Smile from the Streets You Hold

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Smile from Streets You Hold is the second solo album by John Frusciante. The record was released at the time Frusciante did not perform with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was released on August 26, 1997 on Birdman Records, while Frusciante is still addicted to drugs. This recording is an amalgamation of songs from various time periods, especially extras not included in the debut of Frusciante Niandra Lades and Usually Only a T-Shirt (1994); including, however, are some songs recorded around 1996 and "A Fall Thru the Ground" from 1988.

Video Smile from the Streets You Hold

Recording

Many of the songs from Smile from the Streets You Hold were recorded when Frusciante was with the Chili Peppers and came from the same period as his previous solo album, Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt

In a 1997 interview with Guitar Player , Frusciante claimed to have maintained an active communication with the spirit world during the album recording phase:

The title track is a very intense moment, because I communicate verbally with spirits while I'm recording; and I started crying at the end. Spirits give you ideas for things, and what's important to them is what matters to me. I am much more concerned with my fame in their world than with my fame in this regard. That's why it's hard for me to adjust to being alive at all.

The Phoenix River actor, Frusciante's best friend and the rest of the Chili Peppers, is featured in two songs, "Height Down" (originally titled "Soul Removal"), and "Well I've Been" (originally titled "Bought Her Soul"). Both songs were supposed to be released on Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt, but were attracted by the Phoenix family's request after Phoenix's death.

"More", "I Can not See Until I See Your Eyes", and "Estress" was recorded onto a tape in the boombox in 1996. Frusciante's poor health was evident in his voice.

Maps Smile from the Streets You Hold

Release

Frusciante had Smiled from Streets You Hold and Niandra Lades and Usually Only T-Shirt was removed from the record store in 1998 after rejoining Red Hot Chili Peppers because she felt uncomfortable with them available to the public. He was quoted as saying that he released "Smile from the Streets You Hold" for drug money. Niandra Lades finally reissued and in early 2000, Frusciante declared that he would one day re-release Smile from the Streets You Hold , although this has not happened as 2018.

There is also a second Smile print from Streets You Hold available. The songs on the second print are much lower in sound quality and often hiss and hum, the most prominent in the "Nigger Song" which somewhat obscures the recording. It has been speculated that the original release has had professionally mastered footage, but the second release uses Frusciante's inescapable cassette.

The title song "Smile from the Streets You Hold", is divided into two separate songs. During the 2001 solo performance, Frusciante said the song was about a friend, with the first half written while the person was alive and the second part written after their death. Fans have speculated that the song was probably about River Phoenix, though this has never been confirmed.

The second print also includes a long version of "Life's a Bath". Another important difference between the 17-track version and the 18-track version is that on the first, John can be heard receiving a punch from the bong in "For Air".

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Track list

All songs written by John Frusciante.

1. "Enter Uh" - 8:06
2. "The Other" - 1:36
3. "Life's a Bath" - 1:18
4. "A Fall Thru the Ground" - 2:24
5. "Poppy Man" - 1:21
6. "I Have Again Know John" - 8:47
7. "I'm Always" - 2:33
8. "Nigger Song" - 4:15
9. "Femininity" - 2:35
10. "Breathe" - 6:21
11. "Other" - 2:07
12. "For Air" - 3:55
13. "High Down" - 4:00
14. "Well, I've Been" - 3:06
15. "Smiling from Streets You Hold" - 5:09
16. "I Can not See Until I See Your Eyes" - 1:30
17. "Estress" - 2:17

18-track version

All songs written by John Frusciante.

1. "Enter Uh" - 8:09
2. "The Other" - 1:36
3. "Life's a Bath" - 1:39
4. "A Fall Thru the Ground" - 2:20
5. "Poppy Man" - 1:16
6. "I Have Again Know John" - 8:48
7. "I'm Always" - 2:33
8. "Nigger Song" - 4:15
9. "Femininity" - 2:34
10. "Breathe" - 6:12
11. "Other" - 2:08
12. "For Air" - 2:57
13. "High Down" - 3:52
14. "Well, I've been" - 3:07
15. "Smile from Streets You Hold, Part 1" - 4:09
16. "Smile from Streets You Hold, Part 2" - 0:56
17. "I Can not See Until I See Your Eyes" - 1:30
18. "Estress" - 2:20

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Reference

Source of the article : Wikipedia