Wax Ecstatic

Wax Ecstatic is the second studio album by American rock band Sponge. It was released on July 2, 1996 through Columbia Records. Originally intended to be a concept album revolving around the death of a Memphis drag queen, that idea was abandoned, although some of the tracks that ended up making the cut originated from this idea.[1]

Wax Ecstatic
Studio album by
Sponge
ReleasedJuly 2, 1996
GenreAlternative rock, grunge, post-grunge, hard rock
Length38:33
49:40 (Japan Bonus Tracks)
18:03 (5 Track Sampler Album)
16:05 (4 Track Promo)
LabelColumbia
ProducerTim Patalan and Sponge
Sponge chronology
Rotting Piñata
(1994)		 Wax Ecstatic
(1996)		 New Pop Sunday
(1999)
Singles from Wax Ecstatic
  1. "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)"
    Released: 1996
  2. "Have You Seen Mary"
    Released: 1996
5 Track Sampler Album
4 Track Promo

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Rolling Stone February 2, 1998

Wax Ecstatic received mostly positive reviews. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave it four stars out of five and said that "In order to grow, the group went back to their beginnings, touching on glam-rock, arena rock, blues-rock, and jangle-pop. Although it reveals Rotting Piñata to be somewhat calculating in its approach, Wax Ecstatic, ironically, is a far superior album."

Track listing

All songs produced by Tim Patalan and Sponge.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."My Purity"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross3:32
2."Got to Be a Bore"Vinnie Dombroski3:24
3."Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)"Vinnie Dombroski4:08
4."The Drag Queens of Memphis"Vinnie Dombroski4:54
5."I Am Anastasia"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey Mazzola3:58
6."Silence Is Their Drug"Vinnie Dombroski3:11
7."Have You Seen Mary"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross3:49
8."My Baby Said"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey Mazzola3:05
9."The Death of a Drag Queen"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey Mazzola5:20
10."Velveteen" (Contains the hidden track "Imagine You")Vinnie Dombroski7:32
Japan Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Imagine You" (Separate track)Vinnie Dombroski3:45
12."Mekron Bomb"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey Mazzola4:04
13."Imaginary Marriage"Vinnie Dombroski3:18
  • European Version contains "Slower Suicide"

Samplers and promos

All songs produced Tim Patalan and Sponge.

5 Track Sampler Album
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Got to Be a Bore"Vinnie Dombroski3:24
2."Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)" (Radio Edit)Vinnie Dombroski3:47
3."I Am Anastasia"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross, Joey Mazzola3:58
4."My Baby Said"Vinnie Dombroski, Joey Mazzola3:05
5."Have You Seen Mary"Vinnie Dombroski, Mike Cross3:49

All songs produced by Tim Patalan and Sponge except where noted.

4 Track Promo
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)"Vinnie Dombroski 4:08
2."No Fun" (Live at CBGB's December 4, 1995)Iggy Pop 3:45
3."Imaginary Marriage"Vinnie Dombroski 3:16
4."Wax Ecstatic (Critter Full On Remix)"Vinnie DombroskiTim Palmer, Critter4:56

Personnel
  • Vinnie Dombroski – vocals, drums, guitar
  • Mike Cross – guitar, bass
  • Tim Cross – bass
  • Joey Mazzola – guitar, backing vocals
  • Charlie Grover – drums

Additional personnel
  • Tim Patalan – recording
  • Andy Patalan & Matt Hanson – recording assistants
  • Tim Palmer – mixing, additional production on "Silence Is Their Drug"
  • Mark O'Donoughue – mix engineer
  • Jamie Seyberth – additional engineering
  • Lamont Hyde – engineering assistant
  • Steve King – engineer
  • Mike Corbett – post production edit
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Pablo Mathiason – A&R
  • Susan Silver – management
  • Stacy Fass – legal
  • Gudvi, Chapnick & Oppenheim – business management
  • John Jackson – international booking
  • Mary Maurer – art direction
  • SITE – design
  • Melanie Nissen – photography

Additional musicians
  • Richard Butler – additional vocals on "I Am Anastasia"
  • Johnny Evans – tenor, alto and baritone sax
  • Chris Codish – acoustic piano
  • Mando Dorame – sax solo on "My Baby Said"
  • Steve Baxter – trombone on "My Baby Said"
  • Donald Hayes – saxophone on "My Baby Said"
  • Anne King – trumpet on "My Baby Said"
  • Tim Patalan – cello

Equipment

Charts

Album
Chart (1996) Peak
position
The Billboard 200 60

Singles
Year Song Chart Peak position
1996 Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina) Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 11
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 15
1997 Have You Seen Mary Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 7

References
  1. "Wax Ecstatic". Allmusic.com.
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