Apple (Mother Love Bone album)

Untitled

Apple is the only full-length studio album by Mother Love Bone. It was released in July 1990 through Stardog/Mercury Records.

Overview

In September 1989, the group returned to the studio to record its debut album Apple with producer Terry Date at the Plant recording studio in Sausalito, California. The band finished the album in November 1989 at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington. Compared with the band's debut EP, Shine, vocalist Andrew Wood's vocal stylings are more mature, drawing heavily upon similar techniques of guitarist and singer Tommy Bolin. "Crown of Thorns" originally appeared on Shine, however on Apple the song is missing the opening "Chloe Dancer". Despite some initial difficulties, the record was on-time for its projected March 1990 release.

By early 1990 interest in the band had hit a fever pitch and it seemed destined that the band was going to make it big. Only days before the release of Apple, however, frontman Andrew Wood, who had a long history with drug problems, overdosed on heroin. After spending a few days in the hospital in a coma, Wood died, effectively bringing Mother Love Bone to an end. The album would see release later that year in July. The album eventually charted at number 34 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart in 1992. Kim Neely of Rolling Stone said that the album "succeeds where countless other hard-rock albums have failed, capturing the essence of what made Zep immortal – dynamics, kids! – and giving it a unique Nineties spin." A music video was made for the song "Stardog Champion". The entire album later appeared on the 1992 compilation Stardog Champion (also known as Mother Love Bone). It was also remastered and reissued in 2003 by the UK-based Lemon Recordings.

Track listing

All songs written by Jeff Ament, Bruce Fairweather, Greg Gilmore, Stone Gossard, and Andrew Wood.

1. "This Is Shangrila" – 3:42
2. "Stardog Champion" – 4:58
3. "Holy Roller" – 4:27
4. "Bone China" – 3:44
5. "Come Bite the Apple" – 5:26
6. "Stargazer" – 4:49
7. "Heartshine" – 4:36
8. "Captain Hi-Top" – 3:07
9. "Man of Golden Words" – 3:41
10. "Capricorn Sister" – 4:19
11. "Gentle Groove" – 4:02
12. "Mr. Danny Boy" – 4:50
13. "Crown of Thorns" – 6:18
14. "Lady Godiva Blues" – 3:40
    • Only included on the 2003 reissue

Personnel

• Jeff Ament – bass, art direction, cover art concept
• Bruce Fairweather – guitar
• Greg Gilmore – drums
• Stone Gossard – guitar
• Andrew Wood – piano, vocals
• Bruce Calder, Terry Date, Mark Dearnley, Mother Love Bone – production
• Scott Blockland – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig, Alan Wilson – mastering
• Kaylin Frank – production coordination
• Michael Goldstone – A&R
• Dennis Herring, Davitt Sigerson – pre-production
• Denny Swofford – assistant
• Klotz – design

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1992	Top Heatseekers	34