Copper Blue

Copper Blue
Studio album by Sugar
Released September 4, 1992
Recorded 1990–1992, The Outpost, Stoughton, Massachusetts
Genre Alternative rock
Length 44:58
Label Rykodisc/Creation
Producer Bob Mould, Lou Giordano
Sugar chronology

Copper Blue
(1992)		 Beaster
(1993)

Copper Blue is the debut album of the U.S. alternative rock band Sugar. It was voted 1992 Album of the Year by the NME. All of the songs were written by guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, who also co-produced with Lou Giordano. The song "The Slim" is about losing someone to AIDS. Musically, the band continues the thick punk guitar of Mould's previous band, Hüsker Dü, while slowing the tempo and emphasizing melody even more.

A limited edition initial run of the CD was released by Rykodisc in a front-and-back metal copper sleeve with each of the 2,500 copies containing a one-of-a-kind Polaroid photo taken by one of the three band members and stamped on the back with "Sugar Copper Blue Summer '92."

Several tracks were recorded for this album, but were not included. Mould decided to release them separately as an EP entitled Beaster.

Rykodisc released a remastered version pressed on 180-gram vinyl on June 21, 2011. It is accompanied by a drop card for a free download of the digital version.[1]

In July 24, 2012, the album was reissued by Merge Records as a 3-disc set containing the full album accompanied by B-sides (disc 1), the Beaster EP (disc 2), and a 1992 live performance at the Cabaret Metro (disc 3).[2]

In August 2012, Bob Mould and his band embarked on a "Copper Blue Tour", playing the album in its entirety at several European venues.[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
Robert Christgau A− [5]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [6]
Pitchfork Media (8.9/10)[7]
Rolling Stone [8]
Rolling Stone Album Guide [9]
Spin (buy) [10]

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Mould, except where noted.

  1. "The Act We Act" - 5:10
  2. "A Good Idea" - 3:47
  3. "Changes" - 5:01
  4. "Helpless" - 3:05
  5. "Hoover Dam" - 5:27
  6. "The Slim" - 5:14
  7. "If I Can't Change Your Mind" - 3:18
  8. "Fortune Teller" - 4:27
  9. "Slick" - 4:59
  10. "Man on the Moon" - 4:32

2012 re-issue

Disc 1

  1. "The Act We Act" - 5:10
  2. "A Good Idea" - 3:47
  3. "Changes" - 5:01
  4. "Helpless" - 3:05
  5. "Hoover Dam" - 5:28
  6. "The Slim" - 5:14
  7. "If I Can't Change Your Mind" - 3:18
  8. "Fortune Teller" - 4:28
  9. "Slick" - 4:59
  10. "Man On The Moon" - 4:42
  11. "Needle Hits E" (B-side of "Helpless" in US or "Changes" in UK) - 3:21
  12. "If I Can't Change Your Mind (Solo Mix)" (B-side of "Helpless" in US or "Changes" in UK) - 3:19
  13. "Try Again" (B-side of "Helpless" in US or "Changes" in UK) - 4:41
  14. "Clownmaster" (B-side of "If I Can't Change Your Mind") - 3:19

Disc 2

Main article: Beaster
  1. "Come Around" - 4:52
  2. "Tilted" - 4:08
  3. "Judas Cradle" - 6:16
  4. "JC Auto" - 6:13
  5. "Feeling Better" - 6:22
  6. "Walking Away" - 3:01

Disc 3

Live at the Cabaret Metro, Chicago, Illinois, July 22, 1992

  1. "The Act We Act" - 4:55
  2. "A Good Idea" - 3:22
  3. "Changes" - 4:07
  4. "Running Out Of Time" - 2:27
  5. "Helpless" (B-side of "A Good Idea" except in UK) - 2:46
  6. "If I Can't Change Your Mind" - 3:06
  7. "Where Diamonds Are Halos" (David Barbe) (B-side of "A Good Idea") - 4:11
  8. "Hoover Dam" (B-side of "If I Can't Change Your Mind") - 3:13
  9. "Beer Commercial" (David Barbe) - 5:22
  10. "Slick" (B-side of "A Good Idea") - 4:24
  11. "Anyone" (David Barbe) (B-side of "If I Can't Change Your Mind") - 2:40
  12. "Clownmaster" - 2:49
  13. "Tilted" - 3:59
  14. "Armenia City in the Sky" (Speedy Keen) (B-side of "A Good Idea") - 3:09
  15. "JC Auto" (B-side of "Tilted") - 5:55
  16. "The Slim" - 4:54
  17. "Dum Dum Boys" (David Bowie, James Osterberg) - 5:33
  18. "Man On The Moon" - 4:24

2012 re-issue [UK version]

Disc 1

  1. "The Act We Act"
  2. "A Good Idea"
  3. "Changes"
  4. "Helpless"
  5. "Hoover Dam"
  6. "The Slim"
  7. "If I Can't Change Your Mind"
  8. "Fortune Teller"
  9. "Slick"
  10. "Man On The Moon"
  11. "Needle Hits E"
  12. "If I Can't Change Your Mind (Solo Mix)"
  13. "Try Again"
  14. "Clownmaster"
  15. "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (BBC radio session)
  16. "Hoover Dam" (BBC radio session)
  17. "The Slim" (BBC radio session)
  18. "Where Diamonds Are Halos" (BBC radio session)

Disc 2

Disc 3

DVD

  1. "Helpless" (Promo video)
  2. "Changes" (Promo video)
  3. "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (Promo video)
  4. "Helpless" (Live On The Late Show UK)
  5. "Interview" (MTV UK)
  6. "Interview" (MTV US 120 Minutes)

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1992 UK Albums Chart 10
1992 US Billboard Heatseekers Albums 10

Single

Year Single Chart Position
1992 "A Good Idea" UK Singles Chart 65
1992 "Helpless" US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 5
1993 "If I Can't Change Your Mind" UK Singles Chart 30

References

  1. ↑ "Bob Mould's Sugar Remasters Copper Blue". Antimusic.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  2. ↑ Copper Blue/Beaster - Sugar : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Tour Update". Bob Mould. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Copper Blue at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 November 2005.
  5. ↑ Christgau, Robert (October 20, 1992). "Consumer Guide: Sugar: Copper Blue Pick Hit". The Village Voice. Retrieved 9 December 2011. Also posted at "Sugar: Copper Blue > Consumer Guide Album". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  6. ↑ Browne, David (September 4, 1992). "Copper Blue Sugar > Music Review". Entertainment Weekly (134). p. 71. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Ransom, Kevin (October 29, 1992). "Recordings: Copper Blue Sugar > Album Review". Rolling Stone (642). p. 71. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  9. ↑ Kot, Greg (2004). "Sugar". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. London: Fireside. p. 790. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. blasts out of the gate with an intensity that raised the notion of power pop to new speaker-shattering heights
  10. ↑ Greer, Jim (October 1992). Spencer, Lauren, ed. "Spins: Sugar Copper Blue > Album Review". Spin 8 (7): 107. Retrieved 9 December 2011.

External links