Stadium Arcadium

Untitled

For the song with the same name, see Stadium Arcadium (song).

Stadium Arcadium is the Red Hot Chili Peppers' ninth studio album and their first in nearly four years. It was released around the world on various days through May 2006, and is the first time a Red Hot Chili Peppers band line-up has remained the same for three consecutive studio albums. It debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart, the Japanese Oricon Albums chart, and the U.S. Billboard 200. Stadium Arcadium sold 442,000 units in its first week of release in the U.S.

History

According to an interview with frontman Anthony Kiedis in New Musical Express, Stadium Arcadium was originally scheduled to be a trilogy of albums each released six months apart, but was condensed into one 28 track double album (first in the band's career) so that the music could be heard more quickly. As for the ten tracks left off of the original 38 track trilogy, Kiedis had noted that there might be plans to release them as bonus tracks on albums distributed to the numerous store chains; however, there has been no evidence since of such plans, and multiple retailers have been found offering the album with a uniform track listing. The song "Hard to Concentrate" was written by Anthony Kiedis for his longtime friend and bandmate Michael "Flea" Balzary and his new wife as a wedding proposal set to music.

The first release of the album was on May 5 in Croatia and several other European countries, followed by the UK on May 8. May 9 saw its release in North America and Japan followed the next day. It was released in Australia and New Zealand on May 13 and May 15 respectively (see 2006 in music). It was leaked onto the Internet on April 30.[1] However, this has not hindered the chart performance of the record and it has sold an 2 million copies less than a month after its release.

The song "Dani California", is about "Dani", the same character from their hit single, "By the Way" and was also mentioned in the song "Californication". "Dani", according to Kiedis, is a representation of every girl that he has come across in his life. He also said it is his favorite name.

"Dani California", "Wet Sand", "21st Century", "Readymade", "Tell Me Baby", "Desecration Smile", "Charlie", "Hard to Concentrate", "She's Only 18", "Snow ((Hey Oh))", "Torture Me", "Hump de Bump", "If", "Strip My Mind", "Warlocks", and the title track have all been played live. "Dani California" premiered on radio stations worldwide on April 3, 2006. The video leaked onto the internet on April 1, and was officially released to music television stations worldwide over the subsequent days.

Stadium Arcadium is also available in a limited-edition (list price $56) black box that includes the 28-song, two-CD set, plus a DVD with the "Dani California" video and behind-the-scenes "making of the video" footage; a one-hour band interview; a 28-page booklet; contained in an 8-panel digipak; Four art cards containing original artwork by the band; a wooden spinning top; Four different psychadelic templates for the spinning top; a bag containing marbles; and a notepad disguised as a matchbook.

For the introduction of the album, the iTunes Music Store offered an exclusive pre-order of the album. The iTunes version included the entire 28-song set, a documentary on the making of the video for "Dani California", audio commentary from the band on the making of the album (the commentary and making of also appeared on the DVD included in the Stadium Arcadium box set), and exclusive access to a pre-ticket sale for the upcoming Red Hot Chili Peppers' tour from Ticketmaster, four days before they went on sale to the public. These special offers were only available with the pre-order plan.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded a session for AOL on March 28, 2006. They performed a five-song set in the mansion where they recorded the album. They played three new tracks: "Dani California", "Desecration Smile" and "Tell Me Baby" They also played two old hits: "Californication" and "Scar Tissue".

On April 17, 2006, a live show aired on the Zane Lowe show on Radio 1 in the UK. They played old hits along with several new songs, including "21st Century", "Tell Me Baby", "Dani California", and the previously unplayed "Charlie", "Snow ((Hey Oh))", and "Hard to Concentrate."

According to Frusciante.net, there will be seven singles off the album. Three have been confirmed by the band and their label: the current single "Dani California", "Tell Me Baby" and "Snow ((Hey Oh))." "Storm In A Teacup" and "Stadium Arcadium" are also rumored to be released as singles but are yet to be confirmed as such by the band and their label. While not even released as a single yet, "Snow ((Hey Oh))" climbed to number fifty-three in the U.K. iTunes top 100 on May 13; this bodes well for a future release.

The complete album is also availlable as a free streaming version on mp3.com.

Track listing

Disc 1: Jupiter

1. "Dani California" – 4:42
2. "Snow ((Hey Oh))" – 5:34
3. "Charlie" – 4:37
4. "Stadium Arcadium" – 5:15
5. "Hump de Bump" – 3:33
6. "She's Only 18" – 3:25
7. "Slow Cheetah" – 5:19
8. "Torture Me" – 3:44
9. "Strip My Mind" – 4:19
10. "Especially in Michigan" – 4:00
11. "Warlocks" – 3:25
12. "C'mon Girl" – 3:48
13. "Wet Sand" – 5:09
14. "Hey" – 5:39

Disc 2: Mars

1. "Desecration Smile" – 5:04
2. "Tell Me Baby" – 4:07
3. "Hard to Concentrate" – 4:01
4. "21st Century" – 4:22
5. "She Looks to Me" – 4:06
6. "Readymade" – 4:30
7. "If" – 2:52
8. "Make You Feel Better" – 3:51
9. "Animal Bar" – 5:25
10. "So Much I" – 3:44
11. "Storm in a Teacup" – 3:45
12. "We Believe" – 3:36
13. "Turn It Again" – 6:06
14. "Death Of A Martian" – 4:24

B-Sides, Outtakes and Non-Album Tracks

Although these songs were not included on Stadium Arcadium, they have been included with CD singles from the album.

