ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ (commonly known as Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs or simply Psalm 69) is the fifth studio album by American industrial metal band Ministry, released on July 14, 1992, by Sire Records. It was produced by frontman Al Jourgensen and bassist Paul Barker, and was recorded from March 1991 to May 1992 in Chicago, Illinois, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The album's title, initially intended to be The Tapes of Wrath, ended up being derived from Aleister Crowley's The Book of Lies.
Psalm 69 features elements of speed metal, rockabilly, and psychobilly, with lyrics exploring social, political, and religious topics. With much anticipation following the success of Ministry's previous album The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste (1989), pressures on the band were said to be high, in addition to the growing substance abuse of several members and worsening relationships between them. It was also the first time Mike Scaccia had been significantly involved in a Ministry album, after appearing on tours in support of The Mind....
Preceded by lead single "Jesus Built My Hotrod", Psalm 69 was a critical and commercial success upon its release, peaking at number 27 on the US Billboard 200 and number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. It was supported by two more singles: "N.W.O." and "Just One Fix", with accompanying music videos directed by Peter Christopherson. Psalm 69 is considered to be Ministry's most successful album, having been certified gold in Canada and Australia, and platinum in the US. Following its release, Ministry joined the second annual Lollapalooza tour before commencing a tour through Europe and the US; "N.W.O.", "Just One Fix", and the title track have become permanent features of the band's live setlist. "N.W.O." was nominated for the Best Metal Performance at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background and recording
In March 1991, following the conclusion of the year-long tour in support of Revolting Cocks album Beers, Steers, and Queers, Al Jourgensen returned with his bandmates at Chicago Trax! studios, to work on Ministry's next major release. Jourgensen claimed that the record company Warner Bros. Records (to which Ministry were signed via their subsidiary, Sire Records) initially gave the band an enormous budget expecting a follow-up to The Mind... to become a big hit compared with Michael Jackson's album Thriller; actually, Jourgensen, as he claimed in 2013, with his then wife Patty (née Marsh) and guitarist Mike Scaccia spent most of the budget on drugs, paying $1,000 per day. Meanwhile, the first Lollapalooza tour had arrived in Chicago in early August 1991. Jourgensen went backstage attending a show by the band Butthole Surfers. After the gig, he had invited Butthole Surfers' singer Gibby Haynes to Chicago Trax! to record what became the vocals and spoken word parts for the song "Jesus Built My Hotrod". While finishing "Jesus Built My Hotrod", Jourgensen was contacted by Sire/Warner Bros. executives, who asked if he had any completed material. Jourgensen sent them "Jesus Built My Hotrod" since it was the only song recorded by this time. While the label was not happy with just having "Jesus Built My Hotrod", Jourgensen told them either to give another advance for further work or sign the band off. The label was doubtful if the band would record anything else, but decided to release "Jesus Built My Hotrod"; following its success, they gave the band necessary budget, with the condition that the band would eventually finish the record. the album's last session was held on May 7, 1992.
Reception
Psalm 69 was ranked No. 80 on the Rolling Stone<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time" list, with author Suzy Exposito concluding that "the result of the album was a manic drag race into a swampy hellmouth of thrash Americana – and it worked". The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2001, Q named it one of the "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time".
Accolades
"N.W.O." was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1993, but lost to Nine Inch Nails' "Wish".
Legacy
Video game composer Frank Klepacki cited Psalm 69 album as a primary influence in creating the soundtrack for the 1995 video game Command & Conquer.
Track listing
All songs credited to Ministry, except noted.
Charts and certifications
Album
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Chart (1992)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)
|align="center"|54
|-
!scope="row"|German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
|align="center"|69
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
|align="center"|24
|-
!scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC)
|align="center"|33
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard 200
|align="center"|27
|}
Singles
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Song (1992)
!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|US<br>Alt.<br>
!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|US<br>Dance<br>
!style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|UK<br>
|-
!scope="row"|"Jesus Built My Hotrod"
|align="center"|19
|align="center"|34
|align="center"|—
|-
!scope="row"|"N.W.O."
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|49
|}
Certifications
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Country
!Award
!Copies sold
|-
|1992
|Canada
|Gold
|50,000
|-
|1993
|rowspan="2"|United States
|Gold
|500,000
|-
|1995
|Platinum
|1,000,000
|-
|2006
|Australia
|Gold
|35,000
|}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the album.
;Ministry
- Al Jourgensen – vocals , guitars, keyboards, production
- Paul Barker – vocals, bass, programming, production
;Additional personnel
- Gibby Haynes – vocals and lyrics
- Mike Scaccia – guitars
- Louis Svitek – guitars
- Michael Balch – keyboards, programming
- Howie Beno – programming
- William Rieflin – drums
;Technical personnel
- Jeff "Critter" Newell – engineer
- Paul Manno – engineer
- Tom Baker – mastering
- Paul Elledge – artwork
- Dale Lavi – photography
- "Thirst" – artwork assistant
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
External links
- ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ<nowiki>'</nowiki>s promotion at the July 25, 1992 [Vol. 104, No. 30] issue of Billboard via Google Books.
- .