Twisted Tenderness

History

The writing and recording of the album was a reaction to the protracted sessions of its predecessor Raise the Pressure, which had taken a year and a half to complete. Marr and Sumner remained the only official members of the band, but were joined by Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin on bass and Black Grape drummer Ged Lynch. The sound of the album reflected this back-to-basics approach in terms of the line-up, although subsequent production and mixing incorporated additional beats and samples.

Twisted Tenderness was co-produced by influential New York City club DJ and dance producer Arthur Baker, with whom Sumner had previously worked on New Order's 1983 hit "Confusion", amongst other songs.

The promo issue of the album contained an uncleared sample of Ice-T proclaiming "this is not a pop album" on the track "Make It Happen". This mix had a duration of 7:50; it was shortened for release when the sample was removed.

Early promos also included "King for a Day", which was eventually released as a B-side to "Late at Night". Reviews in Q and Mojo were based on this configuration; the former stated that there were twelve tracks while the latter mentioned the reference to Dracula in the song lyrics. The only country to include "King for a Day" on the album was Japan, where it was released a week before Britain.

The singles "Vivid" and "Late at Night" featured three B-sides between them, namely "Radiation" (an instrumental co-written with Baker), "King for a Day" and "Warning Sign", all of which appeared on the Deluxe edition next to promo versions and previously released remixes.

Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin is featured on the cover.

Track listing

All songs written by Marr/Sumner, except where noted.

1. "Make It Happen" – 7:38
2. "Haze" – 5:11
3. "Vivid" – 5:36
4. "Breakdown" – 5:50
5. "Can't Find My Way Home" (Steve Winwood) – 4:52
6. "Twisted Tenderness" – 5:31
7. "Like No Other" – 4:38
8. "Late at Night" – 4:12
9. "Prodigal Son" – 7:10
10. "When She's Gone" – 4:29
11. "Flicker" – 6:25

Deluxe edition bonus disc

1. "King for a Day" – 4:28
2. "Warning Sign" – 4:45
3. "Make It Happen" (Remix) – 5:58
4. "Haze" (Alternative Mix) – 5:23
5. "Prodigal Son" (Star in Your Own Mind Mix) – 10:05
6. "Radiation" (Arthur Baker, Johnny Marr, Bernard Sumner) – 7:31
7. "Prodigal Son" (Touched by the Hand of Inch) – 5:07
8. "Prodigal Son" (Two Lone Swordsmen remix) – 5:35
9. "Prodigal Son" (Harvey's Greatly Deluded Mix) – 3:16
10. "Come Down" (Cevin Fisher Mix) – 8:19

Singles

1. "Vivid" (12 April 1999)
2. "Late at Night" (5 July 1999) (withdrawn in the UK)

Promos

1. "Prodigal Son" (March 1999)
2. "Make It Happen" (June 1999)

Personnel