Becoming X
Encyclopedia
Becoming X is the debut album from Sneaker Pimps
released in 1996. The album was successful in the United Kingdom
, while "6 Underground
" and "Spin Spin Sugar" would become hits in the US.
The album also marked the only appearance of Kelli Dayton as a vocalist for the group, before she was asked to leave the band. Chris Corner
became the band's vocalist for subsequent albums.
"How Do", the last track on Becoming X, is a cover of the song known as "Willow's Song
" featured in the movie The Wicker Man (1973). Britt Ekland
lip synched the song (completely naked) in the movie; Sneaker Pimps' version begins with a short sound clip from the movie. It is in turn used in the movie Abre los ojos
(Open Your Eyes). Most recently, "How Do" was used during an intimate scene in the 2005 Eli Roth
movie, Hostel.
The album later spawned a remix album Becoming Remixed
with DJs such as Paul Oakenfold
remixing tracks from Becoming X.
Fueled by the hit "6 Underground", the album spent 23 consecutive weeks on the US Billboard 200
.
The US edition featured "6 Underground (Nellee Hooper Edit)" as bonus track, the Japanese edition had "Walk The Rain" as bonus track included.
'Let The Happiness In'
'How Do' sampled the Rachel Verney vocal audio from the film 'The Wicker Man'
'6 Underground' sampled John Barry's 'Golden Girl' from 'Goldfinger'
Sneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England in 1994. They are best known for their first album Becoming X and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album...
released in 1996. The album was successful in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, while "6 Underground
6 Underground
"6 Underground" is a song by the British band Sneaker Pimps, from their 1996 album Becoming X. First released as a single in the UK in October 1996, the song reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and had moderate radio airplay in the United States...
" and "Spin Spin Sugar" would become hits in the US.
The album also marked the only appearance of Kelli Dayton as a vocalist for the group, before she was asked to leave the band. Chris Corner
Chris Corner
Chris Corner is an English musician and songwriter. He was a founding member of the band Sneaker Pimps and is now active with the IAMX solo project.He has been living in Berlin since 2006, where he has set up his new IAMX studio for music and visual work....
became the band's vocalist for subsequent albums.
"How Do", the last track on Becoming X, is a cover of the song known as "Willow's Song
Willow's Song
"Willow's Song" is a ballad by American composer Paul Giovanni for the 1973 film The Wicker Man. The lyrics are as follows:"Heigh ho! Who is there?No one but me, my dear.Please come say, how do?The things I'll give to you....
" featured in the movie The Wicker Man (1973). Britt Ekland
Britt Ekland
Britt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
lip synched the song (completely naked) in the movie; Sneaker Pimps' version begins with a short sound clip from the movie. It is in turn used in the movie Abre los ojos
Abre los ojos
Abre los ojos is a 1997 Spanish film directed by Alejandro Amenábar which was written by himself and Mateo Gil. It stars Eduardo Noriega, Penélope Cruz, Fele Martínez and Najwa Nimri...
(Open Your Eyes). Most recently, "How Do" was used during an intimate scene in the 2005 Eli Roth
Eli Roth
Eli Raphael Roth is an American film director, producer, writer and actor. He is known for his role as Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds for which he won both a SAG Award and a BFCA Critic's Choice Award...
movie, Hostel.
The album later spawned a remix album Becoming Remixed
Becoming Remixed
Becoming Remixed is an album by the trip-hop group Sneaker Pimps. It was released on March 10, 1998. It is a limited edition remix album of their previous effort, Becoming X...
with DJs such as Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
remixing tracks from Becoming X.
Fueled by the hit "6 Underground", the album spent 23 consecutive weeks on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Track listing
All tracks by Corner/Howe/Pickering unless otherwise noted.- "Low Place Like Home" − 4:38
- "Tesko Suicide" − 3:48
- "6 Underground6 Underground"6 Underground" is a song by the British band Sneaker Pimps, from their 1996 album Becoming X. First released as a single in the UK in October 1996, the song reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and had moderate radio airplay in the United States...
