Back in 1989, I was a member of Columbia House. Almost all of my disposable income was going toward CDs, so I whipped out a calculator and figured the 7 discs I'd get for a penny made up for the 4 or so I'd have to buy at $20 a pop. I discovered a great deal of new music through this club and in 1989 it helped me discover the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In the monthly magazine, the quote for Mother's Milk read something like this: "The Red Hot Chili Peppers make me want to pee in my pants!". That was all I needed. I ordered Mother's Milk and dove in.
Wow. The quote did this album justice. It was the Red Hot Chili Peppers' fourth album, but it was my first taste and their first disc with guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith. It was a total play through with funky songs like "Good Time Boys" and "Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky", solid singles like "Knock Me Down" and "Taste the Pain" and fantastic covers like "Higher Ground" and "Fire". There was also the instrumental gem "Pretty Little Ditty" and the basketball tribute "Magic Johnson".
I remember how cool it was when Q107 started playing "Higher Ground" and how shocked I was to learn it was a Stevie Wonder song. Their next album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was massive and RHCP belonged to the masses. My favourite Pepper album remains Mother's Milk, as you never forget your first taste.
