Fishbone – Truth and Soul (1988)
[Album 720/1001]
Do you have a favourite song from the film, Purple Rain?
Perhaps the title track? Maybe When Doves Cry? How about Let’s Go Crazy?
It’s one of those nice exercises where there is no wrong answer, they’re all keepers.
After all, the soundtrack did emerge victorious in the finest ‘Rain’ album battle of 1984!
However, if I could choose from the film, rather than just from the soundtrack, my favourite songs aren’t actually the Prince tunes.
Instead, I’m all-in for the Morris Day & The Time tracks, especially Jungle Love!
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There is plenty to like on Truth and Soul.
The Curtis Mayfield Superfly cover, Freddie’s Dead, makes for a strong opener.
The closing track, Change, feels like a wonderful meeting of the identically-titled Blind
Melon tune & a gentle George Michael-esque tenor vocal line.
However, if I had to choose a single standout track, there’s no contest.
In my books, Bonin’ in the Boneyard is right up there with Jungle Love.
The integral backup vocals, the big sound from the horn section, the energy is simply infectious.
It genuinely feels like it would be a physical impossibility to sit/stand still while listening to the track.
And the question is rhetorical of course, but how about that bassline?!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
…..
Verbalize the Positive
My friend Deke @ Superdekes shared a trailer recently for an upcoming documentary, Five Bucks at the Door: The Story of Crocks n Rolls.
In the preview, the Thunder Bay bar owner, Frank Loffredo, was sporting a Fishbone T-shirt. And it was seeing Frank’s T that inspired me to check out Fishbone sooner rather than later.
So, cheers to Deke & Frank for being catalysts in getting me to check out Truth and Soul!
1001albumsin10years 
This is awesome Geoff. I forwarded this post to Frank as he’s pretty psyched that there is a pretty big buzz on the Crocks Documentary.
Thanks for spreading the word.
My pleasure, Deke – and my thanks to you & Frank for reminding me about Fishbone!
“Bonin’ in the Boneyard”, the name alone makes it tops in my book!!
The name definitely got my attention too!
Fun fact: Our home town has a restaurant called The Fishbone.
That is both fun & factual!
Ah… Fishbone… that is all.
Enough said!
Truth & Soul is a classic album. Met Phillip Fish Fisher a few times when I presented Fishbone in Thunder Bay and the last few times when he was drumming with Everlast.Nice catch noticing the T. I did not even catch that lol 🤘
Cheers Frank!
For whatever reason, whenever I see a band T in a movie/TV show, it always jumps out at me. In the case of Fishbone, I’m quite glad it did!
Can you believe I haven’t heard this? It’s one of those albums I’ve always been aware of, but I’ve just never bothered to check it out. I’ll do so without further delay!
Even if you only hear ‘Bonin in the Boneyard,’ that’s a good start!