Reverend Black Grape Explained

Reverend Black Grape
Cover:Reverend_Black_Grape.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Black Grape
Album:It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah
Released: (UK)
Recorded:1995
Genre:
Length:5:13
Label:
Producer:Danny Saber
Next Title:In the Name of the Father
Next Year:1995

"Reverend Black Grape" is a song which was released in May 1995 by the English rock band Black Grape. It was the first single to be taken from their debut studio album It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah and peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was co-produced by Danny Saber and Stephen Lironi. It was written by Shaun Ryder and released by Radioactive Records. The sample "Would he agree that a stately minuet would be preferable to the rain dance" is taken from Sir Thomas Arnold asking a question of John Major in the House of Commons in 1994.[2]

Controversy

The song caused mild controversy when released because of its assertion that Pope Pius XII collaborated with the Nazis: "Oh Pope he got the Nazis, To clean up their messes, In exchange for gold and paintings, he gave them new addresses".[3] In addition, the song contains a brief audio clip of Adolf Hitler at one of his rallies. The lyrics also borrow from the traditional hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful.

Track listing

CD Single

  1. "Reverend Black Grape" – 5:13
  2. "Reverend Black Grape (Dub Collar Mix)" – 5:45
  3. "Reverend Black Grape (The Dark Side Mix)" – 4:46

CD Maxi Single

  1. "Reverend Black Grape" – 5:13
  2. "Straight Out of Trumpton (Basement Tapes)" – 4:06
  3. "Reverend Black Grape (The Dark Side Mix)" – 4:46

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pitchfork: Castoffs and Cutouts: The Top 50 Most Common Used CDs. 2 October 2003. 13 September 2016. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20031002021632/http://pitchforkmedia.com/features/castoffs-and-cutouts/index3.shtml. 2 October 2003.
  2. Web site: House of Commons Hansard Debates for 25 Oct 1994. publications.parliament.uk.
  3. Richard Luck, The Madchester Scene, Harpenden : Pocket Essentials, 2002. (p. 58).