Like Swimming is the fourth studio album by the alternative rock band Morphine, released in March 1997 by DreamWorks/Rykodisc. It was Morphine's first album (out of two) released as part of their multi-album deal with DreamWorks[1] and the last album released within the lifetime of singer and bassist Mark Sandman.
After releasing three albums for indie label Rykodisc between 1992 and 1995, Morphine wanted to leave the label in 1996 and sign with DreamWorks. Since the band still owed Rykodisc two albums, the two labels negotiated a deal where Like Swimming would carry branding of both labels in North America, and Rykodisc would have the rights for the rest of the world.[2][3] The deal also included Rykodisc's exclusive rights to two future archival releases: B-Sides and Otherwise (1997) and Bootleg Detroit (2000).[3]
Before the Morphine contract was sold off to Dreamworks, a finished album had been delivered to Rykodisc for release. However, when DreamWorks got involved, some songs were remixed, two songs were added to the track list ("Lilah", "Hanging on a Curtain"), and one song was removed ("In Your Shoes"). The latter remains officially unreleased.[3] The album's planned October 1996 release date was eventually pushed back to March 1997.[3][4]
Although Like Swimming became Morphine's highest-charting album in the US (#67), it failed to produce a commercial breakthrough.[2][5] As of 1999, the album had sold 141,000 copies in United States,[6] whereas Cure for Pain (1993) and Yes (1995) sold a combined 661,000 copies.[2]
The album shares its name with a Mark Sandman side project that released the 7" single "Swing It Low" in 1996. "Swing It Low" was rerecorded for Like Swimming.[3]
The music video for the single "Early to Bed" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Short Form Music Video.[2][7]
Pitchfork's Ryan Schreiber, said, "It's not really that the quality of the songs have deteriorated, it's just that it all sounds the same. They desperately need to alter their sound ... after four identical records."[9]Ira Robbins, writing for Rolling Stone, concurred, saying, "Four albums in, the band is riding the same sound like a slot car; even the welcome flashes of instrumental variety ... don't lead the band far from its usual track." Robbins felt that some tracks have "a hell of a groove" and show off the band's dynamic control, but ultimately "too many songs swagger in place, pumping a single line or riff with static electricity."[10]AllMusic's Greg Prato felt that although the album has its highlights, it's not as strong as Morphine's previous albums, writing, "Some of the material doesn't sound fully developed, almost as if the Boston trio was rushed to complete the album."[8]
Writing positively about the album, MTV's Seth Mnookin wrote, "Sounding as complete and essential as Cure for Pain and containing some of the kick-ass riffs that were scattered through-out Yes, Like Swimming is Morphine's best album yet."[1]Trouser Press was also positive, noting the album's many "adventurous" and rock-oriented songs, which they felt ended claims "that the group's setup was intrinsically limited."[11]
Dana Colley – baritone and tenor saxophone, bass saxophone on "Eleven O'Clock", backing vocals on "Murder for the Money" and "French Fries with Pepper"
Billy Conway – drums, percussion, backing vocals on "Murder for the Money"
Additional musicians
Mike Rivard – double bass on "Lilah" and "Empty Box"
Larry Dersch – drums on "Like Swimming"
Melissa Gibbs, Meredith Byam, Deborah J. Klein – backing vocals on "Murder for the Money"
^ abMnookin, Seth (November 4, 1998). "Morphine's Like Swimming Is A Cure For What Ails You". MTV. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
^ abcdFlanary, Patrick (April 3, 2017). "Morphine live set from 'Like Swimming' tour to resurface on vinyl package". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
^ abcdeRougvie, Jeff (March 21, 2015). "The 20th Anniversary of "Yes" and more on working with Morphine". jeffrougvie.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
^Kaufman, Gil (September 3, 1996). "Morphine Album Delayed". MTV. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
^"Billboard 200". Billboard. May 3, 1997. p. 84. Retrieved December 14, 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^Inc, Nielsen Business Media (6 February 1999). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 81. Retrieved 14 October 2018 – via Internet Archive. like swimming morphine soundscan.{{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help); Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^"Morphine nomination for Best Short Form Music Video". grammy.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
^ abPrato, Greg. Like Swimming at AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
^ abSchreiber, Ryan. . Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on December 24, 2001. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
^ abRobbins, Ira (March 18, 1997). . Rolling Stone. No. RS 758. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
^Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 193.
