Helter Stupid
Encyclopedia
Helter Stupid is Negativland
's second album on SST Records
, released in 1989
. It was Negativland's first attempt at a concept album
.
. Other samples used included those from Rev. Estus Pirkle
(further samples from the same sermon used in the band's signature song, "Christianity Is Stupid"), an interview with Charles Manson
, and what was the band's most brazenly unauthorized sample to date: "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles
.
Much of the "Perfect Cut" tracks on Side 2 draws from samples
of "The Winning Score", a 1977 presentation by TM Century
, producers of radio jingle
s and imaging. The source material can be heard here.
In 2000, the band Chumbawamba
, in reply to the EP
The ABCs of Anarchism
, used this album as one of the main sampling points of WYSIWYG
.
Negativland
Negativland is an experimental music and sound collage band which originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970s. They took their name from a Neu! song, while their record label is named after another Neu! song...
's second album on SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, released in 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
. It was Negativland's first attempt at a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
.
Structure
The first half of the album is composed of the tracks "Prologue" and "Helter Stupid". The two together form an extended piece lasting over 22 minutes. The concept, and much of the material, came from a San Francisco television news program that was taken in by a media hoax perpetrated by Negativland while promoting its previous album, Escape from NoiseEscape from Noise
Escape from Noise is a 1987 album by Negativland. It marked the band's first break on an established independent record label, SST Records. On this album, they continued to develop their experimental style. The group also incorporated elements of pop music with shorter tracks and more conventional...
. Other samples used included those from Rev. Estus Pirkle
Estus Pirkle
Estus Washington Pirkle was a Baptist minister from New Albany, Mississippi. In addition to his preaching, Pirkle was known for creating and starring in his own Christian films as well as writing numerous books...
(further samples from the same sermon used in the band's signature song, "Christianity Is Stupid"), an interview with Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
, and what was the band's most brazenly unauthorized sample to date: "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
.
Much of the "Perfect Cut" tracks on Side 2 draws from samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of "The Winning Score", a 1977 presentation by TM Century
Jones Radio Networks
Jones Radio Networks & Jones Media Group were branches of Jones International before being sold to Triton Media Group. JRN and JMN provide local radio stations with satellite-delivered formats. They also offer other services to local radio such as news and talk programs, syndicated radio shows,...
, producers of radio jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s and imaging. The source material can be heard here.
In 2000, the band Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
, in reply to the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
The ABCs of Anarchism
The ABCs of Anarchism
-Track listing:- External links :*It is available for download for free from Chumbawamba's website .* - The ABCs of Anarchism . Includes a list of sources used on the recording....
, used this album as one of the main sampling points of WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG (album)
WYSIWYG is a 2000 album by anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba. Released after the massive success of their previous effort, Tubthumper, it commented on various aspects of the pop culture the band had inadvertently become a part of...
.
Track listing
- "Prologue"
- "Helter StupidHelter Stupid (song)Helter Stupid is a song by Negativland, released on their 1989 album Helter Stupid.-Structure:The song starts out with a call from Rolling Stone Magazine editor Tom Krotenmacher, who tries to contact the band about backmasking on "Christianity Is Stupid", yet Mark Hosler yells throughout the...
" - "The Perfect Cut (Canned Music)"
- "The Perfect Cut (Rooty Poops)"
- "The Perfect Cut (Good As Gold)"
- "The Perfect Cut (Piece of Meat)"
- "The Perfect Cut (White Rabbit And A Dog Named Gidget)"
- "The Perfect Cut (11 Minutes)"
- "The Perfect Cut (48 Hours)"
Personnel
- Richard LyonsRichard Lyons (musician)Richard "Pastor Dick Seeland" Lyons is one of the members in Negativland. His personas in the band include Dick Vaughn, 5-time Cali Award winner; auto trivia expert...
(credited as "Dick Vaughn") - David Wills (uncredited)
- Don Joyce (uncredited)
- Mark HoslerMark HoslerMark Hosler is an American musician who is a founding member of the sound art collective Negativland.- Career :Through his public speaking, lectures and extensive interviews, he serves as the primary spokesperson for the group...
(uncredited) - Chris Grigg (uncredited)
Musical Samples
- The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
- "Helter Skelter" - Don CovayDon CovayDon Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994...
- "Sookie Sookie" - Minnie RipertonMinnie RipertonMinnie Julia Riperton was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You". She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in the summer of 1979. They had two children - music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya...
- "Lovin' YouLovin' You-Film:*Loving You, an Elvis Presley movie and soundtrack album*Loving You , a melodramatic love story film produced and distributed by Regal Films-Music:...
" - Tavares - "Heaven Must Be Missing an AngelHeaven Must Be Missing an Angel"Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" is a disco song written by Freddie Perren and Keni St. Lewis. It was recorded by the New England band Tavares in 1976. The song was released as a single from the album Sky High! and was split into two parts. The first part was 3 minutes and 28 seconds in length,...
" - ZappZapp (band)Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman, Bobby Glover and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]...
(unidentified) - Brothers Johnson - "Strawberry Letter 23Strawberry Letter 23"Strawberry Letter 23" is a song written by Shuggie Otis, although known most prominently by the version recorded by The Brothers Johnson. Otis wrote the song for a girlfriend who used strawberry-scented paper when she wrote letters to him. George Johnson of The Brothers Johnson was dating one of...
" - BrickBrick (band)Brick is a former American band that created a successful merger of funk and jazz in the 1970s. Their most popular single was "Dazz", which was released in 1976.-History:...
- "Dazz" - Natalie ColeNatalie ColeNatalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
- "This Will BeThis Will Be"This Will Be" is a song performed by Natalie Cole and composed by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy. It was Natalie Cole's debut single in 1975 and one of her biggest hits, becoming a number-one R&B and number-six pop smash in the U.S. and also reaching the UK Top 40...
" - Joe TexJoe TexJoseph Arrington, Jr. , better known as "Joe Tex", was an American Southern soul singer-songwriter, most popular during the 1960s and 1970s...
- "I GotchaI Gotcha (Joe Tex song)"I Gotcha" is a song by Joe Tex. Tex originally intended for the song to be recorded by King Floyd, but Floyd never recorded a version of it. Instead, Tex went ahead and recorded it himself in the late 1960s, but ended up not releasing it...
" - Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
- "Love to Love You BabyLove to Love You Baby (song)"Love to Love You Baby" is a song by American singer Donna Summer released in 1975 . It became one of the first ever disco hits to also be released in an extended form.-Song information and original release:...
" - Bebu SilvettiBebu SilvettiJuan Fernando Silvetti Adorno , professionally known as Bebu Silvetti or simply Silvetti, was an Argentine pianist, composer, conductor, arranger and record producer...
- "Spring Rain" - Bill Summers & Summer Heat - "Jam the Box"
- Mungo JerryMungo JerryMungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
- "In the Summertime"