On This Day in RHCP History...

Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was the band's first record released on Warner Bros. Records. The musical styles of Blood Sugar Sex Magik differed notably from the techniques employed on the Chili Peppers' preceding album, Mother's Milk, and featured little use of heavy metal guitar riffs. The album's subject matter incorporated sexual innuendos and references to drugs and death as well as themes of lust and exuberance.

Peaking at number three on the Billboard 200, the album has sold over seven million copies in the United States alone and became the Red Hot Chili Peppers' introduction into popularity and critical acclaim. Blood Sugar Sex Magik produced several hits for the band, including "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", "Suck My Kiss", and "Breaking the Girl". Guitarist John Frusciante quit the band mid-tour in 1992, until returning in 1998, due to his inability to cope with the album's popularity. Blood Sugar Sex Magik is recognized as an integral factor of the explosion of alternative rock in the 1990s and the record serves as the most critically praised album the band has recorded; Steve Huey of Allmusic noted that Blood Sugar Sex Magik is "...probably the best album the Chili Peppers will ever make."

Tracklisting

1. "The Power of Equality" – 4:03


2. "If You Have to Ask" – 3:37


3. "Breaking the Girl" – 4:55


4. "Funky Monks" – 5:23


5. "Suck My Kiss" – 3:37


6. "I Could Have Lied" – 4:04


7. "Mellowship Slinky in B Major" – 4:00


8. "The Righteous & the Wicked" – 4:08


9. "Give It Away" – 4:43


10. "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" – 4:31


11. "Under the Bridge" – 4:24


12. "Naked in the Rain" – 4:26


13. "Apache Rose Peacock" – 4:42


14. "The Greeting Song" – 3:14


15. "My Lovely Man" – 4:39


16. "Sir Psycho Sexy" – 8:17


17. "They're Red Hot" (Robert Johnson) – 1:11
    

Accolades

• Pause & Play - "The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums" - 1999 = no.11



• Rolling Stone - The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - 2003 = no.310



• Spin - "Top 90 Albums of the 90s" - 1999 = no.58



• Q - "90 Albums of the 90s" - 1999 - no.58



• Guitarist Magazine - "101 Essential Guitar Albums" - 2000 - no.11



• Guitar World - "The 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time" - 2006 - no.18



• My Favourite Album - "Australia's Favourite Albums of All Time" - 2006 - no.8



• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - "The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time" - 2007 - no.88