January 01, 1970
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Like Swimming is the fourth studio album by the alternative rock band Morphine released in March 1997 by DreamWorks Rykodisc It was Morphine s first album out of two released as part of their multi album deal with DreamWorks 1 and the last album released within the lifetime of singer and bassist Mark Sandman Like SwimmingStudio album by MorphineReleasedMarch 11 1997Recorded1996StudioFort Apache Hi N Dry Cambridge Massachusetts GenreAlternative rock jazz rockLength38 04LabelDreamWorks RykodiscProducerMark Sandman Paul Q KolderieMorphine chronologyYes 1995 Like Swimming 1997 The Night 2000 Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 3 Track listing 4 Personnel 5 Charts 6 ReferencesBackground editAfter releasing three albums for indie label Rykodisc between 1992 and 1995 Morphine wanted to leave the label in 1996 and sign with DreamWorks Since the band still owed Rykodisc two albums the two labels negotiated a deal where Like Swimming would carry branding of both labels in North America and Rykodisc would have the rights for the rest of the world 2 3 The deal also included Rykodisc s exclusive rights to two future archival releases B Sides and Otherwise 1997 and Bootleg Detroit 2000 3 Before the Morphine contract was sold off to Dreamworks a finished album had been delivered to Rykodisc for release However when DreamWorks got involved some songs were remixed two songs were added to the track list Lilah Hanging on a Curtain and one song was removed In Your Shoes The latter remains officially unreleased 3 The album s planned October 1996 release date was eventually pushed back to March 1997 3 4 Although Like Swimming became Morphine s highest charting album in the US 67 it failed to produce a commercial breakthrough 2 5 As of 1999 the album had sold 141 000 copies in United States 6 whereas Cure for Pain 1993 and Yes 1995 sold a combined 661 000 copies 2 The album shares its name with a Mark Sandman side project that released the 7 single Swing It Low in 1996 Swing It Low was rerecorded for Like Swimming 3 The music video for the single Early to Bed earned a Grammy nomination for Best Short Form Music Video 2 7 Critical reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 8 Pitchfork Media4 0 10 9 Rolling Stone nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 10 Pitchfork s Ryan Schreiber said It s not really that the quality of the songs have deteriorated it s just that it all sounds the same They desperately need to alter their sound after four identical records 9 Ira Robbins writing for Rolling Stone concurred saying Four albums in the band is riding the same sound like a slot car even the welcome flashes of instrumental variety don t lead the band far from its usual track Robbins felt that some tracks have a hell of a groove and show off the band s dynamic control but ultimately too many songs swagger in place pumping a single line or riff with static electricity 10 AllMusic s Greg Prato felt that although the album has its highlights it s not as strong as Morphine s previous albums writing Some of the material doesn t sound fully developed almost as if the Boston trio was rushed to complete the album 8 Writing positively about the album MTV s Seth Mnookin wrote Sounding as complete and essential as Cure for Pain and containing some of the kick ass riffs that were scattered through out Yes Like Swimming is Morphine s best album yet 1 Trouser Press was also positive noting the album s many adventurous and rock oriented songs which they felt ended claims that the group s setup was intrinsically limited 11 Track listing editAll tracks are written by Mark Sandman Lilah instrumental 0 59 Potion 2 00 I Know You Pt III 3 31 Early to Bed 2 57 Wishing Well 3 32 Like Swimming 4 00 Murder for the Money 3 34 French Fries with Pepper 2 53 Empty Box 3 54 Eleven O Clock 3 19 Hanging on a Curtain 3 48 Swing It Low 3 16 Japanese edition bonus track Open Up the Window instrumental 2 22Personnel editAdapted from the album liner notes 12 Morphine Mark Sandman vocals 2 string slide bass tritar keyboards Mellotron guitar Dana Colley baritone and tenor saxophone bass saxophone on Eleven O Clock backing vocals on Murder for the Money and French Fries with Pepper Billy Conway drums percussion backing vocals on Murder for the Money Additional musicians Mike Rivard double bass on Lilah and Empty Box Larry Dersch drums on Like Swimming Melissa Gibbs Meredith Byam Deborah J Klein backing vocals on Murder for the Money Technical Mark Sandman producer engineer mixing Paul Q Kolderie producer engineer mixing Matthew Ellard engineer mixing Carl Plaster engineer Jon Williams engineer Greg Calbi mastering Morphine Eric Pfeiffer Robert Fisher design Danny Clinch cover photographyCharts editChart performance for Like Swimming Chart 1997 Peakposition Australian Albums ARIA 13 82 US Billboard 200 67References edit a b Mnookin Seth November 4 1998 Morphine s Like Swimming Is A Cure For What Ails You MTV Retrieved December 14 2022 a b c d Flanary Patrick April 3 2017 Morphine live set from Like Swimming tour to resurface on vinyl package Billboard Retrieved December 14 2022 a b c d e Rougvie Jeff March 21 2015 The 20th Anniversary of Yes and more on working with Morphine jeffrougvie com Retrieved December 14 2022 Kaufman Gil September 3 1996 Morphine Album Delayed MTV Retrieved December 14 2022 Billboard 200 Billboard May 3 1997 p 84 Retrieved December 14 2022 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help Inc Nielsen Business Media 6 February 1999 Billboard Nielsen Business Media Inc p 81 Retrieved 14 October 2018 via Internet Archive like swimming morphine soundscan a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a last has generic name help Cite magazine requires magazine help Morphine nomination for Best Short Form Music Video grammy com Retrieved December 14 2022 a b Prato Greg Like Swimming at AllMusic Retrieved September 26 2011 a b Schreiber Ryan Morphine Like Swimming Pitchfork review Pitchfork Media Archived from the original on December 24 2001 Retrieved September 26 2011 a b Robbins Ira March 18 1997 Morphine Like Swimming Music review Rolling Stone No RS 758 Archived from the original on October 13 2008 Retrieved September 26 2011 Kot Greg Robbins Ira Eberhard Floyd Morphine Trouser Press Retrieved December 14 2022 Like Swimming CD liner Morphine DreamWorks Rykodisc 1997 DRMD 50009 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 PDF ed Mt Martha Victoria Australia Moonlight Publishing p 193 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Like Swimming amp oldid 1136358939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
