Sonic Temple

Untitled

Sonic Temple is the fourth studio album by The Cult, released in 1989. Continuing in the hard rock direction introduced on their previous album, Sonic Temple features some of the band's most popular songs, including "Fire Woman", "Sun King", "Edie (Ciao Baby)" and "Sweet Soul Sister". Sonic Temple was the last album recorded with longtime bassist Jamie Stewart, who left in 1990, and the first to feature former Hall & Oates and then-current Bryan Adams drummer, Mickey Curry.

Album information

Sonic Temple marked the first time the band worked with Bob Rock, who would later produce The Cult, Beyond Good and Evil, Choice of Weapon and Hidden City. The album reached 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 with the titles translated into Spanish on the jacket sleeve and record labels. In Taiwan it was released with a pink cover; reportedly some of these were also found in mainland China.

The album cover features guitarist Billy Duffy with his Gibson Les Paul, partially obscuring a picture of vocalist Ian Astbury. The back cover features bassist Jamie Stewart, and an additional illustration on the insert, from left to right, features Astbury, Duffy, and Stewart.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link
Rolling Stone	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 track listing 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

Additional personnel

• Mickey Curry – drums
• 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 - BPI UK Album Chart (UK) Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1989	BPI UK Album Chart	3
	The Billboard 200	10

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	"Fire Woman"	BPI UK Top 40	15
		Billboard Hot 100	46
		Modern Rock Tracks	2
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	4
	"Sun King"	BPI UK Top 40	39
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	18
		Modern Rock Tracks	21
	"Edie (Ciao Baby)"	BPI UK Top 40	32
		Billboard Hot 100	93
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	17
1990	"Sweet Soul Sister"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	14