This is my second favorite RHCP album. As a bass player, the grooves explored by Flea and Chad are some of the most memorable and often find their way into my head when I’m trying to fall asleep or cutting the grass. Even though the themes and sounds of this album sometimes don’t feel like one cohesive piece, it was without a doubt a major growing point for the group as a whole.

It was also the first album that John Frusciante cemented himself as a major player in the guitar world with his special style. I think the first time I had heard about this album was after having seen the RHCP in 2007 at the Allstate Arena on their Stadium Arcadium tour. They played the title track Blood Sex Sugar Magik and I remember falling into a trance over Flea’s bassline and the power of the drums. When I got home from that concert I went straight to iTunes and looked up the song, saw it was on an album with Under the Bridge and proceeded to immediately download the entire thing.

This was the album that made the Chili Peppers what they are today and put them on the map. With help of the radio’s and MTV, the RHCP became a household name over night. This was of course back in the days that record labels made money and could throw a couple million dollars at an artist (if they were the top dogs on a label) for tours/gear/studio time/etc.

After BSSM, John left the band which opened up the door to Dave Navarro joining the band and putting our my 3rd favorite RHCP album, One Hot Minute (maybe will spotlight in the future). While this is a very long album, it’s full of songs that I bet you’ve never heard before and is a wonderful listen in the summer while working in the yard.

The album opens with arguably my favorite opening track of any album, all-time. Please give this one a spin!

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)

Tracklist

A1	The Power Of Equality	4:00
A2	If You Have To Ask	4:11
A3	Breaking The Girl	5:03
A4	Funky Monks	5:22
A5	Suck My Kiss	3:35
B1	I Could Have Lied	4:10
B2	Mellowship Slinky In B Major	4:00
B3	The Righteous & The Wicked	4:05
B4	Give It Away	4:45
C1	Blood Sugar Sex Magik	4:31
C2	Under The Bridge	4:34
C3	Naked In The Rain	4:30
C4	Apache Rose Peacock	4:43
D1	The Greeting Song	3:14
D2	My Lovely Man	4:45
D3	Sir Psycho Sexy	8:24
D4	They’re Red Hot	1:44

Accompanying Material

This documentary below gives you a real good idea of the type of headspace the RHCP were in going into recording BSSM. The entire band lived in this house (with the exception of Chad who would ride his motorcycle home after sessions) for the entirety of the recording.

---