Opal Mantra

Opal Mantra was a single released by the band Therapy? on 16 August 1993 through A&M Records. It reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart,^[1] and reached number 6 in the Irish Singles Chart.^[2]

It was backed by three live tracks on most formats in the UK and Ireland, but the previous single "Turn" on the European CD single. The lead track did not feature on any Therapy? album, but featured on the Hats Off to the Insane mini-album released in North America and Japan. All four tracks feature on the Born in a Crash mini-album released in Europe.

The name of the title track is a pun on the name of the Opel Manta car. It was released on clear 7" vinyl, blue 7" vinyl, CD Digipak, CD and Cassette.^[3]

Track listing

Track listing (7" clear vinyl)

Track listing (European CD single)

Personnel

• Andy Cairns - vocals, guitar
• Fyfe Ewing - drums
• Michael McKeegan - bass
• Chris Sheldon & Therapy? - producer
• John Mallison - assistant engineer and owner of aforementioned Opel Manta
• Chris Leckie - engineer on live tracks
• Lewis Mulatero - photography
• Simon Carrington - design
• Graham Tunna - design

Promo Video

• "Opal Mantra": Directed by Benjamin Stokes

Trivia

• The vinyl live version of "Opal Mantra" was recorded at the Forum, London on 11 June 1993.
• "Innocent X" was recorded live at Columbia University, New York on 16 April 1993.
• "Potato Junkie" & "Nausea" recorded live at CBGB’s, New York on 25 May 1993.
• The sample in the live version of "Innocent X", which does not appear on the studio version ("What I’d really hate is to have a nail banged through the back of my neck") is taken from the 1968 movie If.... and is spoken by actor Malcolm McDowell.
• The sample in "Nausea" ("Here I am motherfuckers!") is taken from the 1988 film Ghosts… of the Civil Dead and is spoken by Nick Cave.

References