Sinéad O’Connor The Lion and the Cobra

The Lion and the Cobra Sinéad O’Connor

Released: October 5, 1987 Peak: 36 US, 27 UK, 17 CN, 37 AU, 5 DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.1 UK, 2.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: alternative rock

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Jackie (8 DF) Mandinka (12/1/87, 3 CO, 17 UK, 33 CN, 39 AU, 3 DF) Jerusalem (10 CO, 17 DF) Just Like U Said It Would B (16 DF) Never Get Old (22 DF) Troy (10/19/87, 16 CO, 48 UK, 22 DF) I Want Your Hands on Me (4/18/88, 9 CO, 77 UK, 7 DF) Drink Before the War (23 DF) Just Call Me Joe (17 DF) Total Running Time: 42:21

Rating: 3.995 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Her Beginnings Sinéad O’Connor was born in 1966 in Ireland. She had a troubled childhood that including abuse from her mother, shoplifting, truancy, and eighteen months at the Grianán Training Centre. While there, she developed an interest in writing and music but bristled at the expected conformity. W-O In 1984, she met Irish music producer Colm Farrelly via an ad to form a band. She signed a contract with Ensign Records W-O and recorded her first album, The Lion and the Cobra in 1986 and 1987. It was released jointly by Ensign and Chrysalis Records. The title is taken from Psalm 91:13: “You will tread upon the lion and cobra.” WK The Album’s Success The album achieved gold status in the United States and sold two-and-a-half million copies worldwide, promoted by the singles “Troy,” “Mandinka,” and “I Want Your Hands on Me.” It earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Reviews At AllMusic.com, Stephen Thomas Erlewine said The Lion and The Cobra is “a thoroughly impressive debut,” AM “finding a major talent striving to achieve her own voice.” AM He said, “what’s striking about the record” AM is how she synthesizes her influences like Peter Gabriel and Prince “into her own sound – an eerie, expansive sound heavy on atmosphere and tortured passion.” AM In the UK newspaper Sounds Neil Perry said, “I challenge you to hear the voice and remain unmoved” and “I can think of no finer debut this year.” WK Record Mirror’s Eleanor Levy said, “From pain to pure joy, this is a truly remarkable album.” WK Slant magazine’s Sal Cinquemani went so far as to call it “one of the most electrifying debuts in rock history.” WK The Songs Highlights on the album included “the hard-rocking Mandinka” AM and the “sexy hip-hop of I Want Your Hands on Me.” AM “Troy, Jackie, and Jerusalem are compelling because of their hushed, quiet intensity.” AM .

Resources: AM AllMusic.com review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine W-O Wikipedia entry on Sinead O’Connor WK Wikipedia entry on The Lion and the Cobra Related DMDB Links: First posted 12/4/2024.