Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

The Sweetest Drop

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Released
  
1992

Length
  
6:55

Format
  
CD, 7", 12"

Label
  
Beggards Banquet, RCA

Genre
  
Alternative rock, gothic rock, art rock, new wave

Writer(s)
  
Peter Murphy, Paul Statham

"The Sweetest Drop" is a song by English musician Peter Murphy, from his fourth solo studio album, Holy Smoke (1992). Written by Murphy and Paul Statham, the song was released as the lead single off the album in 1992, through Beggards Banquet and RCA Records. Although the album only reached number 108 on Billboard 200 chart, the single became a modern rock hit, peaking at number 2 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Contents

A music video for the song was directed by Tim Pope.

Music

The song builds the "miasmic" soundscapes over wall-of-sound proportions. The soundscapes are then followed by a chorus, which is described to be "rumbling in like a panzer division." The song then continues with pounding dance rhythms and muted wah-wah guitars, accompanied by the backing singers.

Critical recepition

In his album review for Holy Smoke, Ned Raggett of Allmusic stated that the track "You're So Close" would have been a better choice as a lead single. Nevertheless, another Allmusic critic Dave Thompson praised "The Sweetest Drop" in his separate track review, describing it as "the best Roxy Music song that Roxy Music never performed." He stated that the song "drifts in gently to echo the masters' Flesh and Blood/Avalon era", comparing Murphy's vocals to the former Roxy Music member Bryan Ferry. He also noted that "the influence of former bandmates Love and Rockets' "So Alive" does hang around the arrangements a little."

Track listing

  1. "The Sweetest Drop (Radio Edit)" - 4:19
  2. "Low Room (Album Version)" - 4:24
  3. "All Night Long (Live)" - 5:10
  4. "The Line Between The Devils Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (Live)" - 6:59
  5. "The Sweetest Drop (Album Version)" - 6:53

Personnel

  • Peter Murphy – vocals, production, composition
  • The Hundred Men
  • Terl Bryant – drums, percussion
  • Eddie Branch – bass
  • Peter Bonas – guitar, acoustic guitar
  • Additional musicians
  • Zoe Caryl – backing vocals (4, 9)
  • Alison Limerick – vocals (4, 9)
  • Other personnel
  • Mike Thorne – production, synclavier
  • Jason Appleton – production assistant
  • Jack Skinner – mastering
  • Fernando Kral – engineering, mixing
  • Stuart Every – assistant engineer
  • Laura Janisse – production assistant
  • References

    The Sweetest Drop Wikipedia