- White Light, White Heat, White Trash
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White Light, White Heat, White Trash 
Studio album by Social Distortion Released September 17, 1996 (U.S.) Recorded August 1995–June 1996, Bearsville Studio Genre Hardcore punk, punk rock, Cowpunk Length 46:33 Label Epic Producer Michael Beinhorn Social Distortion chronology Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past
(1995)White Light, White Heat, White Trash
(1996)Live at the Roxy
(1998)Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic 
[1]Rolling Stone [2]White Light, White Heat, White Trash is the fifth album by American punk rock band, Social Distortion, released on September 17, 1996, by Epic Records. The album was produced by Michael Beinhorn. White Light, White Heat, White Trash is the last Social Distortion album to feature guitarist Dennis Danell who died on February 29, 2000, of a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 38.[3] It is also the band's last release on Epic Records. The album received Social Distortion's highest chart position at the time, entering the Billboard 200 album chart at #27. Stylistically, the album is harder and considered a return to their punk roots.
The title of the album is a play on the 1968 Velvet Underground album, White Light/White Heat. The Velvet Underground record is known for being one of the most original, and probably the heaviest, records of the time[citation needed], just as White Light, White Heat, White Trash for Social Distortion has a harder sound than those albums preceding it.
Contents
Music and lyrics
Stylistically, the album signifies a shift back to Social Distortion's hardcore and punk roots.[4] When this album was released, Social Distortion had been playing for 15 years. In that time, the music went from a hardcore Ramones-sounding punk to a more melodic Elvis/Johnny Cash rockabilly punk sound. With this album, Social Distortion came full circle to a harder sound which some consider their strongest album thus far.[4] It was named #41 on Kerrang!'s 50 Greatest Punk Albums Ever.[5] Some old-school fans were upset when the first single, "I Was Wrong", was widely played on the radio as record sales equals selling out to some of the elitists; however, Social Distortion is something of a legend in the punk genre and continues to receive respect and support.[6]
The lyrics on this album are as socially-conscious as most of their previous albums with "Don't Drag Me Down" and "Down Here (w/the Rest Of Us)". There are also reflective songs such as "I Was Wrong", "Crown of Thorns" and "Pleasure Seeker". There are a couple of more personal songs for Ness on the album like "Dear Lover" and "When The Angels Sing" which is said to be a tribute to Ness's grandmother.[6]
"Don't Drag Me Down" featured on the soundtrack for the 2000 Acclaim computer game Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX.
"I Was Wrong" is a playable song in the 2008 game Rock Band 2.
Cover and liner art
The cover of White Light, White Heat, White Trash features a photograph of a ventriloquist dummy/puppet taken by Leonard Myazinaki. On the back cover is another photograph by Myazinaki of religious statues. The inner liner is covered with small icons of religious and Americana nature, illustrating the album's fusion of faith and punk rock with a 1950s influence. The iconography includes dice, a 1950s-style automobile in front of a motel, a pin-up girl with angel wings and a halo, a burning cross and a Sacred Heart.
Track listing
All songs written by Mike Ness unless otherwise noted.
- "Dear Lover" – 4:43
- "Don't Drag Me Down" – 3:51
- "Untitled" – 4:45
- "I Was Wrong" – 3:58
- "Through These Eyes" – 3:15
- "Down on the World Again" – 3:22
- "When the Angels Sing" – 4:15
- "Gotta Know the Rules" – 3:28
- "Crown of Thorns" – 4:15
- "Pleasure Seeker" – 3:33
- "Down Here (With the Rest of Us)" – 4:19
- "Under My Thumb" (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards) – 2:49 *
'*' indicates a hidden track.
Personnel
- Mike Ness – vocals, guitars, art direction, mixing
- Dennis Danell – guitars
- John Maurer – bass guitar
- Deen Castronovo – drums (uncredited session drummer)
- Chuck Biscuits – drums (credited as band member at the time of release, did not play on the album)
- Michael Beinhorn – producer
- Kalynn Campbell – illustrations
- Jolie Clemens – art direction
- Giulio Costanzo – art direction
- George Marino – mastering
- John Travis – engineer, mixing
Chart and singles history
Album chart positions
All chart positions from Billboard magazine (North America).[7]
Year Album Chart Chart positions 1996 White Light, White Heat, White Trash Billboard 200 #27 Singles chart positions
All chart positions from Billboard magazine (North America).[8]
Year Title Chart Chart Positions 1996 "I Was Wrong" Modern Rock Tracks #4 1996 "I Was Wrong" Mainstream Rock Tracks #12 1997 "When The Angels Sing" Modern Rock Tracks #33 1997 "When The Angels Sing" Mainstream Rock Tracks #32 Singles information
Singles information gathered from SocialDistortion.com [9][10]
Single cover Single information Music video "I Was Wrong" - Released: 1996
"When the Angels Sing" - Released: 1997
Accolades
The information regarding accolades attributed to White Light, White Heat, White Trash is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net.[11]
Publication Country Accolade Year Rank Blender USA 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die 2003 * Rock Hard Germany Top 300 Albums 2001 123 Rolling Stone Germany The 500 Best Albums of All Time[12] 2004 170 Visions Germany The Most Important Albums of the 90s[13] 1999 31 (*) designates unordered lists.
References
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Rolling Stone review
- ^ "'A PHENOMENON'" SDCityBeat.com. January 18, 2006. Retrieved on February 27, 2007.
- ^ a b "New distortion from Social Distortion". YaleHerald.com. September 27, 1996. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ "The Kerrang! 50 Greatest Punk Albums Ever". RockList.net. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ a b "Review: White Light, White Heat, White Trash". December 17, 2002. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ "Discography: White Light, White Heat, White Trash". Billboard.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ "Social Distortion: Singles". Billboard.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ "Social Distortion: Videos" SocialDistortion.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ "Social Distortion: Discography" SocialDistortion.com. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
- ^ "List of White Light, White Heat, White Trash Accolades". Acclaimed Music. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A3635.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ Rolling Stone. "Die 500 besten Alben aller Zeiten". http://www.poplist.de/poplist.php?l=465. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ Visions. "Visions - Popular Music Best-Of-Lists List". http://www.poplist.de/poplist.php?l=474. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
Social Distortion Mike Ness • Jonny Wickersham • Brent Harding • David Hidalgo, Jr.
Dennis Danell • Brent Liles • John Maurer • Derek O'Brien • Bob Stubbs • • Chris Reece • Chuck Biscuits • Charlie Quintana • Atom Willard • Scott ReederAlbums Mommy's Little Monster • Prison Bound • Social Distortion • Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell • White Light, White Heat, White Trash • Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll • Hard Times and Nursery RhymesLive albums Compilations Mainliner: Wreckage from the Past • Greatest HitsVideos and DVDs Another State of Mind • Live in Orange CountyRelated articles Categories:- Social Distortion albums
- 1996 albums
- English-language albums
- Epic Records albums
- Albums produced by Michael Beinhorn
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