" − 3:54 - "Becoming X" − 4:15
- "Spin Spin SugarSpin Spin Sugar"Spin Spin Sugar" is a 1997 single released by Sneaker Pimps from their 1996 debut album Becoming X. The album version is in true Sneaker Pimps style and format. There is a driving bass line produced by synthesizer keyboard. As the bass drives there is a second synth loop playing above. The track...
" − 4:21 - "Post-Modern Sleaze" − 5:21
- "Waterbaby" − 4:12
- "Roll On" − 4:28
- "Wasted Early Sunday Morning" − 4:29
- "Walking Zero" − 4:31
- "How Do" − 5:03
The US edition featured "6 Underground (Nellee Hooper Edit)" as bonus track, the Japanese edition had "Walk The Rain" as bonus track included.
Limited Edition
- "Low Place Like Home" − 4:38
- "Tesko Suicide" − 3:48
- "6 Underground (Nellee Hooper Edit)" − 3:48
- "Becoming X" − 4:15
- "Spin Spin Sugar (Radio Mix)" − 3:34
- "Post-Modern Sleaze (Flight From Nashville)" − 3:29
- "Waterbaby" − 4:12
- "Roll On" − 4:28
- "Wasted Early Sunday Morning" − 4:29
- "Walking Zero" − 4:31
- "How Do" − 5:03
Samples
'Waterbaby' sampled David Sylvian'sDavid Sylvian
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan...
'Let The Happiness In'
'How Do' sampled the Rachel Verney vocal audio from the film 'The Wicker Man'
'6 Underground' sampled John Barry's 'Golden Girl' from 'Goldfinger'
Goldfinger (soundtrack)
Goldfinger is the soundtrack for the 3rd James Bond film of the same name.This is the first of three James Bond films with a theme song sung by Shirley Bassey, whose forceful, dramatic style became a trademark of the series...
Credits
- Kelli Dayton - vocals
- Chris CornerChris CornerChris Corner is an English musician and songwriter. He was a founding member of the band Sneaker Pimps and is now active with the IAMX solo project.He has been living in Berlin since 2006, where he has set up his new IAMX studio for music and visual work....
- guitars - Liam HoweLiam HoweLiam Coverdale Howe is a London based record producer, musician and songwriter.- Musical beginnings :...
- keyboards - Joe Wilson - bass
- Dave Westlake - drumming
- Jim AbbissJim AbbissJim Abbiss is a British music producer, best known for his work on records including Arctic Monkeys' Mercury Music Prize winning debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Ladytron's Witching Hour, Sneaker Pimps' debut Becoming X, Editors' debut The Back Room, Kasabian's...
, C. Goddard, Flood, Oggy AKA Augustus Skinner engineering, Luke Gifford - engineering - Mark "Spike" Stent, Flood, Jim AbbissJim AbbissJim Abbiss is a British music producer, best known for his work on records including Arctic Monkeys' Mercury Music Prize winning debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Ladytron's Witching Hour, Sneaker Pimps' debut Becoming X, Editors' debut The Back Room, Kasabian's...
, Line of FlightLine of flightA line of flight is a concept developed by Gilles Deleuze and used extensively in his work with Félix Guattari. Translator Brian Massumi notes that in French, "Fuite covers not only the act of fleeing or eluding but also flowing, leaking, and disappearing into the distance...
, Nellee HooperNellee HooperNellee Hooper is a British producer/remixer/composer best known for his work with Björk, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Sinéad O'Connor, Garbage, Andrea Corr, U2, Sneaker Pimps, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack...
, Luke Gifford - mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Andy Wright, Marius De VriesMarius de VriesMarius Van Wyk de Vries is an English music producer and composer. He has been behind some of the key albums and soundtracks of recent times, gathering five Grammy nominations, two BAFTAs, and an Ivor Novello award along the way.-Music Producer:...
- additional programming and keyboards