Yes - Morphine (1995)

Ideated from: a favorite album that starts with “Y”.

“They don’t have a guitar.” This was seemingly all anybody could talk about if they were only dimly aware of Morphine. It’s true, as far as it goes. Mark Sandman used a slide to play a bass with only two strings on it. Dana Colley brought a growling baritone sax (and occasionally playing two saxes at once, a neat trick). But it hardly did them any favors to be known only as “the alt rock band with no guitar.”

Sandman was an extremely likable singer and songwriter, and the band just ripped. I had the privilege of seeing them live a couple of times and they were great.

Sandman collapsed on stage and died of a heart attack in 1999, putting an end to the band as an ongoing concern. But they left behind four records (aside from some posthumoous releases) that are all solid and unique.

While short-lived, Morphine was one of those bands that sticks with you.

Tracks I Liked

Honey White - a signature tune for them, with an even-more-massive-than-usual sax solo

Yes - More loping and ominous like their previous records, but still with a hard edge

Super Sex - automatictaxistopelectriccigarrettelovebabyhotelrockandrollordiscoteque

Sharks - This song will change your life.