The Blind Leading the Naked
Encyclopedia
The Blind Leading the Naked is the third album
by Violent Femmes
. It was produced by Jerry Harrison
of Talking Heads
and released in 1986. The title is a play on the title of the famous Bruegel painting (and the figure of speech) "The Blind Leading the Blind
".
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 Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
. It was produced by Jerry Harrison
Jerry Harrison
Jerry Harrison is an American songwriter, musician and producer...
of Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
and released in 1986. The title is a play on the title of the famous Bruegel painting (and the figure of speech) "The Blind Leading the Blind
The Blind Leading the Blind
The Blind Leading the Blind is an oil painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, dating from 1568 and housed in the Capodimonte Museum, Naples, southern Italy. Other titles include Blind and The Parable of the Blind....
".
Track listing
All songs written by Gordon Gano except as indicated.- "Old Mother Reagan" – 0:31
- "No Killing" – 5:13
- "Faith" – 4:14
- "Breakin' Hearts" – 2:15
- "Special" – 2:18
- "Love & Me Make Three" (Brian Ritchie, Victor DeLorenzo) – 2:53
- "Candlelight Song" – 3:11
- "I Held Her in My Arms" – 2:52
- "Children of the Revolution" (Marc BolanMarc BolanMarc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
) – 4:19 - "Good Friend" – 3:28
- "Heartache" – 2:02
- "Cold Canyon" – 3:22
- "Two People" – 0:58
- "World Without Mercy" – (available on cassette and import CD only) - 4:06
Personnel
- Gordon GanoGordon GanoGordon James Gano is an American musician. He is best known for being the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American alternative rock band Violent Femmes.-Early life:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound... - Brian RitchieBrian RitchieBrian Ritchie was the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Violent Femmes.In addition to his bass playing, Ritchie is proficient at the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute...
– acoustic bass guitarAcoustic bass guitarThe acoustic bass guitar is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar...
, lead & rhythm guitar, vocals, jaw harp, slide whistle - Victor DeLorenzoVictor DeLorenzoVictor DeLorenzo was born on October 25, 1954, and is best known as the drummer for the folk-punk band the Violent Femmes.He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin and has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since. He has been a drummer since the age of sixteen, but an actor since the age of five...
– vocals, 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 ....
, percussion, tortoise - Steve MackaySteve MacKaySteve Mackay is an American tenor saxophone player, best known for his participation on The Stooges' second album Fun House.-The Stooges:Mackay was familiar to The Stooges from his work in Detroit's avant-rock pioneers, Carnal Kitchen...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Sigmund Snopek III - keyboards
- Peter Belestrieri - alto sax
- Steve Scales - percussion
- Abdulhameed Alwan - Arabic tabla, Deff
- Junior Brantley - keyboards
- Fred FrithFred FrithFred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
- Homemade instruments, guitar - Jerry HarrisonJerry HarrisonJerry Harrison is an American songwriter, musician and producer...
- keyboards, guitar, melodica - Leo KottkeLeo KottkeLeo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
- acoustic 10-string guitar - Jim Liban - harmonica
- Bill Schaefgen - trombone
- Drake Scott - vocalizing
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 | 84 |