The Lion and the Cobra
| The Lion and the Cobra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Sinéad O'Connor | ||||
| Released | 4 November 1987 | |||
| Recorded | 1986–1987, Oasis Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, pop rock | |||
| Length | 42:21 | |||
| Label | Ensign/Chrysalis | |||
| Producer |
Sinéad O'Connor Kevin Moloney |
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| Sinéad O'Connor chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
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North American cover art
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| Singles from The Lion and the Cobra | ||||
| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| Sputnikmusic | 5/5 |
| The Village Voice | A− |
The Lion and the Cobra is the 1987 debut album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor on Ensign/Chysalis records. O'Connor, age 20 at the time, recorded the album while heavily pregnant with her first child.
The photograph of O'Connor on the album cover was taken by Haysi Fantayzee member Kate Garner. The North American cover differed from the European release, as it was decided a more subdued pose would present a "softer" image of O'Connor.
The first single 'Troy', was released in 1987, it peaked at #8 in The Netherlands and #12 in Belgium. The second single was 'Mandinka'. The video for "Mandinka" was shown heavily after debuting 24 January 1988 on 120 Minutes on MTV. The single was a mainstream pop hit in the UK, peaking at #17 in the singles chart, as well as #6 in her native Ireland. "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" debuted in May 1988 on the same show, featuring a rap interlude by MC Lyte. The song was featured in the 1988 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.
The album charted worldwide, reaching #27 in the United Kingdom for 20 weeks, #4 in New Zealand for 13 weeks, #37 in Australia for 21 weeks, #12 in Switzerland for 6 weeks, #52 in Germany for 3 weeks, #37 in Sweden for 2 weeks, #4 in The Netherlands for 43 weeks and #36 on the US Billboard Top 200, staying on the charts for 38 for weeks.
The album featured prominent session musicians John Reynolds on drums, former Adam and the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni, former Japan guitarist Rob Dean and Mike Clowes from Friction Groove on keyboards.
The title of the album is from Psalm 91:13 "you will tread upon the lion and cobra", and the track "Never Get Old" opens with an Irish language recital of Psalm 91 by singer Enya.
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Wikipedia