Betty (album)
Encyclopedia
Betty is the third album by Helmet
, released in 1994 on Interscope. The album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's success with the previous album, Meantime.
This album coincided with Helmet's first personnel change, with Rob Echeverria (guitarist of NYC hardcore band, Rest In Pieces
) replacing the departed Peter Mengede
on guitar. Despite being Helmet's highest charting album in the U.S.
, Betty was not as successful as Meantime, but received almost unanimously-favorable reviews from critics. After recording and touring in support of the album, Echeverria left Helmet in 1995 to join Biohazard
; however, his departure was much more amicable than Mengede's.
Prior to Bettys release in June 1994, the album's biggest hit, "Milquetoast", originally appeared in alternate form on The Crow
soundtrack as "Milktoast". Its video was in regular rotation on MTV
, and videos for "Wilma's Rainbow" and "Biscuits For Smut" were also released.
is considered a definitive text in post-metal
.
.
The album appeared on vinyl (on Amphetamine Reptile Records
) in double 10" format; this version included additional tracks "Flushings", "Thick", and "Pariah", while omitting "Sam Hell". The Japanese CD also adds "Pariah".
A limited edition CD was also released with a blue jewel case and five extra live tracks recorded July 30, 1994 in Los Angeles. The live tracks are: "Sinatra", "FBLA II", "Tic", "Just Another Victim", and "In the Meantime". (These tracks were also released overseas on the Wilma's Rainbow CD EP.)
Singles
Production
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
, released in 1994 on Interscope. The album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's success with the previous album, Meantime.
This album coincided with Helmet's first personnel change, with Rob Echeverria (guitarist of NYC hardcore band, Rest In Pieces
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
) replacing the departed Peter Mengede
Peter Mengede
Peter Mengede is a musician best known as the former guitarist for Helmet. He formed his own group, Handsome, in 1996 with former members of Quicksand, Cro-Mags and Murphy's Law...
on guitar. Despite being Helmet's highest charting album in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Betty was not as successful as Meantime, but received almost unanimously-favorable reviews from critics. After recording and touring in support of the album, Echeverria left Helmet in 1995 to join Biohazard
Biohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
; however, his departure was much more amicable than Mengede's.
Prior to Bettys release in June 1994, the album's biggest hit, "Milquetoast", originally appeared in alternate form on The Crow
The Crow (album)
The soundtrack to the movie The Crow was released in 1994. Its biggest hit song was "Big Empty" by the Stone Temple Pilots, which was also on their album Purple.-Album information:...
soundtrack as "Milktoast". Its video was in regular rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, and videos for "Wilma's Rainbow" and "Biscuits For Smut" were also released.
Musical style
Usually regarded as Helmet's "experimental" album, it features a more musically-broad approach with forays into jazz and blues. However, Helmet's sonic trademarks of crunchy riffs and pounding drums still defined the album. Betty along with Meantime and AftertasteAftertaste (album)
Aftertaste is the fourth album by Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. This proved to be Helmet's final album with original members John Stanier and Henry Bogdan . Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard...
is considered a definitive text in post-metal
Post-metal
Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal.Hydra Head Records owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner originally termed the genre "thinking man's metal", demonstrating that his band was trying to move away from common metal conventions...
.
Recording and production
Helmet entered the studio in the fall of 1993 to begin recording the follow-up to their 1992 gold record, Meantime. Writing and recording sessions took place at Soundtrack, Power Station, and Sound on Sound in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Release and reception
Betty was released on June 21, 1994, and peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200 album chart, making it Helmet's highest ranking album so far.Track listing
- (All tracks by Hamilton, except † by Bogdan/Hamilton; ‡ by GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, KingWayne KingWayne King was an American musician, songwriter, singer and orchestral leader. He was sometimes referred to as "the Waltz King" because much of his most popular music involved waltzes; "The Waltz You Saved For Me" was his standard set closing song in live performance and on numerous radio...
, YoungVictor YoungVictor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
and Van AlstyneEgbert Van AlstyneEgbert Anson Van Alstyne was a United States songwriter and pianist. Van Alstyne was the composer of a number of popular and ragtime tunes from the early 20th century.He was born in Marengo, Illinois...
)
- "Wilma's Rainbow" – 3:53
- "I Know" – 3:41
- "Biscuits for Smut" – 2:53
- "MilquetoastMilquetoast (song)"Milquetoast" is the first single by alternative metal band Helmet from their 1994 album, Betty. It is the album's fourth track and only charting single, reaching #39 on Billboards Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
" – 3:53 - "Tic" – 3:40
- "Rollo"† – 2:38
- "Street Crab" – 3:31
- "Clean" – 2:26
- "Vaccination" – 3:04
- "Beautiful LoveBeautiful Love (1931 song)"Beautiful Love" is a popular waltz composed by Wayne King, Victor Young and Egbert Van Alstyne with lyrics by Haven Gillespie. It was introduced by the Wayne King Orchestra in 1931...
"‡ – 2:03 - "Speechless" – 2:58
- "The Silver Hawaiian"† – 2:08
- "Overrated" – 2:40
- "Sam Hell" – 2:09
The album appeared on vinyl (on Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
) in double 10" format; this version included additional tracks "Flushings", "Thick", and "Pariah", while omitting "Sam Hell". The Japanese CD also adds "Pariah".
A limited edition CD was also released with a blue jewel case and five extra live tracks recorded July 30, 1994 in Los Angeles. The live tracks are: "Sinatra", "FBLA II", "Tic", "Just Another Victim", and "In the Meantime". (These tracks were also released overseas on the Wilma's Rainbow CD EP.)
Chart performance
Album| Chart | Peak | |
|---|---|---|
| Swedish Album Chart Svensktoppen Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week... |
13 | |
| Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
18 | |
| Australian Album Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
23 | |
| Swiss Album Chart | 32 | |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
38 | |
| New Zealand Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
43 | |
| 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... |
45 | |
| Dutch Album Charts MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
71 |
Singles
| Single | Chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|---|
| "Milquetoast" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 39 |
Personnel
Band- John StanierJohn Stanier (drummer)John Stanier first came into the spotlight in 1989 as the drummer for the band Helmet. He is known for his speed, endurance, and precision as a performer....
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Henry BogdanHenry BogdanHenry Bogdan , is an American musician. He is perhaps best known as the original bass guitarist and a founding member of the alternative metal band, Helmet...
- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Rob Echeverria - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Page HamiltonPage HamiltonPage Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
- Guitar, Vocals
Production
- Andy WallaceAndy Wallace (producer)Andy Wallace is a Grammy Award-winning music studio engineer with a long track record of successful productions, beginning with the 1986 production of the Run-DMC/Aerosmith collaboration on "Walk This Way" with Rick Rubin...
- 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... - Howie WeinbergHowie WeinbergHowie Weinberg is a music mastering engineer who has worked with numerous bands.- Career :He has worked at Masterdisk, New York City, since 1977...
- MasteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...