Smile from the Streets You Hold is the second solo album

Album

An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...

 by John Frusciante

John Frusciante

John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...

. The record was released during a time when Frusciante was not performing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...

. It was released on August 26, 1997 on Birdman Records

Birdman Records

Birdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...

, while Frusciante was still addicted to heroin. The record is an amalgamation of songs from various periods of time, mainly extras not included on Frusciante's debut Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt

Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt

Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt is the debut solo album by John Frusciante, released on March 8, 1994, on American Recordings. Frusciante released the album after encouragement from several friends, who told him that there was "no good music around anymore."Niandra Lades and Usually Just a...

(1994); included, however, are several tracks recorded around 1996 and "A Fall Thru the Ground" from 1988.

Recording

Many songs from Smile from the Streets You Hold were recorded when Frusciante was still with the Chili Peppers and are from the same period as his previous solo album, Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt

Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt

Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt is the debut solo album by John Frusciante, released on March 8, 1994, on American Recordings. Frusciante released the album after encouragement from several friends, who told him that there was "no good music around anymore."Niandra Lades and Usually Just a...

.

In a 1997 interview with Guitar Player

Guitar Player

Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...

, Frusciante claimed to have maintained active communication with the spirit world during the album's recording phase:
Actor River Phoenix

River Phoenix

River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...

, a good friend of Frusciante and the rest of the Chili Peppers, is featured on two tracks, "Height Down" (originally titled "Soul Removal"), and "Well I've Been" (originally titled "Bought Her Soul"). Both songs were supposed to be released on Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt, but were pulled by request of Phoenix's family after Phoenix's death.

"More", "I Can't See Until I See Your Eyes", and "Estress" were recorded to a cassette on a boombox in 1996. Frusciante's poor health is apparent in his voice.

Release

Frusciante had Smile from the Streets You Hold and Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt removed from record stores in 1998 after rejoining the Red Hot Chili Peppers because he felt uncomfortable with them being available to the public. He is quoted as saying that he released Smile from the Streets You Hold for drug money. Niandra Lades was eventually re-issued and Frusciante has promised he will one day re-release Smile from the Streets You Hold.

There is also a second print of Smile from the Streets You Hold available. The title song "Smile from the Streets You Hold", is split in two separate tracks. Frusciante once said the song was about a friend of his who had died, but the first half was written and recorded before their death and the second half of the song afterward.

The second print also includes an extended version of "Life's a Bath". Another notable difference between the 17-track version and the 18-track version is that on the former, John can be heard taking a hit from a bong

Bong

A bong is a filtration device/apparatus generally used for smoking cannabis, tobacco,or other herbal substances.In construction and function a bong is similar to a hookah, except smaller and more portable...

on "For Air".

Track listing

All songs written by John Frusciante.

1. "Enter a Uh" – 8:06
2. "The Other" – 1:36
3. "Life's a Bath" – 1:18
4. "A Fall Thru the Ground" – 2:24
5. "Poppy Man" – 1:21
6. "I May Again Know John" – 8:47
7. "I'm Always" – 2:33
8. "Nigger Song" – 4:15
9. "Femininity" – 2:35
10. "Breathe" – 6:21
11. "More" – 2:07
12. "For Air" – 3:55
13. "Height Down" – 4:00
14. "Well, I've Been" – 3:06
15. "Smile from the Streets You Hold" – 5:09
16. "I Can't See Until I See Your Eyes" – 1:30
17. "Estress" – 2:17

18-track version

All songs written by John Frusciante.

1. "Enter a Uh" – 8:09
2. "The Other" – 1:36
3. "Life's a Bath" – 1:39
4. "A Fall Thru the Ground" – 2:20
5. "Poppy Man" – 1:16
6. "I May Again Know John" – 8:48
7. "I'm Always" – 2:33
8. "Nigger Song" – 4:15
9. "Femininity" – 2:34
10. "Breathe" – 6:12
11. "More" – 2:08
12. "For Air" – 2:57
13. "Height Down" – 3:52
14. "Well, I've Been" – 3:07
15. "Smile from the Streets You Hold, Part 1" – 4:09
16. "Smile from the Streets You Hold, Part 2" – 0:56
17. "I Can't See Until I See Your Eyes" – 1:30
18. "Estress" – 2:20