Kettle Whistle is a compilation album by alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released November 4, 1997 on Warner Bros. The album was released to coincide with the Jane's Addiction's 1997 "Relapse" tour, and includes new recordings, alternate cuts, unreleased and live tracks. Kettle Whistle is certified Gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 units.
Kettle Whistle is the only Jane's Addiction release to feature Flea on bass. The liner notes feature an anecdotal article on the band by Henry Rollins.
All tracks written by Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins, except where noted. Songs are new, album-exclusive recordings except where noted.
"Kettle Whistle" was performed by the band in the late eighties, and never recorded. The "Relapse" line-up of the band recorded the song in August of that year at Mount Mehru Studios in Venice, CA. This studio is owned by Farrell and Perkins' former band Porno for Pyros.
The version of "Ocean Size" included on this compilation is a demo the band recorded to show their producing abilities to Warner Bros. The track was recorded at Capitol Records Studios in 1988.
"My Cat's Name is Maceo" is about Farrell's cat and was recorded in 1987 at Hully Gully Studios in Los Angeles with Maceo Parker guesting on alto sax.
The version of "Had a Dad" included was originally intended for Nothing's Shocking but was rejected by Warner Bros.
"So What!" is a new song recorded by the "Relapse" line-up.
The live version of "Jane Says" is from the first Lollapalooza, which was also the final tour before the band's initial breakup in 1991.
The version of "Mountain Song" that appears here originally appeared on the soundtrack for the film Dudes and was used to get the band signed to XXX Records.
"Slow Divers" was the opening track for the live show which was used as the basis for the band's debut album, Jane's Addiction.
"City", as it appears on this album, was played only by Farrell and Navarro. According to the liner notes, the other half of the band were lost in traffic at the time.
Jane's Addiction
Perry Farrell – Lead vocals (all tracks)
Dave Navarro – Guitar (all tracks)
Eric Avery – Bass on 2-4, 6-7, 9-14
Flea – Bass on 1, 5, 8; Trumpet on 5
Stephen Perkins – Drums (all tracks)
Additional musicians
Maceo Parker - Saxophone on 3
Dave Fridmann - Keyboards on 5
Christine Cagle - Backing vocals on 5
