Raw Like Sushi

Raw Like Sushi is the debut album by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released 5 June 1989[1] on Virgin Records. The album is best known for featuring the worldwide hit single "Buffalo Stance".

For the Mr. Big album, see Raw Like Sushi (Mr. Big album).
Raw Like Sushi
Studio album by
Neneh Cherry
Released5 June 1989[1]
Recorded1988–1989
Studio
Genre
Length46:06
LabelVirgin
ProducerTim Simenon, Mark Saunders, Cameron McVey, Jonny Dollar et al.
Neneh Cherry chronology
Raw Like Sushi
(1989)		 Homebrew
(1992)
Singles from Raw Like Sushi
  1. "Buffalo Stance"
    Released: 28 November 1988[1]
  2. "Manchild"
    Released: 8 May 1989
  3. "Kisses on the Wind"
    Released: 31 July 1989 (UK)
  4. "Heart"
    Released: November 1989 (US)
  5. "Inna City Mama"
    Released: 11 December 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Tribune[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
Pitchfork8.0/10[6]
Q[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[10]
The Village VoiceA−[11]

Background

An early version of "Buffalo Stance" appeared on the B-side of the 1986 Stock Aitken Waterman-produced Morgan-McVey single, "Looking Good Diving", titled "Looking Good Diving with the Wild Bunch".[12] The single was not successful; however, the B-side was re-recorded with Tim Simenon of Bomb the Bass, and became the version of "Buffalo Stance" that was a worldwide hit, reaching #3 in the UK Singles Chart,[13] #3 on the Billboard Hot 100[14] and #1 in the Netherlands[15] and Sweden.[16] The album also contains the #8 US[14] (and #20 UK[13]) hit "Kisses on the Wind", and the #5 UK hit "Manchild".[13]

All musicians and programmers are credited in the album sleeve, however Cameron McVey, Cherry's husband, is credited as "Booga Bear". Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja co-wrote "Manchild", and fellow member Andrew Vowles aka DJ Mushroom performs on "Kisses on the Wind", "The Next Generation" and "So Here I Come". "My Bitch" is a vocal duet with Gilly G.

The cover and inner photos were shot by fashion photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino.

Music

Raw Like Sushi is distinctive for its eclectic mix of genres, incorporating influences from across the trends of 1980s pop music. Cherry sings and raps accompanied by a diverse set of sounds, including pianos, synthesizers, brass instruments, guitars, and go-go percussion. The album's lyrical themes are influenced by Cherry's experiences of motherhood, and her education and upbringing.[17]

When it was released, the album was favorably compared to Madonna and Prince, though it did not reach similar popularity.

Legacy

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neneh Cherry and Cameron McVey (Booga Bear), except where indicated.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Buffalo Stance"Jamie J. Morgan, Cameron McVey, Neneh Cherry, Phillip Ramacon5:42
2."Manchild"Cameron McVey, Neneh Cherry, Robert "3D" Del Naja3:51
3."Kisses on the Wind" 3:57
4."Inna City Mamma"Cameron McVey, Neneh Cherry, Phil Chill4:50
5."The Next Generation" 5:04
6."Love Ghetto" 4:27
7."Heart" 5:08
8."Phoney Ladies" 3:52
9."Outré Risqué Locomotive"Cameron McVey, Neneh Cherry, Will Malone5:04
10."So Here I Come"Cameron McVey, Neneh Cherry, Phil Chill4:02
11."My Bitch" (Bonus track) 5:26
12."Heart (It's a Demo)" (Bonus track) 4:52
13."Buffalo Stance (Sukka mix)" (Bonus track) 5:20
14."Manchild (The Old School mix)" (Bonus track) 5:30

Note

  • Tracks 1 through 10 were on the original LP. In the United Kingdom tracks 11 through 14 were on the CD release while tracks 13 and 14 were on the tape cassette album.

Personnel
  • Neneh Cherry – vocals, programming
  • Sandy McLelland – background vocals
  • Chandra Armstead – background vocals
  • Cameron "Booga Bear" McVey – background vocals, Executive Producer, mixing, beats
  • Phil Chill – programming, beats, background vocals
  • Claudia Fontaine – background vocals
  • Nellee Hooper – vibraphone
  • Jerod – guitar
  • Alvin Moody – beats
  • Nick Plytas – programming
  • Jeff Scantlebury – conga
  • John Sharp – programming
  • Tim Simenon – beats
  • Dynamik Duo – beats
  • Mark Saunders – multi-instruments, beats
  • Wil Malone – conductor, programming, string arrangements
  • Gordon Dukes – background vocals
  • Jean Baptiste Mondino – photography
  • Mushroom – programming

Chart performance
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 30
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 7
Germany (Media Control Charts)[21] 10
Netherlands (MegaCharts)[22] 11
New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 3
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[25] 6
UK Albums Chart[13] 2
US (Billboard 200)[26] 40

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Gold 50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[28] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[29] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[30] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] Platinum 300,000^
Summaries
Worldwide N/A 2,000,000[31]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Neneh'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. Kellman, Andy. "Raw Like Sushi – Neneh Cherry". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. Heim, Chris (22 June 1989). "Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi (Virgin)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
  5. Willman, Chris (11 June 1989). "Cherry Debuts in Sassy Style". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. Johnston, Maura (1 April 2018). "Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  7. Howe, Rupert (April 2020). "Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi". Q (409): 118.
  8. Tannenbaum, Rob (10 August 1989). "Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  9. Berger, Arion (2004). "Neneh Cherry". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 159–60. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  10. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  11. Christgau, Robert (27 June 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  12. "Morgan* / McVey* – Looking Good Diving". discogs.com. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  13. "Official Charts > Neneh Cherry (albums tab)". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  14. "Billboard > Artists / Neneh Cherry > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  15. "dutchcharts.nl > Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  16. "swedishcharts.com > Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  17. "Neneh Cherry: Raw Like Sushi Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  18. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  19. "australian-charts.com > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (album)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  20. "austriancharts.at > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  21. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  22. "dutchcharts.nl > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  23. "charts.nz > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (album)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  24. "swedishcharts.com > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (album)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  25. "hitparade.ch > Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  26. "Billboard > Artists / Neneh Cherry > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  27. "Canadian album certifications – Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi". Music Canada.
  28. "Dutch album certifications – Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Raw Like Sushi in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  29. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  30. "hitparade.ch > Awards 1989". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  31. "Neneh Cherry Homebrew (Virgin) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2..." Chicago Tribune. 29 October 1992. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
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