Gold Afternoon Fix

Gold Afternoon Fix
Studio album by The Church
Released	February 22, 1990
Recorded	Ocean Way Recording Studios Los Angeles, CA 1989
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	57:17
Label	Arista
Producer	Waddy Wachtel and The Church
Professional reviews
The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space. Allmusic link Rolling Stone link
The Church chronology
Starfish (1988) Gold Afternoon Fix (1990) Priest=Aura (1992)

Gold Afternoon Fix, The Church's seventh studio album, and second on Arista, was released in February 1990. Meant to capitalize and build on the success of 1988's Starfish, the album saw considerable promotion upon its release. Despite moderate success in the U.S., with the single "Metropolis" reaching the top of the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the release failed to deliver mass commercial appeal.

Like on Starfish, studio production was overseen by Waddy Wachtel, despite the band's desire to employ John Paul Jones, formerly of Led Zeppelin. The recording sessions for the album were particularly tense and unsuitable, and in-band tensions led to drummer Richard Ploog being ostracized. While some of the bare, open sound that characterized Starfish punctuates the recording, heavy use of a drum machine (duplicating Ploog's parts) has resulted in the album being criticized as somewhat stiff and cold. Ploog left the group following the recording.

Gold Afternoon Fix is also unique among the Church's releases in the absence of any 12-string electric guitar. The missing trademark sound was due to guitarist Marty Willson-Piper's 12-string Rickenbacker having been stolen during the previous tour.

Track listing

1. "Pharaoh" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
2. "Metropolis" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
3. "Terra Nova Cain" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper)
4. "City" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
5. "Monday Morning" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
6. "Russian Autumn Heart" (Willson-Piper/Kilbey/Koppes/Ploog)
7. "Essence" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
8. "You're Still Beautiful" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
9. "Disappointment" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes)
10. "Transient" (Koppes/Kilbey/Willson-Piper)
11. "Laughing" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
12. "Fading Away" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)
13. "Grind" (Kilbey/Willson-Piper/Koppes/Ploog)

Personnel

• Steve Kilbey: Vocals, Bass, Keyboards
• Marty Willson-Piper: Guitar, Lead vocal on "Russian Autumn Heart"
• Peter Koppes: Guitar, Lead vocal on "Transient"
• Richard Ploog: Drums