Sex & Violins
{{Infobox album
| name = Sex & Violins
| type = studio
| artist = Rednex
| cover = Rednex Sex And Violins.jpg
| alt =
| released = 27 February 1995
| recorded = 1994
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic country|Eurodance|Techno}}
| length = 46:59
| label =
| producer =
- Pat Reiniz
- Janne Ericsson
- Anders Hansson
- Denniz Pop
- Max Martin
- David Millington
- Stefan Sir Een
- Leskelä Teijo
- Anders Hellquist
- Thomas Hegert
| next_title = Inbred With Rednex
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Sex & Violins
| type = studio
| single1 = Cotton Eye Joe
| single1date = 12 August 1994
| single2 = Old Pop in an Oak
| single2date = 17 November 1994
| single3 = Wish You Were Here
| single3date = 6 May 1995
| single4 = Wild 'N Free
| single4date = 4 September 1995
| single5 = Rolling Home
| single5date = 5 December 1995
}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| cover = Rednex_-_Sex_&_Violins_-_Edited_US_Cover.jpeg
| caption = Edited original cover for initial US release
}}
{{Extra album cover
| header =
| type = studio
| cover = Rednex Sex and Violins Alt.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = Alternative cover for later US releases
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r209416|first=Johnny|last=Loftus}}
| noprose = yes
| rev2 = Billboard
| rev2score = (favorable)Verna, Paul (13 May 1995). "Album reviews -- Sex & Violins by Rednex". Billboard.
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = DBrowne, David (26 May 1995). "Sex & Violins". Entertainment Weekly.
| rev4 = Knoxville News Sentinel
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}Campbell, Chuck (12 May 1995). "America Opens Up To Unusual Rednex". Knoxville News Sentinel.
| rev5 = Music & Media
| rev5score = (favorable){{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Releases > Albums |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 12 |issue= 11 |date= 18 March 1995 |page= 11 |accessdate= 17 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-03-18.pdf}}
| rev6 = Music Week
| rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|title= Reviews > Albums |magazine= Music Week |page= 16 |date= 25 February 1995 |access-date= 20 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-02-25.pdf}}
| rev7 = Smash Hits
| rev7score = {{Rating|1|5}}{{cite magazine|first=Jordan|last=Paramor|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/54269939276/in/album-72177720323207180|title=New Albums|work=Smash Hits|date=1 March 1995|page=55|access-date=30 January 2025}}
}}
Sex & Violins (also known on later US releases as Cotton Eye Joe (Sex & Violins)) is the debut studio album by Swedish Eurodance group Rednex, released on Jive Records in February 1995.
Content
Female vocals on the album are provided by Annika Ljungberg; due to a disagreement with the other band members, she left the band after the release of the album's fifth single, "Rolling Home", in 1996, to start a solo career. The album was a commercial success, including the hit dance single "Cotton Eye Joe".
For its US release, the album was retitled Cotton Eye Joe (Sex & Violins) and received new cover art – presumably due to the possible offensive nature of the original artwork, which depicted a person urinating into a chamber pot with the band members' faces. Initially, the album cover was edited to leave out the golden shower but with the yellow liquid remaining. This would be substituted for wholly original artwork for a short time, which depicted a desert landscape with cacti warped by heat haze, but returned to the unedited original cover after a single pressing.{{Cite web |title=Rednex - Sex & Violins |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4609857-Rednex-Sex-Violins |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Discogs}}
Critical reception
David Browne from Entertainment Weekly said, "For sheer audaciousness, it’s not surprising that the record is garnering such attention. Where else can you hear a barn-dance staple gone techno, complete with dance-diva wailing and manic banjos and fiddles?" Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated, "What started off as a good joke with 'Cotton Eye Joe', could now very well become the best promotion for what is euphemistically called "New American Music". Dance can definitely bring country music closer to the masses than any strategic marketing campaign could before the Rednex popped up." Neil Spencer from The Observer wrote, "Swedish barn-dance disco: an initially amusing joke (chart-topping 'Cotton Eye Joe') repeated to the point of inanity."Spencer, Neil (12 March 1994). "Pop Releases". The Observer. Jordan Paramor from Smash Hits was very negative to the album, giving it one out of five, but praised 'Wish You Were Here' as a "very lovely ballad".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Standard edition
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Cotton Eye Joe
| writer1 = {{hlist|Janne Ericsson|Øban|Pat Reiniz}}
| extra1 = Reiniz
| length1 = 3:14
| title2 = Hittin' the Hay
| writer2 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Leskelä Teijo}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Reiniz{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length2 = 3:17
| title3 = Riding Alone
| writer3 = Øban
| extra3 = {{hlist|Anders Hansson|Reiniz}}
| length3 = 3:27
| title4 = Wish You Were Here
| writer4 = Teijo
| extra4 = {{hlist|Denniz Pop|Max Martin}}
| length4 = 3:56
| title5 = Mary Lou
| writer5 = {{hlist|Stefan Sir Een|David Millington}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Een|Millington}}
| length5 = 3:38
| title6 = Old Pop in an Oak
| writer6 = Reiniz
| extra6 = Reiniz
| length6 = 3:32
| title7 = Nowhere in Idaho
| writer7 = Teijo
| extra7 = Teijo
