Carved in Sand

Carved in Sand
Studio album by The Mission
Released	February 1990 February 2008 (re-issue)
Recorded	May–August 1989
Genre	Gothic rock
Length	46:57
Label	Phonogram/Mercury
Producer	Tim Palmer
The Mission chronology
Children (1988) Carved in Sand (1990) Grains of Sand (1990)

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Carved in Sand is the third regular studio album by The Mission, released in 1990. It reached #7 in the UK Albums Chart, making it the second of two top ten albums and overall best-selling album^[3] in the band's career. Four singles were released from the album: "Butterfly on a Wheel" (#12, January 1990), "Deliverance", "Into the Blue" (#32, June 1990), "Hands Across the Ocean"/"Amelia" (#28, November 1990).^[4] The band had invited members of its fan club to help select the tracks for the album. Although the album sold well, it was released into a newly changed musical landscape dominated by the Madchester scene and consequently lacked the impact of previous releases.

A "companion" album with outtakes that were not included on Carved in Sand, entitled Grains of Sand, was released in November the same year.

A deluxe two disc edition of the album was released in February 2008. It included outtakes, the Grains of Sand album and some live cover songs from the 1970s, performed under the name The Metal Gurus (a reference to the T. Rex song of the same name which is one of the tracks covered).

Personnel

The album was produced by Tim Palmer and engineered by Chris Sheldon. It featured Reeves Gabrels (guitar) on "Into the Blue" and on "Hungry as the Hunter" and Guy Chambers (keyboards) on "Grapes of Wrath".

Track listing

1990 release

1. "Amelia" - 2:55
2. "Into the Blue" - 4:11
3. "Butterfly on a Wheel" - 5:44
4. "Sea of Love" - 5:23
5. "Deliverance" - 6:03
6. "Grapes of Wrath" - 4:20
7. "Belief" - 7:34
8. "Paradise (Will Shine Like the Moon)" - 3:54
9. "Hungry as the Hunter" - 5:14
10. "Lovely" - 1:59

2008 reissue

Carved In Sand

1. "Amelia" - 2:54
2. "Into the Blue" - 4:12
3. "Butterfly on a Wheel" - 5:44
4. "Sea of Love" - 5:20
5. "Deliverance" - 6:04
6. "Grapes of Wrath" - 4:20
7. "Belief" - 7:35
8. "Paradise (Will Shine Like the Moon)" - 3:53
9. "Hungry as the Hunter" - 5:14
10. "Lovely" - 2:06

Bonus tracks

11. "Hands Across the Ocean (Andy Partridge Mix)" - 3:57
12. "Divided We Fall (Demo)" - 3:44
13. "Sea of Love (Demo)" - 5:11
14. "Hungry as the Hunter (Demo)" - 5:36
15. "Bird of Passage (Demo)" - 5:41
16. "Butterfly on a Wheel (Hoedown C&W Version)" - 3:28
17. "Hands Across the Ocean (White Elephant Mix)" - 3:55

Grains of Sand

1. "Hands Across the Ocean" - 3:49
2. "The Grip of Disease" - 4:13
3. "Divided We Fall" - 3:41
4. "Mercenary" - 2:51
5. "Mr. Pleasant" (written by Ray Davies) - 2:52
6. "Kingdom Come (Forever and Again)" - 4:58
7. "Heaven Sends You" - 4:54
8. "Sweet Smile of a Mystery" - 3:55
9. "Tower of Strength (The Casbah Mix)" - 4:31
10. "Butterfly on a Wheel (Troubadour Mix)" - 4:30
11. "Love" (written by John Lennon) - 1:52
12. "Bird of Passage (6:38)

Bonus tracks

The Metal Gurus - Live at Aston Villa Dec '89

13. "Ballroom Blitz" (written by Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman) - 3:40
14. "Cracked Actor" (written by David Bowie) - 2:49
15. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" (written by Jim Lea, Noddy Holder) - 3:47
16. "Get It On" (written by Marc Bolan) - 4:00
17. "Caroline" (written by Robert Young, Francis Rossi) - 3:50
18. "Virginia Plain" (written by Bryan Ferry) - 2:51
19. "Metal Guru" (written by Marc Bolan) - 2:28
20. "Blockbuster" (written by Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman) - 3:01
21. "Merry Xmas Everybody" (written by James Lea, Neville Holder) - 3:15

References