Sonic Temple

Sonic Temple
Studio album by The Cult
Released	10 April 1989
Recorded	September - November 1988 at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	52:23
Label	Beggars Banquet, Sire
Producer	Bob Rock
The Cult chronology
Electric (1987) Sonic Temple (1989) Ceremony (1991)

Sonic Temple is the fourth album by The Cult, released in 1989. In addition to being a continuation of the band's hard rock sound that was introduced on their previous album, Electric, Sonic Temple features some of the band's most popular songs, "Fire Woman", "Sun King", "Edie (Ciao Baby)" and "Sweet Soul Sister". With this album, the Cult obtained critical and commercial success with a ranking of #10 on the Billboard 200. Sonic Temple was also the last album recorded with long time bassist Jamie Stewart, who left in 1990.

Album information

Sonic Temple follows the Cult's critically acclaimed 1987 album Electric. The album marked the first time Bob Rock produced an album by the band (he would later produce the band's 1994 self-titled album, Beyond Good and Evil and Choice of Weapon). The album got the Cult's highest chart position in the US, peaking at #10 on the Billboard 200 charts and was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1993.

In Argentina the record was released as Templo Sonico, and with the titles translated into Spanish on the jacket sleeve and record labels. In Taiwan, it was released with a pink cover, and reportedly some of these were also distributed in mainland China.

The album cover features guitarist Billy Duffy with his Gibson Les Paul and the background features vocalist Ian Astbury. An additional illustration in the CD booklet and cassette insert features bassist Jamie Stewart.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Rolling Stone	link
Sputnikmusic	link

Track listing

All tracks written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy.

1. "Sun King" – 6:09
2. "Fire Woman" – 5:11
3. "American Horse" – 5:19
4. "Edie (Ciao Baby)" – 4:46
5. "Sweet Soul Sister" – 5:08
6. "Soul Asylum" – 7:26
7. "New York City" – 4:41
8. "Automatic Blues" – 3:51
9. "Soldier Blue" – 4:36
10. "Wake Up Time for Freedom" – 5:17

Extra tracks

11. "Medicine Train" – 4:42 (On CD and, in some countries, cassette release)
12. "The River" (Only on Russian and Eastern European pressings)
13. "Lay Down your Gun" (Version two) (Only on Russian and Eastern European pressings)

• There was a Saudi Arabian version released, with the tracklisting expanded and slightly rearranged:

1. "Sun King"
2. "Fire Woman"
3. "American Horse"
4. "Edie (Ciao Baby)"
5. "Sweet Soul Sister"
6. "NYC"
7. "Automatic Blues"
8. "Soldier Blue"
9. "Wake up time for Freedom"
10. "Medicine Train"
11. "Electric Ocean"
12. "King Contrary Man"
13. "Born to be Wild"
14. "Outlaw"

Personnel

• Ian Astbury – vocals, percussion
• Billy Duffy – guitar
• Jamie Stewart – bass guitar, keyboards
• Mickey Curry – drums

Additional personnel

• Iggy Pop – backing vocals on "New York City"
• John Webster – keyboards
• Bob Buckley – string arrangement on "Edie (Ciao Baby)"

• Engineered and mixed by Mike Fraser

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1989	The Billboard 200	10

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	"Fire Woman"	Billboard Hot 100	46
		Modern Rock Tracks	2
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	4
	"Sun King"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	18
		Modern Rock Tracks	21
	"Edie (Ciao Baby)"	Billboard Hot 100	93
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	17
1990	"Sweet Soul Sister"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	14