Pure instinct
| Pure instinct | ||||
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| Scorpions studio album | ||||
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Publication |
May 3, 1996 |
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| Label (s) | EastWest Records | |||
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Format (s) |
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Title (number) |
11, 12 (Japanese version) |
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running time |
50 min 50 s, 54 min 08 s (Japanese version) |
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| occupation |
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Erwin Musper & Scorpions, except for titles 1 and 7: Keith Olsen & Scorpions |
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Studio (s) |
Scorpio Sound Studio, Bothmer (Schwarmstedt) , Magic Moments Studios, Hamburg , Goodnight LA, Los Angeles , Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum |
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Pure Instinct is the thirteenth studio album by the German hard rock band Scorpions , which was released in 1996. After drummer Herman Rarebell left, Curt Cress was hired to record this album. This was replaced in 1996 for the subsequent tour by the American James Kottak .
Features and meaning
Musical style
Musically, Pure Instinct shows a strong contrast to the previous album Face the Heat (1993). The songs on this album are much more contemplative and ballad-like. The songs are mostly rock ballads with melodic and restrained guitar arrangements.
Songwriting and characteristics of the lyrics
The arrangements and the musical style of the songs adapts to the lyrics. Most of the lyrics are very thoughtful and emotional. Numerous texts deal with different phases of love. For example, a breakup ( Does Anyone Know ), the anticipation of the "first time" ( You and I ), love at first sight ( When You Came Into My Life ) and being in love after numerous failed love relationships ( Oh Girl (I Wanna Be With You) ). The song Are You the One? was written by Klaus Meine for Bonnie Tyler under the title You're the One and is represented here in a slightly different version.
Album cover
The album cover shows a naked man and woman locked in a cage. The woman is also holding an infant and in the left corner of the cage there is another person who can only be seen from behind. Several animals can also be seen around the cage outside the cage. For example a zebra, a tiger and a kangaroo. The background of this picture is a mixed red. On the right side of the cover is a sign that says "Homo Sapiens" in capital letters. This cover was replaced in the USA by another motif, which shows a current band photo with a flaming guitar.
Criticism, sales and awards
Due to the somewhat unspectacular production and the noticeably "quieter" songs on the album, many critics accused the band of having lost their heaviness because of this album. The HiFi magazine Audio judged Pure Instinct : “The living space for hard rock dinosaurs is getting narrower. The Scorpions, Melodic Heavies from Hanover, are no exception. After a tax dispute and internal scramble, this time the Scorpios rely entirely on their instinct. Pure Instinct offers the usual concentrates that they have been mixing together for years. Hard songs ( Wild Child ), one or the other ballad ( Are You The One ), all garnished with Klaus Meine's characteristic voice - an average heavy disc without surprises. "
The album reached number 8 in the German charts and stayed in the top 100 for almost half a year. It sold over 4 million copies worldwide. In the month of its release, it was awarded gold in France, and the album later also earned this honor in Germany.
Track list
- Wild Child - 4:19
- But the Best For You - 5:26
- Does Anyone Know - 6:03
- Stone in My Shoe - 4:42
- Soul Behind the Face - 4:14
- Oh Girl (I Wanna Be With You) - 3:56
- When You Came Into My Life - 5:17
- Where the River Flows - 4:16
- Time Will Call Your Name - 3:21
- You and I - 6:12
- Are you the one? - 3:15
Bonus track Japan
12. She's Knocking at My Door - 3:18
Single releases
On March 29, 1996, one month before the album came out, You and I appeared together with the song She's Knocking at My Door, which was released on the Japanese album version, and a special single mix of the song as the B-side. The second single was released on August 2, 1996, Does Anyone Know along with a cut version of the same and a live recording of the song Stone in My Shoe from El Paso. Furthermore, the song When You Came Into My Life was released on November 8, 1996 with the previously unreleased song Kiss of Borrowed Time and a live recording of the song Wild Child and the last single on July 20, 1997 Where the River Flows together with the three live recordings You and I , Oh Girl (I Wanna Be With You) and Loving You Sunday Morning .
Other song versions and live recordings
On the Japanese version of the follow-up studio album Eye II Eye from 1999, the song You and I appeared in the so-called "Butcher" radio remix. The song was also reinterpreted in 2000 as part of their album Moment of Glory together with the Berliner Philharmoniker. This version can only be found on the concert DVD, but not on the accompanying studio album. An acoustic version of the same song appeared on their 2001 album Acoustica (2001).
Since no official live album was released by the band after the release of this album, corresponding live recordings can only be found as B-sides on the singles. For example, the single Does Anyone Know contains a live version of Stone in My Shoe , which was recorded in El Paso. Furthermore, the songs Wild Child (on the When You Came Into My Life single) as well as You and I and Oh Girl (I Wanna Be With You) (on the Sinle Where the River Flows ) were released from a gig in Bremerhaven .
Individual evidence
- ↑ | Product description on Amazon.de
- ↑ Album Artist 140 - The Scorpions
- ↑ Overview Scorpions single You and I on the band's official homepage ( memento of the original from March 24, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Overview Scorpions single Does Anyone Know on the band's official homepage ( memento of the original from April 12, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Overview Scorpions single When You Came Into My Life on the band's official homepage ( memento of the original from March 24, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Overview Scorpions single Where the River Flows on the band's official homepage ( memento of the original from December 15, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
