311 (album)

311 (commonly known as the Blue Album) is the eponymous third studio album by American rock band 311, released on July 11, 1995 by Capricorn Records. The album contains the successful singles "Don't Stay Home", "All Mixed Up", and "Down", and was certified triple platinum with sales of over three million copies.

311
Studio album by
311
ReleasedJuly 11, 1995
Recorded1994-95
StudioNRG Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length39:58
LabelCapricorn
ProducerRon Saint Germain
311 chronology
Grassroots
(1994)		 311
(1995)		 Transistor
(1997)
Singles from 311
  1. "Don't Stay Home"
    Released: 1995
  2. "Down"
    Released: July 9, 1996
  3. "All Mixed Up"
    Released: October 29, 1996

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone(average)[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

AllMusic's Peter Stepek was positive towards the album, saying "These riff-heavy and radio-ready songs are underscored by a tight drum sound (often with a piccolo snare), the scratching of turntables, and the crunch of heavy guitars: a formidable backdrop for this surprisingly melodic effort. The rhythms of reggae and ska percolate through this mix, and the harmonies of Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez lend the band an edge not found in the majority of bands that feature rapping over rock beats."[1] Rolling Stone says the album has "ear candy with good beats" and "remarkably adept at genre juggling". They also describe the album as "Beasties-cum-Chili Peppers traits has a potent reggae undertow".[2]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Down"Nick Hexum, SA Martinez2:53
2."Random"Hexum, Martinez, Chad Sexton3:07
3."Jackolantern's Weather"Hexum, Martinez, Sexton3:24
4."All Mixed Up"Hexum, Martinez3:02
5."Hive"Hexum, Martinez, Sexton2:59
6."Guns (Are for Pussies)"Hexum, Martinez, Sexton2:16
7."Misdirected Hostility"Hexum, Martinez2:59
8."Purpose"Hexum2:44
9."Loco"Hexum, Tim Mahoney1:53
10."Brodels"Hexum, Martinez, Sexton3:32
11."Don't Stay Home"Hexum2:43
12."DLMD"Hexum, Martinez2:13
13."Sweet"Hexum, Mahoney, Martinez3:15
14."T & P Combo"Hexum, Mahoney, Martinez, Wills2:49
Total length:39:58

"Misdirected Hostility" was written in reference to the violence between the Phunk Junkeez and their back-up vocalist K-Tel Disco.

The initial pressing of the album was distributed by "RED" and later re-pressed and distributed by Mercury Records in 1996 (note the tray card and disk updated with Mercury contact information and slightly washed out color on the disk front).

Outtakes
  • "Tribute", "Let the Cards Fall", "Gap" and "Firewater (Slo-mo)" (available on the "Enlarged to Show Detail" EP)
  • "Who's Got the Herb?" (studio version available on the "Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML" compilation, live version available on the "Live" album)
  • "Outside" (available on the "National Lampoon's Senior Trip" soundtrack)
  • "Juan Bond", "Next (Instrumental)", "Sweet (Demo)" without SA's vocal and "Firewater" at its normal speed (leaked on the internet around '96)

Personnel
  • Nick Hexum – vocals, guitar
  • Chad Sexton – drums, percussion
  • Tim Mahoney – guitar
  • P-Nut – bass
  • S. A. Martinez – vocals, scratches (Credited as Count S.A.)

Production
  • Ron Saint Germain – producer, recording, mixing
  • 311 – producers
  • Scott Ralston – recording, mixing
  • John Ewing Jr. – assistant engineer
  • Joe Gastwirt – mastering
  • Mastered at Oceanview Studios
  • Diane Painter – art direction
  • Terry Robertson – design
  • Catherine Wessel – photography

Charts

Singles
YearSingleChartPosition
1995 "Don't Stay Home" Modern Rock Tracks 29
1996 "Down" Hot 100 Airplay 37
1996 "Down" Modern Rock Tracks 1
1996 "Down" Mainstream Rock Tracks 19
1996 "All Mixed Up" Hot 100 Airplay 36
1996 "All Mixed Up" Modern Rock Tracks 4

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. Fricke, David (December 9, 1996). "Review on 311 and No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  3. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "311". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 813. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. "311 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  5. "311 Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  6. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
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