311 (album)

311
Studio album by 311
Released	July 11, 1995[1]
Recorded	1994–95
Studio	NRG (Los Angeles)
Genre	Alternative rock rap rock funk rock reggae rock
Length	39:32
Label	Capricorn
Producer	Ron Saint Germain
311 chronology
Grassroots (1994) 311 (1995) Transistor (1997)
Singles from 311
"Don't Stay Home" Released: 1995 "Down" Released: 1996 "All Mixed Up" Released: February 1996

311 (commonly known as the Blue Album) is the 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.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]
Rolling Stone	(average)[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]

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."^[2] 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".^[4]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Down"	Nick Hexum, SA Martinez	2:52
2.	"Random"	Hexum, Martinez, Chad Sexton	3:05
3.	"Jackolantern's Weather"	Hexum, Martinez, Sexton	3:24
4.	"All Mixed Up"	Hexum, Martinez	2:59
5.	"Hive"	Hexum, Martinez, Sexton	2:58
6.	"Guns (Are for Pussies)"	Hexum, Martinez, Sexton	2:16
7.	"Misdirected Hostility"	Hexum, Martinez	2:56
8.	"Purpose"	Hexum	2:42
9.	"Loco"	Hexum, Tim Mahoney	1:53
10.	"Brodels"	Hexum, Martinez, Sexton	3:29
11.	"Don't Stay Home"	Hexum	2:43
12.	"DLMD"	Hexum, Martinez	2:11
13.	"Sweet"	Hexum, Mahoney, Martinez	3:15
14.	"T & P Combo"	Hexum, Mahoney, Martinez, Wills	2:49
Total length:			39:32

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

”Jackolantern’s Weather” was going to have a music video, released around Halloween, but the band declined because “they said they were tired.”^[6]

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). "Juan Bond", "Next", and "Firewater (Normal Speed)" were later officially released in 2015 on the 311 ARCHIVE box set.

Personnel

• Nick Hexum – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Chad Sexton – drums, percussion
• Tim Mahoney – lead 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

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1997) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 93 US Billboard 200[8] 12 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[9] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position US Billboard 200[10] 56

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
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

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. https://311.com/pages/discography
2. Allmusic review
3. Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). "311". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE Inc. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. #311OP Chad 'Yeti' Ward. Retrieved 2024-04-06 – via www.youtube.com.
7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 279.
8. "311 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
9. "311 Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
10. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
11. "American album certifications – 311 – 311". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

External links

• http://www.311.com