"The Sweetest Drop" is a song by English musician Peter Murphy, from his fourth solo studio album, Holy Smoke (1992). Written by Murphy and Paul Statham, the song was released as the lead single off the album in 1992, through Beggars Banquet and RCA Records. The album reached number 108 on the Billboard 200 chart, while the single peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[1][2]
| "The Sweetest Drop" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Peter Murphy | ||||
| from the album Holy Smoke | ||||
| Released | 04/1992 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, gothic rock, art rock, new wave | |||
| Length | 6:55 | |||
| Label | Beggars Banquet, RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Peter Murphy, Paul Statham | |||
| Producer(s) | Mike Thorne, Peter Murphy | |||
| Peter Murphy singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
A music video for the song was directed by Tim Pope.
Music
editThe song builds the "miasmic" soundscapes over wall-of-sound proportions. The soundscapes are then followed by a chorus, which is described to be "rumbling in like a panzer division." The song then continues with pounding dance rhythms and muted wah-wah guitars, accompanied by the backing singers.[3]
Critical reception
editIn his album review for Holy Smoke, Ned Raggett of Allmusic stated that the track "You're So Close" would have been a better choice as a lead single.[4] Nevertheless, another Allmusic critic Dave Thompson praised "The Sweetest Drop" in his separate track review, describing it as "the best Roxy Music song that Roxy Music never performed." He stated that the song "drifts in gently to echo the masters' Flesh and Blood/Avalon era", comparing Murphy's vocals to the former Roxy Music member Bryan Ferry. He also noted that "the influence of former bandmates Love and Rockets' "So Alive" does hang around the arrangements a little."[3]
Track listing
edit- "The Sweetest Drop (Radio Edit)" - 4:19
- "Low Room (Album Version)" - 4:24
- "All Night Long (Live)" - 5:10
- "The Line Between The Devils Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (Live)" - 6:59
- "The Sweetest Drop (Album Version)" - 6:53
Personnel
edit- Peter Murphy – vocals, production, composition
- The Hundred Men
- Terl Bryant – drums, percussion
- Eddie Branch – bass
- Peter Bonas – guitar, acoustic guitar
- Additional musicians
- Zoe Caryl – backing vocals (4, 9)
- Alison Limerick – vocals (4, 9)
- Other personnel
- Mike Thorne – production, synclavier
- Jason Appleton – production assistant
- Jack Skinner – mastering
- Fernando Kral – engineering, mixing
- Stuart Every – assistant engineer
- Laura Janisse – production assistant
Chart positions
edit| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[5] | 2 |
References
edit- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Peter Murphy". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ Grow, Kory (6 May 2013). "Bauhaus' Peter Murphy: "Doctors Give Out Antidepressants Like Smarties or M&Ms Now"". The Village Voice. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ a b Thompson, Dave. "Peter Murphy The Sweetest Drop". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ Raggett, Ned. "Peter Murphy - Holy Smoke". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Peter Murphy - Modern Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