1. "Million Miles of Water" – 4:06 (B-Side of Dani California CD1)
2. "Whatever We Want" – 4:48 (B-Side of Dani California CD2)
3. "Lately" – 2:56 (B-Side of Dani California CD2)

Credits

• Flea (Michael Balzary) – bass, trumpet
• John Frusciante – guitar, background vocals
• Anthony Kiedis – vocals
• Chad Smith – drums
• Brad Warnaar – french horn
• Omar Rodriguez-Lopez – guitar solo on "Especially in Michigan"
• Richard Dodd – cello
• Billy Preston – clavenette on "Warlocks"
• Emily Kokal – background vocals
• Natalie Baber – background vocals
• Mylissa Hoffman – background vocals
• Alexis Izenstark – background vocals
• Spencer Izenstark – background vocals
• Dylan Lerner – background vocals
• Kyle Lerner – background vocals
• Gabrielle Mosbe – background vocals
• Monique Mosbe – background vocals
• Sophia Mosbe – background vocals
• Isabella Shmelev – background vocals
• Landen Starman – background vocals
• Wyatt Starkman – background vocals
• Michael Bolger – trombone
• Paulino De Costa and Lenny Castro – additional percussion
• Rick Rubin – producer

Sound Quality

Similar to By The Way, this album features a heavy use of audio compression during mastering. However, the vinyl versions of Stadium Arcadium has been mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray at AcousTech from the 30 ips analog master tapes, "the mixes are all powerful, very dynamic, tuneful, exciting and quite high fidelity sounding." A petition has been created regarding the re-issueing of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' CD albums which do not contain excessive compression and are free of digital distortion (clipping).

Chart Performance

Stadium Arcadium became the Red Hot Chili Peppers' first album to debut atop The Billboard 200 after selling 442,000 copies in the USA alone during its first week. The band's previous best week was the debut of By the Way, which yielded 282,000 copies and a debut at number two on the Billboard 200.

After one week the album had sold over one million copies worldwide. [2] After 3 weeks the album had sold over 2 million copies worldwide. [3]

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australian albums chart	1
Austria albums chart	1
Argentina albums chart	6
Belgium International Albums chart	1
Brazil albums chart	9
Canada albums chart	1
Czech Republic albums chart	1
Cypro (International albums chart)	1
Danmark albums chart	1
Finland albums chart	1
France albums chart	1
Germany albums chart	1
Greece International albums chart	1
Hungary albums chart	2
Ireland albums chart	1
Iceland albums chart	2
Israel albums chart	1
Italy albums chart	1
Japan albums chart	1
Mexico albums chart	1
Netherlands albums chart	1
New Zealand albums chart	1
Norway albums chart	1
Poland albums chart	1
Slovenia albums chart	1
South Africa albums chart	1
Spain albums chart	2
Sweden albums chart	1
Switzerland albums chart	1
UK albums chart	1
U.S. Billboard 200	1

USA Billboard
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	1	1	5	3	6
Sales	442,489	157,012	112,655	87,345	86,016

• Total US Sales: 886,116

European Top 100[4]
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	64	1	1	1	1

World Album Top 40 [5]
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	1	1	2	1
Sales	1,108,000	539,000	402,000	339,000

• Total Worldwide Sales (Mediatraffic Data): 2.388.000

UK album chart
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	1	1	1	2	7
Sales	202,499	80,087	52,146	38,854	~25,000

World Album Top 50 [6]
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	44	1	1	2	1
Sales	39.300	1.187.100	682.600	419.300	344.200

• Total Worldwide Sales (Inthitlists Data): 2.672.500

Canada albums chart
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	1	1	2	2
Sales	64,000	24,000	15,000

Japanese Oricon charts [7]
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	1	3	6	9	8
Sales	139,447	49,821	31,089	21,006	17,417

Trivia

• Underneath the booklet included on the inner sleeve of the album, the members of the band are wearing football uniforms with writing on the helmets, reminiscent of the album art for The Who's Odds and Sods.
• One of the photographers responsible for the album cover was Gus Van Sant, film director, musician, and author, who also directed the band's music video "Under the Bridge".
• The Solo on "Especially in Michigan" was played by Omar Rodriguez of The Mars Volta. On TMV's first album, "De-Loused in the Comatorium," John Frusciante is featured on one track, while Flea is a part of the band throughout the album. (Also, both Stadium Arcadium and De-Loused in the Comatorium were recorded in "The Mansion")
• Runner's World Magazine announced that Stadium Arcadium was the top workout album for 2006.
• On June 17, 2006, in Japan, the movie Death Note will come out with "Dani California" as its theme song.

External links

• Red Hot Chili Peppers - Official Site
• Red Hot Chili Peppers - MySpace Page
• Ultimate RHCP Resource Stadium-Arcadium.com
• MusicMad Unofficial Chili Peppers Discussion
• Stream Stadium Arcadium
• MTV.com article'
• Still Remains the Same album review
• 15 minute video interview with John Frusciante which includes thoughts on the new album.
• Lyrics Page