Raw Like Sushi Explained

Raw Like Sushi
Type:	studio
Artist:	Neneh Cherry
Cover:	Neneh Cherry Raw Like Sushi cover.jpg
Border:	yes
Released:	5 June 1989
Recorded:	September 1988–January 1989
Studio:	Abbey Road, Battery, Blackwing, Cherry Bear, Eastcote, Hot Nights, Matrix, Power Plant, Sam Therapy (London) Slam City (New York City)
Genre:	Hip hop new jack swing R&B
Length:	46:11 (vinyl) 67:22 (CD)
Label:	Virgin
Producer:	Jonny Dollar Cameron McVey Mark Saunders Tim Simenon
Next Title:	Homebrew
Next Year:	1992

Raw Like Sushi is the debut studio album by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released 5 June 1989 by Virgin Records. The album includes the commercially successful single "Buffalo Stance".

Background

An early version of "Buffalo Stance" appeared on the B-side of the 1986 Stock Aitken Waterman-produced Morgan-McVey single, "Looking Good Diving", titled "Looking Good Diving with the Wild Bunch". The single was not successful; however, the B-side was re-recorded with Tim Simenon of Bomb the Bass, and became the version of "Buffalo Stance" that was a worldwide hit, reaching No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart,^[1] No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100^[2] and No. 1 in the Netherlands^[3] and Sweden.^[4] The album also contains the No. 8 US (and No. 20 UK) hit "Kisses on the Wind", and the No. 5 UK hit "Manchild".

All musicians and programmers are credited in the album sleeve, however Cameron McVey, Cherry's husband, is credited as "Booga Bear". Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja co-wrote "Manchild", and fellow member Andrew Vowles aka DJ Mushroom performs on "Kisses on the Wind", "The Next Generation" and "So Here I Come". "My Bitch" is a vocal duet with Gilly G.

The cover and inner photos were shot by fashion photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino.

Music

Raw Like Sushi is distinctive for its eclectic mix of genres, incorporating influences from across the trends of 1980s pop music. Cherry sings and raps accompanied by a diverse set of sounds, including pianos, synthesizers, brass instruments, guitars, and go-go percussion. The album's lyrical themes are influenced by Cherry's experiences of motherhood, and her education and upbringing.

When it was released, the album was favorably compared to Madonna and Prince, though it did not reach similar popularity.

Reception

NME critic David Quantick praised Raw Like Sushi as "the sort of record you can rarely buy – immediate, commercial pop that only someone with a rather individual worldview could have made", highlighting its unconventional song structures and Cherry's "wit, intelligence and even maturity." Selina Webb of British music newspaper Music Week called it "eclectic, wholesome, a subtly teasing collection of provoking yet pouting songs", "a confident manifesto from refreshing new pop diva."^[5] Pete Clark of Hi-Fi News & Record Review said that Cherry's music "is illuminated by a jazzy delight in non-conformity" and singled out "effortlessly memorable" "Buffalo Stance" and "Manchild".^[6] As per Chris Murray of RPM "this package contains something for any contemporary dance music fan."^[7]

Raw Like Sushi is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[8]

Track listing

Note

• Tracks 1–10 were on the original LP. In the United Kingdom, tracks 11–14 were on the CD release while tracks 13 and 14 were on the tape cassette album.

Personnel

• Neneh Cherry – lead vocals, programming
• Sandy McLelland – backing vocals on "Inna City Mamma", "Love Ghetto" and "Phoney Ladies"
• Chandra Armstead – backing vocals on "Outré Risqué Locomotive"
• Eagle-Eye Cherry – toasting on "Heart"
• Sarah Erde – Hispanic vocals on "Kisses on the Wind"
• Cameron "Booga Bear" McVey – backing vocals, executive producer, mixing, beats on "Manchild"
• Phil Chill – programming, beats, backing vocals on "The Next Generation"
• Claudia Fontaine – backing vocals on "Kisses on the Wind"
• Nellee Hooper – vibraphone
• Jerod Minnies – guitar on "Love Ghetto"
• Alvin Moody – beats and programming on "Outré Risqué Locomotive"
• Nick Plytas – programming
• Jeff Scantlebury – congas on "Kisses on the Wind"
• John Sharp – programming on "Manchild"
• Tim Simenon – beats and turntables on "Buffalo Stance" and "Heart"
• Dynamik Duo – beats
• Mark Saunders – multi-instruments, beats on "Buffalo Stance"
• Wil Malone – conductor, programming, string arrangements on "Manchild", backing vocals
• Gordon Dukes – backing vocals on "Outré Risqué Locomotive"
• Mushroom – programming, turntables on "Kisses on the Wind", "The Next Generation" and "So Here I Come"

Technical

• Jean-Baptiste Mondino – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"

Peak position
European Albums (Music & Media)^[9]	7
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[10]	14

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"

Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[11]	56
European Albums (Music & Media)^[12]	41
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[13]	42
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[14]	41
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[15]	19
UK Albums (Gallup)^[16]	28

Further reading

• Neil. Harris. Cherry on Top. Cashbox. 17 June 1989. 52. 49. 8. New York. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc.. 11 September 2022. World Radio History. 0006-2510. https://web.archive.org/web/20220327074418/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-06-17.pdf. 27 March 2022.

External links

• BBC News: Neneh Cherry revisits Raw Like Sushi track by track

Notes and References

1. Web site: Neneh Cherry full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 18 February 2016.
2. Billboard > Artists / Neneh Cherry > Chart History > The Hot 100. Billboard. 18 February 2016.
3. Web site: dutchcharts.nl > Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance. nl. Hung Medien. 18 February 2016.
4. Web site: swedishcharts.com > Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance (song). Hung Medien. 18 February 2016.
5. Webb. Selina. Review: Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi. Music Week. 10 June 1989. 8 June 2022. 20. London. Spotlight Publications Ltd.. World Radio History. 0265-1548. https://web.archive.org/web/20211231042008/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1989/MW-1989-06-10.pdf. 31 December 2021.
6. News: Clark. Pete. Review: Neneh Cherry — Raw Like Sushi. Hi-Fi News & Record Review. magazine. August 1989. 34. 8. 2 September 2021. 107—108. Croydon. Link House Magazines Ltd. World Radio History. 0142-6230. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902075515/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Hi-Fi-News/80s/Hi-Fi-News-1989-08.pdf. 2 September 2021.
7. Murray. Chris. Review: Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi. RPM. 24 June 1989. 50. 8. 8. Toronto. RPM Music Publications Ltd.. 0315-5994. 22 June 2022. World Radio History. https://web.archive.org/web/20220402022343/https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1989/RPM-1989-06-24.pdf. 2 April 2022.
8. Book: Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra. Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Dimery. Robert. Universe Publishing. 2006. 978-0-7893-1371-3. 617.
9. European Top 100 Albums . . 6 . 26 . 1 July 1989 . VIII . 29800226 . World Radio History.
10. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . fi . 1st . Helsinki . . 2006 . 978-951-1-21053-5.
11. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989 . nl . . 21 September 2021.
12. European Top 100 Albums 1989 . Music & Media . 6 . 51 . 23 December 1989 . 9 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
13. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1989 . de . GfK Entertainment . 21 September 2021.
14. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1989 . . 21 September 2021.
15. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989 . hitparade.ch . de . 21 September 2021.
16. Year End Albums . . 20 January 1990 . 42 . 0144-5804 . World Radio History.