Mental Jewelry Explained

Mental Jewelry
Type:studio
Artist:Live
Cover:LiveMentalJewelry.jpg
Recorded:1991 at D.V. Perversion Room, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Genre:Alternative rock, funk rock
Label:Radioactive
Producer:Jerry Harrison
Prev Title:Four Songs
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Throwing Copper
Next Year:1994

Mental Jewelry is the second studio album by the band Live—but their first under this name; they had previously released the album The Death of a Dictionary under the name Public Affection, under which they also released the EP Divided Mind, Divided Planet. Released on December 31, 1991, it is also the band's major label debut.

Many of the songs on Mental Jewelry are based on the writings of Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.[1] It also showcases their early funk rock leanings, particularly through Patrick Dahlheimer's slap bass playing on songs like "Pain Lies on the Riverside", "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)", and "Waterboy". The album's title comes from a lyric in the track "Mirror Song".

A music video was filmed for "Operation Spirit". The video was filmed when the band were still calling themselves Public Affection.

On June 30, 2017, Live announced a reissue of Mental Jewelry as a two-CD set, with the first CD containing the original album and the three outtakes and the second CD containing a full concert. Cassette and vinyl reissues were also announced.[2]

Track listing

A track named "Susquehanna" was written during these sessions and often played live during the first few years of Live's career under that name, but not recorded until 1993, during the sessions for the follow-up, Throwing Copper. That version would not be released until the 25th Anniversary reissue edition of that album in 2019, however.

Personnel

Adapted credits from the liner notes of Mental Jewelry.

Live

Technical personnel

Charts

Album

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[3] 137
US Billboard 200[4] 73

Singles

SingleUS Modern Rock
(1992)[5]
"Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)"9
"Pain Lies on the Riverside"24

Notes and References

  1. Jason Ankeny, [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p22774/biography|pure_url=yes}} "Live's allmusic biography"]. AllMusic.
  2. Web site: Live's Debut Album, 'Mental Jewelry', Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Deluxe Reissue. 30 June 2017.
  3. Web site: Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing August 10, 1992. Bubbling Down Under. August 12, 2024.
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/album/mental-jewelry-r11844/charts-awards/billboard-album "Mental Jewelry > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums"
  5. http://www.allmusic.com/album/mental-jewelry-r11844/charts-awards/billboard-single "Mental Jewelry > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles"