SINÉAD O'CONNOR “Universal Mother” /CD/

Six-track EP by legendary Irish Alternative/Folk Rock singer.
On the surface, "Gospel Oak" is a soothing hot tub of Celtic New Age atmospherics and polite Hip-Hop grooves. Barely audible over the Jacuzzi-friendly instrumentation is the sound of O’Connor talking to herself. Listen closely to what she says, and this record doesn’t seem quite so comforting.
The effect is like eavesdropping on a bedside prayer or a 2 a.m. conversation between an embattled couple. “Your rage is like a fist in my womb,” O’Connor sings in a hushed voice, as though trying not to wake the baby in the next room. “Can’t you forgive what you think I’ve done?” There are songs about mothering and motherhood, spiritual orphans and distant lovers, and, on “This Is a Rebel Song,” barriers both emotional and political that separate an Irishwoman from the “hard Englishman” she craves to understand.
The humble, yet still defiant O'Connor doesn't bury her convictions on this EP as much as she employs empathy to explain herself and try to reinforce her tattered bonds with friends, fans, and with herself. During her early '90s post-coming-out, tossing so much political, sexual, and religious taboos into the sun and fermenting the flesh of the sanctimonious proved to be a dangerous exercise that heavily taxed all parties involved. The increasingly corporate information state, and the media tools and junkies, all had their histrionic fill. So like tired lovers, sick of each other's breathing, a contemptuous fracture ensued, resulting in O'Connor's withdrawal from the scrutiny and abuse that plagued her. Returning with "Gospel Oak" - its gentle, organic instrumentation setting a quiet stage for silky, subtly challenging vocals - the singer executed her cautious public re-entry with precision and grace. On this six-track release, O'Connor isn't interested in complaints or accusations, but instead, she yearns to make real a universal personal respect, and perhaps forgiveness for her myriad of abstract or even imagined betrayals. These are the statements of a repressed, discounted martyr, and there is not a woman more qualified to recite them.
The album is named after the London neighborhood of Gospel Oak where O’Connor was living at the time. The cover photograph shows the two brick skew arch bridges adjacent to Gospel Oak railway station in north London. The dedicated to the people of Israel, Rwanda and Northern Ireland.
The album sold 70,000 copies in the United States.
Columbia, exclusive trademark of Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 1997 (488884 2). Made in Austria. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX/G.


Tracklist:
1. This Is To Mother You 3:12
2. I Am Enough For Myself 4:08
3. Petit Poulet 3:44
4. 4 My Love 4:06
5. This Is A Rebel Song 3:04
6. He Moved Through The Fair Clives (Live) 4:21
Total playing time: 22:37 min.

The second full-length studio album by legendary Irish Alternative/Folk Pop Rock singer.
"I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" became Sinéad O'Connor's popular breakthrough on the strength of the stunning Prince cover "Nothing Compares 2 U", which topped the pop charts for a month. But even its remarkable intimacy wasn't adequate preparation for the harrowing confessionals that composed the majority of the album. Informed by her stormy relationship with drummer John Reynolds, who fathered O'Connor's first child before the couple broke up, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" lays the singer's psyche startlingly and sometimes uncomfortably bare. The songs mostly address relationships with parents, children, and (especially) lovers, through which O'Connor weaves a stubborn refusal to be defined by anyone but herself. In fact, the album is almost too personal and cathartic to draw the listener in close, since O'Connor projects such turmoil and offers such specific detail.
The first song on the album, "Feel So Different", starts with "The Serenity Prayer" by Reinhold Niebuhr. The album also includes O'Connor's rendition of "I Am Stretched on Your Grave", an anonymous 17th century poem that was written in Irish, translated into English by Frank O'Connor, and composed by musician Philip King in 1979. O'Connor's sings her version over the oft-sampled loop of "Funky Drummer" by James Brown.
The album contains O'Connor's version of the Prince song "Nothing Compares 2 U", which was released as a Single and was one of the best-selling Singles in the world in 1990, topping the charts in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. This rendition of the Prince song reflected on O'Connor's mother, who had lost her life in an auto accident five years earlier. The single "Emperor's New Clothes" found moderate success, although it did top the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the US.
The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991, including "Record of the Year", "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance", and "Best Music Video, Short Form" for "Nothing Compares 2 U", winning the award for "Best Alternative Music Performance". However, O'Connor refused to accept the nominations and award.
In 2012, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" was ranked number 408 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album was ranked number 457 on the 2020 edition of the list.
RGM, 1990/1992 (C30 RGM 7040). Russian bootlegged release. Used (cover/disc): EX+/EX+.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Feel So Different
2. Three Babies
3. The Emperor's New Clothes
4. Black Boys On Mopeds

Side 2
5. Nothing Compares 2U
6. You Cause As Much Sorrow
7. The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance
8. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

The debut full-length studio album by legendary Irish Alternative/Folk Pop Rock singer.
O'Connor recorded the album while in the later stages of pregnancy with her first child. 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.
Sinéad O'Connor's debut was a sensation upon its 1987 release, and it remains a distinctive record, finding a major talent striving to achieve her own voice. Like many debuts, it's entirely possible to hear her influences, from Peter Gabriel to Prince and contemporary Rap, but what's striking about the record is how she synthesizes these into her own sound -- an eerie, expansive sound heavy on atmosphere and tortured passion.
If the album occasionally sinks into its own atmospheric murk a little too often, she pulls everything back into focus with songs as bracing as the Hard-Rocking "Mandinka" or the sexy Hip-Hop of "I Want Your (Hands on Me)". Still, those ethereal soundscapes are every bit as enticing as the direct material, since "Troy", "Jackie", and "Jerusalem" are compelling because of their hushed, quiet intensity.
The photograph of O'Connor on the album cover was taken by Haysi Fantayzee member Kate Garner. The covers of the United States and Canada issues differed from the European release, as it was decided a more subdued pose would present a "softer" image of O'Connor.
It's a thoroughly impressive debut, and it's all the more impressive when you realize she only topped it with its immediate successor, before losing all focus. An album sure to drive the snakes from your soul…
The first Single, "Troy", peaked at number eight in the Netherlands and number 12 in Belgium, but it was not a hit in Britain when it was released there in 1987.
The second Single, "Mandinka", was a mainstream Pop hit in the UK, peaking at number 17 in the Singles Chart in February 1988, as well as number six in her native Ireland.
The song, "I Want Your (Hands on Me)", was featured in the 1988 horror film, "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master", where it was used in a prominent characters' death sequence, as well as the film's end credits. It was also released as the third Single from the album in the UK (after "Troy" and "Mandinka"), where it peaked at number 77, in May 1988. The single remix includes a Rap performed by MC Lyte, which is not included on the album version. There are two mixes featuring the Rap, the "Dance mix" and the "Street Mix".
The album charted worldwide, reaching number 27 in the United Kingdom and number 36 on the US Billboard 200.
Ensign Records Limited, a division of Chrysalis Records Limited, 1987 (chen 7). Made in Holland. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX+/NM-.


Tracklist:
1. Jackie 2:29
2. Mandinka 3:46
3. Jerusalem 4:20
4. Just Like You Said It Would Be 4:32
5. Never Get Old 4:36
6. Troy 6:34
7. I Want Your Hands On Me 4:42
8. Drink Before The War 5:25
9. Just Call Me Joe 5:54
Total playing time: 42:18 min.

Rare Special Promotional Edition of “The Emperor's New Clothes” Single by legendary Irish Alternative Rock/Hip Hop singer.
For Promotional Use Only, this 12” vinyl made especially for the clubs.
Real rare and musthave for every collector of Sinéad O'Connor's releases.
Issued in generic white die-cut jacket with info sticker. 33 ⅓ RPM.
Ensign Records Ltd., a sub. of Chrysalis Records Inc.,1990 (SPRO 23568). Made in US. First press. Used (cover/disc): NM-/NM-.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. The Emperor's New Clothes (Main Mix) 4:37
2. The Emperor's New Clothes (Dub Mix) 4:55
3. The Emperor's New Clothes (Instrumental) 5:06

Side B
1. I Am Stretched On Your Grave (Apple Brightness Mix) 5:39
2. I Am Stretched On Your Grave (Night Until Morning Dub) 3:21
3. I Am Stretched On Your Grave (Earthapella) 0:58

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Irish Alternative/Chamber Folk/Pop Rock singer.
With her ninth studio album, O'Connor smacks the focus back onto her powerful voice and uncanny ability to weave sadly gorgeous narratives into catchy Pop songs. That's not to say a generous smattering of all the things that have made O'Connor a controversial character over the years are not touched on over the course of the record. Familiar subjects like sexuality and religion, and their conflicts with international politics, show up on songs like "V.I.P.", a beautifully delivered hymn addressing child abuse in Ireland's Catholic school system. 
While heartbreaking beauty is standard in O'Connor's sound, what's surprising on "How About I Be Me" is the number of lovestruck and optimistic songs. The naked confessional of "Old Lady" finds earnest pining for a so-soon-to-be-love.
Other highlights like "The Wolf Is Getting Married" and "I Had a Baby" are more of the same brutally bare sentiments over contagious hooks. The climate inside Sinéad's head is just as tumultuous as ever, but the resultant beauty and electric rage have culminated on an album as raw and open as anything she's produced in years.
"How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?" is a delicately balanced picture of despair and hope, and a fantastic reminder of the musical gifts that made O'Connor important to begin with.
The first single "The Wolf Is Getting Married" was released on 24 February in Ireland and got to number 40 for one week, accompanied by a video directed by Roman Rappak, lead singer of Breton. The second single "4th and Vine" was released on 18 February 2013, accompanied by a video directed by Kathryn Ferguson.
In 2013 O'Connor announced a European tour in support for the album, called The Crazy Baldhead Tour.
As of 2014, sales in the United States have exceeded 18,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Release includes code for digital download of album.
One Little Indian Records/Dreamac Ltd., 2012 (TPLP1122). Made in UK. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. 4th And Vine 3:55
2. Reason With Me 4:00
3. Old Lady 3:41
4. Take Off Your Shoes 5:26
5. Back Where You Belong 4:13

Side B
6. The Wolf Is Getting Married 4:20
7. Queen Of Denmark 4:34
8. Very Far From Home 3:52
9. I Had A Baby 4:08
10. V.I.P. 6:36

Total playing time: 44:45 min.