Godsmack (album)

Godsmack is the debut album by the band Godsmack. The album was initially paid for by the band and released as All Wound Up, before the band was signed to Universal Records and Republic Records. It was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. It differs from All Wound Up by splitting the song "Get Up, Get Out!" into two tracks (the intro portion being re-titled "Someone in London"), while the song "Goin' Down" was removed. "Goin' Down" later appeared on the band's second major album Awake, along with another song left off the self-titled album, "Bad Magick" (originally titled "Bad Magik").

Godsmack
Studio album by
Godsmack
ReleasedAugust 25, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
StudioNew Alliance Studios, Boston, Massachusetts
Genre
Length55:14
LabelUniversal, Republic
ProducerSully Erna
Mudrock
Godsmack chronology
All Wound Up
(1997)		 Godsmack
(1998)		 Awake
(2000)
Singles from Godsmack
  1. "Whatever"
    Released: August 25, 1998
  2. "Keep Away"
    Released: June 11, 1999
  3. "Voodoo"
    Released: October 20, 1999
  4. "Bad Religion"
    Released: February 15, 2000

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Hip Online7/10[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

After playing the Boston area over the following two years, local radio stations WAAF, WBCN WFNX began playing the singles "Keep Away" and "Whatever", both of which helped the band to sell copies of their self-financed album All Wound Up. After the demand for their album became too high, Republic Records/Universal Records stepped in and signed the band to their label in 1998. The band replaced drummer Joe D'Arco with Tommy Stewart and All Wound Up was remastered and released six weeks later as their self-titled debut album Godsmack.

On December 4, 2001, the album was certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA.[5]

Loudwire named Godsmack as one of the top 10 hard rock albums of 1998.[6]

Controversy

The album caused controversy due to its profane lyrics, and liner notes containing a Wiccan pentagram and reference to "Salem witches", minus a Parental Advisory warning label.[7] After listening to his son's copy of the album, a father in the U.S. complained to Walmart, who sold him the album, that the lyrics were offensive. Walmart and Kmart took the album off the shelves. The band and its record label later added a Parental Advisory sticker to the album, and some stores ordered amended copies of the album. Erna commented on the situation to Rolling Stone magazine, stating, "Our record has been in the marketplace for more than a year now without a parental advisory sticker and this is the one and only complaint. Stickers and lyrics are by nature subjective. We have decided to put a sticker on the record." This controversy did not hurt album sales, but according to Erna, helped, stating, "It's almost taunting kids to go out and get the record to see what we're saying on it."

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Moon Baby"Sully Erna4:23
2."Whatever"Erna, Tony Rombola3:26
3."Keep Away"Erna4:50
4."Time Bomb"Erna4:00
5."Bad Religion"Erna, Tommy Stewart3:14
6."Immune"Erna, Robbie Merrill, Rombola4:50
7."Someone in London" (instrumental)Rombola2:03
8."Get Up, Get Out!"Erna3:30
9."Now or Never"Erna5:06
10."Stress"Erna5:03
11."Situation"Erna, Merrill5:47
12."Voodoo" (the hidden track "Witch Hunt" begins at 6:40)Erna, Merrill9:03
Total length:55:14
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Goin' Down"Erna, Rombola, Merrill3:27
13."Bad Magik"Erna4:14
Total length:62:53

Notes

  • The Japanese bonus tracks are situated before "Voodoo" as tracks 12 and 13.
  • Track 13 is a misspelling of "Bad Magick", later released on Awake.

Personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[5] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history
Country Date Label
United States August 25, 1998 Republic/Universal
Japan May 30, 2000 Republic
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gollark: People would obviously notice when they hadn't received reminders.

References
  1. Weinstein, Deena (2015). Rock'n America: A Social and Cultural History. University of Toronto Press. (January 27th, 2015)
  2. Godsmack at AllMusic
  3. Hip Online Review
  4. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 334. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  5. "American album certifications – Godsmack – Godsmack". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  6. "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1998". Loudwire.
  7. "Godsmack - Godsmack". PR Newswire. Retrieved March 19, 2015. GODSMACK to Shoot Video for 'Voodoo'
  8. "Godsmack - Godsmack". Billboard.
  9. "Godsmack Alternative Songs Chart History". Billboard.
  10. "Canadian album certifications – Godsmack – Godsmack". Music Canada.
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