lyrics "Baby you wanna give me kisses ... but a taste of honey is worse than none at all" are borrowed from I Second That Emotion.

A number of other bands are either mentioned explicitly, alluded to, or sampled including: Steady B, Barrington Levy, Geto Boys, The Doors, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Marley, Flava Flave, Just-Ice, and Jack Owens.

Sublime

Released July 30, 1996, Length 58:31, Label MCA

1.Garden Grove 4:27

2.What I Got 2:55

3.Wrong Way 2:11

4.Same in the End 2:30

5.April 29, 1992 (Miami) 3:59

6.Santeria 3:07

7.Seed 2:15

8.Jailhouse 4:58

9.Pawn Shop 6:02

10.Paddle Out 1:17

11.The Ballad of Johnny Butt 2:17

12.Burritos 3:50

13.Under My Voodoo 3:22

14.Get Ready 4:56

15.Caress Me Down 3:38

16.What I Got (Reprise) 3:07

17.Doin' Time 4:15

Sublime is the third and final album released by ska-punk band Sublime. Originally intended to be titled Killin' It, the band and record label agreed to substitute an eponymous title due to lead singer Bradley Nowell's death prior to the album's release. After debating whether to hire a replacement for Nowell or break up, the surviving members decided to end Sublime (though a temporary reunion with new singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez occurred in 2009 before changing the name to Sublime with Rome).

The album was a major commercial success, selling over 6 million copies by 2010 and etching Sublime into a permanent place among the stars of mid-90s alternative rock. The album was faithful to Sublime's ska, dub, and reggae influences, with tempos ranging from the frantic — such as "Seed," "Same in the End," and "Paddle Out" — to the slow and deliberate, such as "Pawn Shop" and "Jailhouse."

Sublime marked the band's only album on a major label (MCA) after several releases on Skunk Records.

Background

Sublime formed in Long Beach in 1988 by Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums) and Eric Wilson (bass guitar). Their debut album, 40oz. to Freedom, was released on Skunk Records in 1992 to mixed critical reviews. The album established Sublime's blend of reggae, punk, ska, and hip hop, and helped to further strengthen the group's growing California following. Initially being sold exclusively at their live shows, the album became widely known in the greater Los Angeles area when the modern rock radio station KROQ began playing the song "Date Rape" in 1995.

Sublime returned to the studio in 1993 to begin recording their second album, Robbin' the Hood. Released in 1994, the album noted low production values (the album sleeve boasts of its "13 self produced 4-track home recordings"). Following the release of Robbin' the Hood, Sublime embarked on a successful tour and co-headlined the first annual Vans Warped Tour in 1995. Following the success of then-current acts such as The Offspring, Green Day, and Rancid, Sublime was signed to the label Gasoline Alley of MCA Records by Jon Phillips, who subsequently became the band's manager.

In early 1996, Sublime headlined the very first SnoCore Tour. By this time, they had begun writing and recording what would comprise the band's self-titled third record and their major label debut album. They completed it before Nowell died of a heroin overdose on May 25, 1996 at the Oceanview Motel in San Francisco, two months prior to the release. Following Nowell's death, the surviving members considered disbanding Sublime.

Musical style

The musical styles throughout the album vary nearly as much as the subjects discussed, ranging from the mellow Hip hop groove of "Doin' Time" and reggae beat of "Caress Me Down" to the ska "Same in the End" and the hardcore punk sound of "Paddle Out". The genre-crossing musical diversity expressed on the album is one of the more compelling reasons for the record's wide mainstream appeal.

Covers

"What I Got" is based on Half Pint's "Loving" and features a similar melody to The Beatles's Lady Madonna

Sublime also covers Bob Marley's 1965 song "Jailhouse", combining it with a partial cover of Tenor Saw's "Roll Call" in "Jailhouse".

"Pawn Shop" is a cover of The Wailing Souls's 1984 song "War Deh Round a John Shop".

"The Ballad of Johnny Butt" is largely a cover of a Secret Hate song from their Vegetables Dancing + Live & More album.

Additionally, "Doin' Time" is a loose cover of the Jazz standard "Summertime" by George Gershwin.

"Get Ready" is largely based on Frankie Paul's 1987 single of the same name.

Original Compositions

Some of the album's original compositions also have borrowed elements:

While "April 29, 1992" is an original song it features samples from "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh featuring MC Ricky D (a.k.a. Slick Rick), "Original Gangster of Hip-Hop" by Just Ice, and "Shook One (Part 1)" by Mobb Deep.

The heavy bass line of ""Garden Grove"" is based on Courtney Melody's 1988 7' single "A Ninja Mi Ninja", and a synth loop in the third verse is lifted from The Ohio Players' "Funky Worm."

Much of the rhythm and melody of "Wrong Way" was borrowed from The Specials "It's Up To You" off their 1979 self-titled album.

Part of the melody from "Seed" was taken from The Bel-Airs 1961 single "Mr. Moto".

The melody heard in "Santeria" was a reuse of the melody from "Lincoln Highway Dub" featured on their previous album, Robbin' the Hood.

"Burritos" is a reworked version of one of Sublime's earliest recordings called "Fighting Blindly," albeit with vastly different lyrics

The bass line of "Caress Me Down" features the famous Sleng Teng riddim from Wayne Smith's 1985 song "Under Me Sleng Teng" and lyrics and melody are primarily from the 1980s 12" single "Caress Me Down" by Clement Irie.

Critical reception

Sublime met high critical reception upon release, and is now considered a classic ska album by fans and critics. The album reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and was the band's first Gold record for sales of (over) 500,000 copies. This was done without support through touring. It is certified 5× Platinum in the U.S., with over 5 million copies shipped in the U.S. alone. Almost every song now has radio play, with "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time" and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" receiving the heaviest airplay. Nielsen Soundscan reported in June 2010 that the album had sold 6,110,757 in the United States.