Sap (EP)
Sap | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | February 4, 1992 | |||
Recorded | November 1991 | |||
Studio | London Bridge Studio, Seattle, Washington | |||
Genre | Grunge, alternative rock | |||
Length | 20:49 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Alice in Chains and Rick Parashar | |||
Alice in Chains chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sap | ||||
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Sap is the first studio EP by the American rock band Alice in Chains. It was released on February 4, 1992 through Columbia Records.
Background and recording
Following the tour for Facelift, Alice in Chains entered the studio to record demos for its next album, but ended up recording five acoustic songs instead.[1] While in the studio, drummer Sean Kinney had a dream about "making an EP called Sap."[2] The band decided "not to mess with fate," and Sap was recorded and mixed in 1991 with producer Rick Parashar at London Bridge Studio.
Music and lyrics
The EP features guest vocals by Ann Wilson from the band Heart, who joined vocalist Layne Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell for the choruses of "Brother" and "Am I Inside." The EP also features Mark Arm of Mudhoney and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, who appeared together on the song "Right Turn," credited to "Alice Mudgarden" in the liner notes.[3] The song was featured in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.[4]
Regarding the lyrical content, Cantrell said he wrote "Brother" about his relationship with his younger brother.[5] The song specifically refers to the period after Cantrell's parents divorced, when his younger brother went off to live with his father while he stayed with his mother, and Cantrell said that the song "was a way of trying to build a bridge."[5] Commenting on "Got Me Wrong," Cantrell said he wrote the song about a relationship where one person thinks he or she can change the other person, and added that the song speaks of "the different ways that men and women see each other."[5]
A version of the song "Rooster" was recorded during the sessions for Sap and was to be included on the EP, but the band then decided to use the song on their second full-length album instead.[citation needed] This version is featured on the band's 1999 box set Music Bank.
Release and reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
On February 4, 1992, Alice in Chains released their first EP, Sap. Cantrell said that Alice in Chains released Sap "without any fuss or fanfare so as the real Alice fans could find it."[5] The EP was released while Nirvana's Nevermind was at the top of the Billboard 200 charts, resulting in a rising popularity of Seattle-based bands, and the term grunge music.[1] Sap was soon certified gold.
The album was re-released on March 21, 1995, when "Got Me Wrong" became a hit after its inclusion on the soundtrack to the 1994 film, Clerks. The re-released version included lyrics and slightly different artwork. The aforementioned song, as well as "Brother," were performed live during Alice in Chains' MTV Unplugged concert.
In addition to the CD, the album was also released in a limited edition double vinyl along with Jar of Flies (Jar of Flies was on sides 1 and 2, Sap was on side 3, and an etching of the Alice in Chains logo was on side 4). In the UK, Sap and Jar of Flies were issued as a double CD, as Sap had not previously had a UK release.
Track listing
All lyrics and music written by Jerry Cantrell, except where noted.[8]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Brother" | 4:27 | ||
2. | "Got Me Wrong" | 4:12 | ||
3. | "Right Turn[I]" | 3:17 | ||
4. | "Am I Inside" | Layne Staley | 5:09 | |
5. | "Love Song" (Hidden Track) | Sean Kinney | Kinney | 3:44 |
Total length: | 20:49 |
"Alice Mudgarden" is Alice in Chains with Mark Arm of Mudhoney and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. Cantrell and Staley insisted that both Arm and Cornell be involved with a song on the EP.
Personnel
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Chart positions
Chart (1994) | Peak position |
---|---|
Denmark Singles (Hitlisten)[9] | 9 |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak position | |
---|---|---|---|
US Main[10][11] | US Mod[12][11] | ||
1994 | "Got Me Wrong" | 7 | 22 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[13] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b Gill, Chris (September 1999). Dirt. Guitar World.
- ^ Glickman, Simon. "Enotes - Alice in Chains". Enotes.com. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
- ^ "Right Turn" (Media notes). Alice in Chains. Columbia Records. 1992. Buttnugget publishing/Jack Lord Music 67059.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Alice in Chains. Soundtrack. 'Right Turn'". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Liner notes, Music Bank box set. 1999.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Sap review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
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(help) - ^ Brackett, Nathan. "Alice in Chains". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 13, cited March 17, 2010
- ^ Sap at Discogs (list of releases). Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "Top Ten Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. January 8, 1994. p. 12. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - ^ "Alice in Chains | Chart History. Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. March 4, 1995. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ a b "Sap - Alice in Chains | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 20, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
{{cite web}}
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(help); Unknown parameter|dead-url=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Alice in Chains | Chart History. Alternative Songs". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. January 14, 1995. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ "American single certifications – Alice in Chains – Sap". Recording Industry Association of America.