Back from the Dead (Spinal Tap album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Back from the Dead

| type = studio

| artist = Spinal Tap

| cover = Spinal Tap Back from the Dead.jpg

| alt =

| released = June 16, 2009

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Comedy rock, heavy metal

| length = 66:07

| label = Spuzzle, Polymer

| producer =

| prev_title = Break Like the Wind

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

Back from the Dead is an album by the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap. Released on June 16, 2009, it is the first release under the Spinal Tap name since 1992's Break Like the Wind, and is Spinal Tap's most recent album to date.

Concept and music

The concept of Back from the Dead is that Spın̈al Tap has reunited in honor of the 25th anniversary of This Is Spinal Tap, and have launched an "unwigged and unplugged" tour.{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=Review of Back from the Dead |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1575008|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=2009-06-15}}{{cite news |first=Sandy |last=Kaczmarski |title=Unwigged and Unplugged: Spinal Tap Unwiped |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandy-kaczmarski/unwigged-and-unplugged-sp_b_209526.html |work=Huffington Post |date=May 31, 2009 |accessdate=June 15, 2009 }}

Back from the Dead features re-recorded versions of songs featured in This Is Spın̈al Tap and its soundtrack album, and five songs not previously available on an album: "Warmer Than Hell", "Short and Sweet", "Celtic Blues", "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare", and "Back from the Dead".{{cite web |title=SPINAL TAP: Entire New Album Available For Streaming |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121958 |date=June 15, 2009 |publisher=blabbermouth.net |accessdate=2009-06-15| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090618073503/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121958| archivedate= June 18, 2009 | url-status= live}} "Jazz Oddyssey", which appeared briefly during the film, appears in three parts within Back from the Dead. "Sex Farm" appears in a funk-oriented version, while "(Listen to the) Flower People" appears in a reggae-oriented version.

Back from the Dead features guest appearances by Phil Collen, Keith Emerson, John Mayer and Steve Vai.

Packaging and artwork

The CD/DVD version of the album featured a card stock foldout from which a diorama of a "stage" could be assembled with cut outs of all three band members depicted as action figures. A representation of the famed model of Stonehenge sat in the middle, flanked by images of the upraised hands of concertgoers. The band members demonstrated the packaging during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, June 15, 2009

Release and reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}

| rev2 = NME

| rev2Score = {{rating|11|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/spinal-tap/10580|website=NME|title=Album Review: Spinal Tap - 'Back From The Dead'|first=Alan|last=Woodhouse|date=2009-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115758/http://www.nme.com/reviews/spinal-tap/10580|archive-date=2016-03-04|df=dmy-all}}{{efn|Displayed on [https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-spinal-tap-10580-317940 the current site] as {{rating|0.5|5}}; see [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115758/http://www.nme.com/reviews/spinal-tap/10580 the archive] for the original 11/10.}}

| rev3 = Planet Sound

| rev3Score = {{rating|7|10}}{{cite web |first=John |last=Earls |title=Review: Spinal Tap/Back From The Dead |url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/planetsound/album-live-reviews/1775ffa7ae2e1e1399dbe9979f8436a6/Spinal+TapBack+From+The+Dead.aspx |publisher=Teletext |accessdate=June 22, 2009}}

}}

Back from the Dead was released on June 16, 2009.{{cite web |title=Best bets: Jack Black starts at 'Year One' |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/best-bets-jack-black-starts-year-one-wbna29981623 |date=June 14, 2009 |publisher=Today.com |accessdate=2009-06-15}} The album is packaged with a DVD featuring commentary on each of the album's tracks.{{cite web|title=Eleven heaven for Spinal Tap |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/eleven-heaven-for-spinal-tap/2009/06/11/1244664784970.html |date=June 12, 2009 |work=The Age |location=Australia |accessdate=2009-06-15 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615071221/http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/eleven-heaven-for-spinal-tap/2009/06/11/1244664784970.html |archivedate=June 15, 2009 |url-status=live }} Preceding the album's release, it was streamed for free by Entertainment Weekly and Spinner.{{cite magazine |last=Pastorek |first=Whitney |title=Spinal Tap's 'Back from the Dead,' now streaming exclusively on EW's Music Mix! |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/06/spinal-taps-back-from-the-dead-now-streaming-exclusively-on-ews-music-mix.html |date=June 2, 2009 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |accessdate=2009-06-15| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090606093820/http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/06/spinal-taps-back-from-the-dead-now-streaming-exclusively-on-ews-music-mix.html| archivedate= June 6, 2009 | url-status= live}} An exclusive version of Back from the Dead was made available through Amazon MP3, featuring a newly recorded version of "(Listen to the) Flower People" in its original style.{{cite web |title=ASIN: B002BAV6MS |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BAV6MS |publisher=Amazon MP3 |accessdate=2009-06-15}} An additional track, "Saucy Jack", was released through the official Spın̈al Tap website. Fifteen of the songs have been released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series,{{cite news |first=Danny |last=Willis |title=New to Rock Band: Spinal Tap, and…Evanescence? |url=http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/06/12/new-to-rock-band-spinal-tap-andevanescence/ |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=June 12, 2009 |accessdate=June 15, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090615073012/http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/06/12/new-to-rock-band-spinal-tap-andevanescence/| archivedate= June 15, 2009 | url-status= live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2800845 |title=DLC Week of 8/4 |publisher=Harmonix |date=July 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803122428/http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2800845 |archivedate=August 3, 2009 |df=mdy }} along with "Short and Sweet" appearing as a packaged song in Lego Rock Band.{{cite web|url=http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168853 |title=LEGO Rock Band – Full Track List! |publisher=Harmonix |date=October 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019090630/http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168853 |archivedate=October 19, 2009 |df=mdy }}

While Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine felt that the straightforward approach of the re-recorded songs hurt the remakes, which "pale next to the originals", he wrote that the new songs are "top-notch, eclipsing the often forced Break Like the Wind, and striking the right balance between parody and real rock & roll. They're the reason to hear Back from the Dead, which otherwise is just a tad too satisfied with its own humor for its own good." Back from the Dead was nominated for Best Comedy Album for the 52nd Grammy Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/52nd_show/list.aspx#18 |title=GRAMMY.com |publisher=The Recording Academy |date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209200527/http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/52nd_show/list.aspx |archivedate=December 9, 2009 |df=mdy }}

Track listing

{{track listing

| collapsed =

| headline =

| total_length = 66:00

| title1 = Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight

| note1 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer1 = Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner

| length1 = 2:42

| title2 = Back from the Dead

| note2 = originally released online in 2000{{cite web|url=http://www.spinaltapfan.com/atozed/TAP00020.HTM|title=SpinalTapFan.com page on "Back from the Dead"|publisher=SpinalTapFan.com|date=August 16, 2010}}

| writer2 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, C. J. Vanston

| length2 = 4:06

| title3 = (Funky) Sex Farm

| note3 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer3 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length3 = 4:30

| title4 = Rock 'n' Roll Creation

| note4 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer4 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length4 = 5:05

| title5 = Jazz Oddyssey I

| writer5 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Vanston, Greg Bissonette

| length5 = 2:19

| title6 = Gimme Some Money

| note6 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer6 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length6 = 2:33

| title7 = Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare

| writer7 = Guest, McKean, Shearer

| note7 = original version from The T.V. Show{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308959/|title=SpinalTapFan.com page on "Rock and Roll Nightmare"|publisher=SpinalTapFan.com|date=August 16, 2010}}

| length7 = 3:19

| title8 = Heavy Duty

| note8 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer8 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length8 = 4:57

| title9 = America

| note9 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer9 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length9 = 3:39

| title10 = Jazz Oddyssey II

| writer10 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Vanston, Bissonette

| length10 = 2:00

| title11 = (Listen to the) Flower People (Reggae Stylee)

| note11 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer11 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length11 = 3:20

| title12 = Hell Hole

| note12 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer12 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length12 = 3:34

| title13 = Big Bottom

| note13 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer13 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length13 = 3:39

| title14 = Celtic Blues

| note14 = original version from The Return of Spinal Tap

| writer14 = Guest, McKean, Shearer

| length14 = 1:25

| title15 = Jazz Oddyssey III

| writer15 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Vanston, Bissonette

| length15 = 2:16

| title16 = Warmer Than Hell

| writer16 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Vanston

| note16 = originally released in 2007{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/apr/25/musicnews.climatechange|title=Spinal Tap to reform for Live Earth|work=The Guardian |date=August 16, 2010 | location=London | first=Paul | last=MacInnes}}

| length16 = 3:51

| title17 = Stonehenge

| note17 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer17 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length17 = 4:30

| title18 = Short and Sweet

| note18 = Guitar [Solo] – John Mayer, Phil Collen, Steve Vai

| writer18 = Music: Guest, McKean, Shearer – Lyrics: McKean, Annette O'Toole

| length18 = 6:35

| title19 = Cups and Cakes

| note19 = original version on This is Spinal Tap

| writer19 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length19 = 1:40

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Amazon MP3 exclusive (only available in US, UK and Germany)

| total_length =

| title20 = (Listen to the) Flower People (2009)

| writer20 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length20 = 2:48

}}

{{track listing

| headline = iTunes exclusive

| total_length =

| title20 = Sex Farm (2009)

| writer20 = Guest, McKean, Shearer, Reiner

| length20 = 3:13

}}

{{track listing

| headline = SpinalTap.com exclusive

| total_length =

| title20 = Saucy Jack

| writer20 = Guest, McKean, Shearer

| length20 = 1:38

}}

Personnel

Spinal Tap

Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) – bass guitar, vocals
David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) – lead vocals, guitar
Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) – lead guitar, vocals

Additional musicians

Gregg Bissonette (Gregg Bissonette) – drums
"Caucasian" Jeffrey Vanston (C. J. Vanston) – keyboards
Keith Emerson – keyboards on "Heavy Duty"

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Chart performance for Back from the Dead ! scope="col"\| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite Ryan\|page=264}} \| 76
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|52\|artist=Spinal Tap\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 16, 2022}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for Back from the Dead

! scope="col"| Chart (2009)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=264}}

| 76

{{album chart|Billboard200|52|artist=Spinal Tap|rowheader=true|access-date=October 16, 2022}}

Notes

References

Category:2009 albums

Category:Spinal Tap (band) albums