MORPHINE
THE NIGHT (180G PURPLE VINYL) (MODERN CLASSICS)
-First time on vinyl -Double LP set pressed on 45 RPM 180-gram wax -Remastered from the original tapes by Pete Weiss -Housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket and featuring art direction and design by Darryl Norsen -20-page booklet featuring lyrics, unseen photos, ephemera and artwork by Mark Sandman, along with new liner notes by Ryan H.
Walsh -Available on two special color wax editions: Orange Translucent Wax & Purplish Hue Wax // For the band's fifth and final studio album, "The Night", the trio entered the studio with Producer Paul Q.
Kolderie and his producing partner, Sean Slade, as well as with assistant engineer Matthew Ellard.
But the mood became increasingly tense - particularly between Sandman and Kolderie. Eventually, as things deteriorated, Sandman took over as producer, setting up shop in his loft, with Ellard at the controls.
In addition to the changes behind the console, sessions for "The Night" were markedly different.
Firstly, both Deupree and Conway took part in the recordings, effectively making the trio a quartet.
Additionally, the band was joined by an array of guest artists, including the celebrated keyboardist, John Medeski, and a string section, who added lush textures throughout the album.
"From start to finish, this album would be Mark Sandman's full creative vision realized," writes Ryan Walsh in the liner notes.
After Sandman mixed the album, Morphine flew to Europe for a two-week tour. On July 3, 1999, during a concert at the Giardini del Principe in Palestrina, Italy, Sandman collapsed on stage, suffering a heart attack.
Hours later, the 46-year-old musician was declared dead. "The Night" was released months later, on February 1, 2000.
In a sad twist of irony, the album was met with broad critical acclaim-something that Sandman had worked so tirelessly for during his life.
Outlets like Alternative Press, Spin, and Rolling Stone all sang its praises, with the latter calling "The Night" Morphine's "most painstakingly layered and ambitious album."