| King Of The Road | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Fu Manchu | ||
| Released | September 14 1999 | |
| Recorded | March - May 1999 at Monkey Studios in Palm Desert, California | |
| Genre | Stoner Rock | |
| Length | 45:11 | |
| Label | Mammoth Records | |
| Producer | Joe Barresi, Fu Manchu | |
| Fu Manchu chronology | ||
| Eatin' Dust (1999) |
King Of The Road (1999) |
California Crossing (2001) |
King Of The Road is the sixth studio album by the California stoner rock band Fu Manchu. Working with Joe Barresi in early 1999, King Of The Road would see release on the following dates depending on country: 14 September 1999 in Europe, 26 January 2000 in Japan and lastly 15 February 2000 in the United States. Along with ten new songs the album features a cover of "Freedom of Choice" by Devo which attained praise by bandleader Mark Mothersbaugh.[1] The van on the cover is a 1960s Ford E-Series. Custom van culture features heavily in many of the songs on the album.
Background[]
Work would begin on the next Fu Manchu album in late March 1999 when Scott Hill would be writing lyrics for an album then titled California. After a short tour in April the band would begin recording, mixing and engineering at Monkey Studios, Palm Desert, CA. The only exception would be "Hell On Wheels" which was mixed at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA. Working with producer Joe Barresi, tracks would be laid down by mid-April and the album would be finished and mastered by early May.[2]
With the title of the album changed to King Of The Road the album's initial release was in Europe circa 14 September 1999 surrounding a tour of Europe. The North American version saw release circa 15 February 2000 surrounding tours of North America at the time. King Of The Road saw critical praise around the time of release from the likes of The Austin Chronicle[3], Mike Ladano[4] and especially NME, whom wrote the following: "This is a damn near perfect rock record from what must be damn near the most conceptually perfect rock band since The Ramones."[5] King Of The Road would see a vinyl reissue in 2015 via At The Dojo Records surrounding the band's anniversary tour of the album.
Notably the title track was used as the intro music on the radio show Loveline for about 3 years starting in late 2000. "Hell on Wheels" also inspired two different songs: "Frieda und die Bomben" by Beatsteaks and "Invisible" by Danko Jokes, which notably featured John Garcia (Kyuss, etc.) on vocals.
Tracklist[]
FU MANCHU - King Of The Road (2000) (Full Album) 🎵
Fu Manchu - King Of The Road
All songs written by Fu Manchu except where noted. Track 12 is a bonus track on the European and Japanese versions.
- 1. Hell on Wheels (4:31)
- 2. Over The Edge (5:02)
- 3. Boogie Van (4:17)
- 4. King Of The Road (4:04)
- 5. No Dice (3:09) 2103
- 6. Blue Tile Fever (5:30)
- 7. Grasschopper (3:51)
- 8. Weird Beard (3:32)
- 9. Breathing Fire (2:57)
- 10. Hotdoggin' (4:52)
- 11. Freedom of Choice (3:24) (Casale, Mothersbaugh)
- 12. Drive (3:47)
Personnel[]
- Scott Hill - Guitar, Vocals
- Bob Balch - Guitar
- Brad Davis - Bass
- Brant Bjork - Drums
- Fu Manchu - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
- Joe Barresi - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
- Steve Feldman - Assistant Engineer
- Dave Collins - Mastering
- Lane Wurster - Art Direction
- Christopher Eselgroth - Graphic Design
- Lisa Johnson - Photography (Band Photo)
- C. Taylor Crothers - Photography (Live Photo)
External Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Fu Manchu | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Scott Hill • Brad Davis • Bob Balch • Scott Reeder |
| Past Members | Ruben Romano • Mark Abshire • Eddie Glass • Brant Bjork |
| Studio Albums | No One Rides For Free • Daredevil • In Search Of... • The Action Is Go • (Godzilla's) Eatin' Dust • King Of The Road • California Crossing • Start The Machine • We Must Obey • Signs of Infinite Power • Gigantoid • Clone of The Universe |
| Extended Plays | Kept Between Trees • Senioritis • Pick-Up Summer • Don't Bother Knockin' (If This Vans Rockin') • Asphalt Risin' • Godzilla • Jailbreak / Blueberries & Chrome • Eatin' Dust • Planet Of The Ape Hangers / Breathing Fire • Something Beyond • Slow Ride / Future Transmitter • FU30 • My Wave • A Million Miles Away |
| Live Albums and Compilations | Return to Earth 91-93 • Go For It... Live! • Live at Roadburn 2003 • FU30 |
| Associated Bands, Artists, Etc. | Nebula • Virulence • Kyuss • Vista Chino • Mondo Generator • Stoner • Big Scenic Nowhere • Yawning Man • Clutch |