Though its existence was brief, Sublime’s cheerful music struck a chord amid the mid-1990s modern rock explosion. Now, nine years after singer/songwriter/guitarist Bradley Nowell‘s death brought about the band’s demise, a host of the Southern California band’s contemporaries will pay tribute to its work.
Due June 21 from Cornerstone Recording Arts Society, “Look at All the Love We Found: A Tribute to Sublime” will feature contributions from No Doubt, Jack Johnson, Mike Watt, Los Lobos, Pennywise, Fishbone, Camper Van Beethoven, Ozomatli and Sublime’s one-time Skunk Records labelmates the Ziggens, among others.
Michael Franti & Spearhead cover what is probably the band’s best known single, “What I Got,” with Blackalicous’ Gift of Gab. Watt is joined by former that dog! member Petra Haden and Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins on a cover of “Work That We Do,” while No Doubt tackles “DJ’s.”
Also featured on the 16-track disc are G Love, Filibuster with Half Pint, Greyboy Allstars, Slightly Stoopid, Avail, Bargain Music, Cornerstone R.A.S. act Awol One and Abstract Rude.
A “sizeable portion” of disc’s proceeds will benefit the Carlos Santana-founded Milagro Foundation and MusiCares’ MAP Fund. The former works to bring music into the lives of underprivileged children, while the latter assists musicians by providing access to addiction recovery treatment.
Long Beach, Calif., native Nowell formed Sublime in 1988 with bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gough. The trio blended a punk sound with the stoner ethos of a local scene that mixed such influences as ska, dancehall, hip-hop and even a touch of the Grateful Dead. The latter band’s “Scarlet Begonias” was covered on Sublime’s sprawling first album, 1992’s “40oz. to Freedom” (Skunk).
Modern rock radio audiences were first exposed to the band via that album’s “Date Rape” and “Badfish,” but “What I Got,” “Santeria” and “Wrong Way” from Sublime’s self-titled 1996 album for MCA propelled the group to stardom. Nowell overdosed on heroin at the age of 28 during an advance promotional tour for the disc.
“Sublime,” which peaked at No. 13 on The Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for more than 100 weeks, is band’s best-seller, having moved 5.3 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Overall, Sublime has sold 11.2 million albums Stateside, including several posthumous compilations.
Here is the track list for “Look at All the Love We Found”:
“Badfish/Boss DJ,” Jack Johnson
“What I Got,” Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Gift of Gab
“Date Rape” Fishbone
“Get Out,” Bargain Music
“Santeria,” Avail
“DJ’s,” No Doubt
“Paddle Out,” the Ziggens
“Work That We Do,” Mike Watt and Petra Haden with Stephen Perkins
“Get Ready,” Filibuster featuring Half Pint
“Greatest Hits,” G Love
“Doin Time,” Greyboy Allstars
“Garden Grove,” Camper Van Beethoven
“April 29th, 1992,” Ozomatli
“Waiting for My Ruca,” AWOL One/Abstract Rude/Josh Fischel/Transducer
“Same in the End,” Pennywise
“Pawn Shop,” Los Lobos