| length7 = 4:05
| title8 = The Sad But True Story of Ray Mingus, the Lumberjack of Bulk Rock City, and His Never Slacking Strive to Exploit the So Far Undiscovered Areas of the Intention to Bodily Intercourse from the Opposite Species of His Kind, During Intake of All the Mental Conditions That Could Be Derived from Fermentation
| note8 = "Harder Than Your Husband" on Spotify{{cite web|url=http://open.spotify.com/track/48xZ2W2uHzxsgSccuxNTYH|title=Sex & Violins|work=Spotify|accessdate=30 September 2014}}
| writer8 = {{hlist|Thomas Hegert|Anders Hellquist}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Een|Hegert|Hellquist|Reiniz}}
| length8 = 2:21
| title9 = Fat Sally Lee
| writer9 = Reiniz
| extra9 = Reiniz
| length9 = 3:16
| title10 = Shooter
| writer10 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Lizette von Panajotte}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Mr. Maple{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length10 = 3:44
| title11 = McKenzie Brothers
| writer11 = {{hlist|Hegert|Hellquist|Reiniz}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Hegert|Hellquist|Reiniz}}
| length11 = 4:28
| title12 = Rolling Home
| writer12 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Panajotte}}
| extra12 = Ericsson
| length12 = 4:22
| title13 = Wild and Free
| writer13 = {{hlist|Reiniz|Hansson|John Francis}}
| extra13 = Hansson
| length13 = 3:39
| total_length = 46:59
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Cotton Eye Joe (Sex & Violins) – US bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title14 = Cotton Eye Joe
| note14 = Slide to the Side Mix
| writer14 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Øban|Reiniz}}
| extra14 = Reiniz
| length14 = 4:14
| total_length = 51:13
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 60:42
| title14 = Cotton Eye Joe
| note14 = Madcow instrumental version
| writer14 = {{hlist|Ericsson|Øban|Reiniz}}
| extra14 = Reiniz
| length14 = 4:49
| title15 = Old Pop in an Oak
| note15 = extended mix
| writer15 = Reiniz
| extra15 = Reiniz
| length15 = 5:39
| title16 = Ropin' a Cow
| note16 = radio edit
| writer16 = Öban
| extra16 = Öban
| length16 = 3:15
}}
Notes
- {{note|a|[a]}} signifies a co-producer
{{Track listing
| headline = 1996 VCD Edition
| title14 = The Ultimate Rednex Megamix
| length14 = 5:45
| title15 = Rolling Home (New Version)
| length15 = 4:41
| title16 = Old Pop In An Oak (DJ Cerla + Moratto Remix)
| length16 = 5:08
| title17 = Old Pop In An Oak (West Side Story)
| length17 = 3:30
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = VCD
| title1 = Hieroglyph (Game)
}}
Personnel
- Accordion – Ari Haatainen and Henrik Widén
- Banjo – Gary Johansson, General Custer, and Kjell Johansson
- Bass – Björn Lagberg
- Drums – Anders Lövmark, Animal, and Heffa
- Guitar – Anders Hellquist, Boba, Bonne Lövman, Clint Eastwood, and Henrik Jansson
- Steel guitar – Uffe Sterling
- Harmonica – Ove Sandberg
- Piano – Henrik Widén
- Violin – Bosse Nilsson
- Vocals – Anders Hansson, Annika Ljungberg, Björn Lagberg, Camena, Camilla Molinder, Chris Sylvan Stewart, Cool James, Currey, Göran Danielsson, Hanna Wannagárd, Henrik Widen, Hoss, Janne Ericsson, Jean-Paul Wall, Jeanette Söderholm, Joe Cartwright, Lotten Andersson, Ludde, Michelle Anenberg, Monte Reid, Pat Reiniz, Stefan Cevaco, Sir Een, Thomas Hegert, and Zeb Macahan
- Whistle – Jean-Paul Wall
=Production=
- Producers – Pat Reiniz, Janne Ericsson, Anders Hansson, Denniz Pop, Max Martin, David Millington, Stefan Sir Een, L. Teijo, Anders Hellquist, and Thomas Hegert
- Engineering assistant – Jacob Schultze
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for Sex & Violins ! scope="col"| Chart (1995) ! scope="col"| Peak |
scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=PDF|page=232}}
| 71 |
---|
{{album chart|Austria|2|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Flanders|42|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Wallonia|20|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Canada|37|chartid=9038|rowheader=true|accessdate=26 May 2022}} |
{{album chart|Netherlands|27|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
scope="row"|European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)
| 4 |
{{album chart|Finland|1|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Hungary|2|year=1995|week=26|rowheader=true|accessdate=28 February 2024}} |
{{album chart|Austria|2|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|New Zealand|21|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Rednex|album=Sex & Violins|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{album chart|Billboard200|68|artist=Rednex|rowheader=true|accessdate=29 May 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Sales and certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Sex & Violins}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Rednex|title=Sex-N-Violins|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Rednex|title=Sex and Violins|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=Rednex|title=Sex & Violins|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|salesamount=62,213|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Rednex|title=Sex & Violins|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Rednex|title=Sex & Violins|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1995|id=1995-09-08|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1995}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Rednex|title=Sex & Violins|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Rednex|title=Sex & Violins|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Rednex|title=Sex & Violins|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rednex}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sex and Violins}}