The Real Thing (Faith No More album)

The Real Thing
Image:The Real Thing vinyl cover.jpg
Studio album by Faith No More
Released	June 20, 1989
Recorded	December 1988 at the Studio D in Sausalito, California
Genre	Funk metal Experimental rock
Length	55:03
Label	Slash
Producer	Matt Wallace
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Faith No More chronology
Introduce Yourself (1987) The Real Thing (1989) Live at the Brixton Academy (1990)
Alternate cover
The CD cover

The Real Thing is the third album by Faith No More, released in 1989. It was their first record with Mike Patton and became their breakthrough. On this album, Faith No More advanced their sound range combining metal, hardcore punk, hip hop, funk, jazz, and soul. The music recording was complete by the time Patton (the singer for experimental/thrash/funk band Mr. Bungle) came on board. Patton wrote the lyrics and recorded them over the already finished music. Patton's unusual musical ideas didn't impact the band's sound until their next record, Angel Dust. Most known for its track "Epic," whose video featured a fish flopping about on the ground, the album's "Falling to Pieces" also became popular (its video was a favorite of MTV's Beavis and Butthead). The video for "Epic" was subject to controversy because of the perceived treatment of the fish, which appears to be dying—it was in fact slow motion footage; the fish was returned to its tank alive. Reportedly, keyboardist Roddy Bottum stole the goldfish from Icelandic singer Björk at a party she was throwing. He returned it to her after the shoot, which lasted mere seconds. Mike Patton claimed during the band's "Live at the Wireless" performance for Australian radio station Triple J, in 1990, that the title track was "Written after my girlfriend left me for Sebastian Bach." The album also features "War Pigs," a cover of the anti-war protest song by Black Sabbath, as well as "Edge of the World," a jazzy piano ballad about a pedophile.

Track listing

1. "From out of Nowhere" (music: Gould/Bottum; lyrics: Patton) – 3:21
2. "Epic" (music: Gould/Martin/Bottum/Bordin; lyrics: Patton) – 4:51
3. "Falling to Pieces" (music: Gould/Bottum/Martin; lyrics: Patton) – 5:17
4. "Surprise! You're Dead!" (music: Martin; lyrics: Patton) – 2:25
5. "Zombie Eaters" (music: Martin/Gould/Bordin/Bottum; lyrics: Patton) – 6:00
6. "The Real Thing" (music: Gould/Bottum; lyrics: Patton/Gould) – 8:12
7. "Underwater Love" (music: Gould/Bottum; lyrics: Patton) – 3:36
8. "The Morning After" (music: Gould/Bottum/Martin; lyrics: Patton) – 3:40
9. "Woodpecker from Mars" (music: Martin/Bordin) – 5:41
10. "War Pigs" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) – 7:42
11. "Edge of the World" (music: Gould/Bottum/Bordin; lyrics: Patton) – 4:10

The cassette version has "Edge Of The World" as track 6, ending Side 1. The vinyl version did not feature "War Pigs" or "Edge Of The World." Official songwriting credits revealed in an email from Billy Gould, 2004.

Chart positions

Album

Singles