altamontrecords Store BEASTIE BOYS - CHECK YOUR HEAD - GRAND ROYAL LP 1992 - Original 2 LP GATEFOLD - US Pressing - Beautiful Copy NM-

Check Your Head

Check Your Head is the third studio album by the Beastie Boys, released on April 21, 1992.

Three years elapsed between the release of Paul's Boutique (the band's second album) and their recording of this album. Check Your Head was recorded at the G-Son Studios in Atwater Village, California in 1991. The double platinum[1] album features the popular hits "So Whatcha Want" and "Pass the Mic." The album was re-released in 2009 in a number of formats and featured 16 b-sides and rarities as well as a commentary track.[2] The album is extensively broken down track-by-track by Mike D, MCA, Ad-Rock, Mario Caldato Jr., and Money Mark in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.[3]

Contents

• 1 Background
• 2 Reception
• 3 Track listing
• 4 Personnel
  • 4.1 Technical personnel
• 5 Partial list of samples
• 6 Chart positions
  • 6.1 Album
  • 6.2 Singles
• 7 References
• 8 Footnotes

Background

In contrast to their previous album, Paul's Boutique, the Beastie Boys returned somewhat stylistically to their punk rock roots on Check Your Head, playing their own instruments for the first time on record since their early EPs (although they did provide live instrumentation on at least two songs on Paul's Boutique). Hence photographer Glen E. Friedman's idea to shoot photos with their instrument cases (one of which became the cover). Supposedly, a trading card with Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. from a set of Desert Storm trading cards was the inspiration for the title.[4]

The album was their first to be fully co-produced by Mario Caldato Jr. Caldato was an engineer on Paul's Boutique and was credited as producer on that album's track "Ask for Janice". The album also marks the first appearance of longtime collaborator keyboardist Money Mark.

The Beastie Boys toured with the Rollins Band and Cypress Hill in early 1992 to support Check Your Head.

Reception

Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "…their most unconventional outing to date… Beneath the seeming chaos, the Beastie Boys have created a harmonious playground out of their musical fantasies."[15]

Spin - Ranked #12 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s".[17]

Spin - Ranked #4 in Spin's list of the "20 Best Albums Of The Year".[18]

Alternative Press - Ranked #23 in AP's list of the "Top 99 Of '85-'95".[19]

The Village Voice - Ranked #5 in the Village Voice's list of the 40 Best Albums Of 1992.[20]

PitchforkMedia - Ranked # 34 in Pitchfork Media's list of the Top 100 Albums of the 1990s.[21]

Track listing

All tracks by Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch, except as indicated.

1. "Jimmy James" – 3:14 (Beastie Boys/Caldato)
2. "Funky Boss" – 1:35 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)
3. "Pass the Mic" – 4:17 (Beastie Boys/Caldato)
4. "Gratitude" – 2:45 (Beastie Boys/Cushman)
5. "Lighten Up" – 2:41 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)
6. "Finger Lickin' Good" – 3:39 (Beastie Boys/Caldato/Fite/Hill)
7. "So What'cha Want" – 3:37
8. "The Biz vs. The Nuge" – 0:33 (Hall/Nugent)
9. "Time for Livin'" – 1:48 (Sly & the Family Stone)
10. "Something's Got to Give" – 3:28 (Beastie Boys/Caldato/Nishita)
11. "The Blue Nun" – 0:32
12. "Stand Together"– 2:47 (Beastie Boys/Caldato)
13. "POW" – 2:13 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)
14. "The Maestro" – 2:52
15. "Groove Holmes" – 2:33 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)
16. "Live at P.J.'s" – 3:18 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)
17. "Mark on the Bus" – 1:05 (Nishita)
18. "Professor Booty" – 4:13 (Beastie Boys/Caldato)
19. "In 3's" – 2:23 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)
20. "Namasté" – 4:01 (Beastie Boys/Nishita)

21. "Dub The Mic (Instrumental)"
22. "Drunken Praying Mantis Style"
23. "Skills to Pay the Bills (Pass the Mic, Pt. 2)"
24. "Netty's Girl"

1. "Dub The Mic (Instrumental)" - 4:30
2. "Pass The Mic (Pt2, Skills To Pay The Bills)" - 4:25
3. "Drunken Praying Mantis Style" - 2:40
4. "Netty's Girl" - 3:24
5. "The Skills To Pay The Bills (Original Version)" - 3:16
6. "So What'cha Want (Soul Assassins Remix Version)" - 4:08
7. "So What'cha Want (Butt Naked Version)" - 3:29
8. "Groove Holmes (Live vs The Biz)" - 6:13
9. "So What'cha Want (All The Way Live Freestyle Version)" - 3:39
10. "Stand Together (Live at French's Tavern, Sydney Australia)" - 2:32
11. "Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Remix)" - 4:15
12. "Gratitude (Live at Budokan 9-16-92)" - 4:28
13. "Honky Rink" - 2:13
14. "Jimmy James (Original Original Version)" - 3:44
15. "Boomin' Granny" - 2:18
16. "Drinkin' Wine" - 4:42

Personnel

Beastie Boys:

• Ad-Rock – Vocals, guitar
• Mike D – Vocals, drums
• MCA – Vocals, bass

Other:

• Marcel Hall - Vocals on "The Biz Vs. The Nuge"
• James Bradley, Jr. – Percussion
• Drew Lawrence – Percussion
• Money Mark – Organ, synthesizer, keyboards, clavinet, wurlitzer
• Art Oliva – Percussion
• Juanito Vazquez – Percussion, conga, cuica

Technical personnel

• Tom Baker – Mastering
• Beastie Boys – Producer
• Mario Caldato, Jr. – Producer, engineer
• Glen E. Friedman – Photography