Raw Like Sushi | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 June 1989 | |||
Recorded | September 1988–January 1989 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:11 (vinyl) 67:22 (CD) | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | ||||
Neneh Cherry chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Raw Like Sushi | ||||
|
Raw Like Sushi is the debut studio album by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released 5 June 1989 by Virgin Records. [2] The album includes the commercially successful single " Buffalo Stance".
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". [3] 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 #3 in the UK Singles Chart, [4] #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 [5] and #1 in the Netherlands [6] and Sweden. [7] The album also contains the #8 US [5] (and #20 UK [4]) hit " Kisses on the Wind", and the #5 UK hit "Manchild". [4]
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.
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. [8]
When it was released, the album was favorably compared to Madonna and Prince, though it did not reach similar popularity.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 9/10 [12] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10 [8] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10 [15] |
The Village Voice | A− [16] |
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." [12] 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." [17] 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". [18] As per Chris Murray of RPM "this package contains something for any contemporary dance music fan." [19]
Raw Like Sushi was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. [20]
All tracks are written by Neneh Cherry and Cameron McVey (Booga Bear), except where indicated
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Buffalo Stance" |
| 5:42 |
2. | " Manchild" |
| 3:51 |
3. | " Kisses on the Wind" | 3:57 | |
4. | "Inna City Mamma" |
| 4:50 |
5. | "The Next Generation" | 5:04 | |
6. | "Love Ghetto" | 4:27 | |
7. | "Heart" | 5:08 | |
8. | "Phoney Ladies" | 3:52 | |
9. | "Outré Risqué Locomotive" |
| 5:04 |
10. | "So Here I Come" |
| 4:02 |
11. | "My Bitch" (bonus track) | 5:26 | |
12. | "Heart (It's a Demo)" (bonus track) | 4:52 | |
13. | "Buffalo Stance (Sukka Mix)" (bonus track) |
| 5:20 |
14. | "Manchild (The Old School Mix)" (bonus track) |
| 5:30 |
Note
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada ( Music Canada) [42] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Netherlands ( NVPI) [43] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Sweden ( GLF) [44] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland ( IFPI Switzerland) [45] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom ( BPI) [2] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 2,000,000 [46] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Raw Like Sushi | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 June 1989 | |||
Recorded | September 1988–January 1989 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:11 (vinyl) 67:22 (CD) | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | ||||
Neneh Cherry chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Raw Like Sushi | ||||
|
Raw Like Sushi is the debut studio album by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released 5 June 1989 by Virgin Records. [2] The album includes the commercially successful single " Buffalo Stance".
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". [3] 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 #3 in the UK Singles Chart, [4] #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 [5] and #1 in the Netherlands [6] and Sweden. [7] The album also contains the #8 US [5] (and #20 UK [4]) hit " Kisses on the Wind", and the #5 UK hit "Manchild". [4]
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.
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. [8]
When it was released, the album was favorably compared to Madonna and Prince, though it did not reach similar popularity.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 9/10 [12] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10 [8] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10 [15] |
The Village Voice | A− [16] |
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." [12] 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." [17] 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". [18] As per Chris Murray of RPM "this package contains something for any contemporary dance music fan." [19]
Raw Like Sushi was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. [20]
All tracks are written by Neneh Cherry and Cameron McVey (Booga Bear), except where indicated
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Buffalo Stance" |
| 5:42 |
2. | " Manchild" |
| 3:51 |
3. | " Kisses on the Wind" | 3:57 | |
4. | "Inna City Mamma" |
| 4:50 |
5. | "The Next Generation" | 5:04 | |
6. | "Love Ghetto" | 4:27 | |
7. | "Heart" | 5:08 | |
8. | "Phoney Ladies" | 3:52 | |
9. | "Outré Risqué Locomotive" |
| 5:04 |
10. | "So Here I Come" |
| 4:02 |
11. | "My Bitch" (bonus track) | 5:26 | |
12. | "Heart (It's a Demo)" (bonus track) | 4:52 | |
13. | "Buffalo Stance (Sukka Mix)" (bonus track) |
| 5:20 |
14. | "Manchild (The Old School Mix)" (bonus track) |
| 5:30 |
Note
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada ( Music Canada) [42] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Netherlands ( NVPI) [43] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Sweden ( GLF) [44] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland ( IFPI Switzerland) [45] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom ( BPI) [2] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 2,000,000 [46] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |