"Edie (Ciao Baby)" by The Cult

Song#:  4051

Date:  09/30/1989

Debut:  93

Peak:  93

Weeks: 4

Genre:  Hard Rock, Glam Metal

Pop Bits:  This British band finally made a big impression in the US with "Fire Woman," the first single from their fourth album Sonic Temple. It would be a #2 Modern Rock/#4 Rock hit that nearly cracked the Pop Top 40 (#46). The track helped push their album to #10 and it would eventually go platinum. To try and keep momentum up, this next single was selected for release. It wouldn't do nearly as well topping out at #17 Rock while only spending a month near the bottom of the Pop chart. Another track from the album, "Sun King," would get to #18 Rock/#21 Modern Rock while "Sweet Soul Sister" would make it to #14 Rock.

ReduxReview:  While not quite a hair metal power ballad, this tune leaned that way with its acoustic opening and strings (yes, a real string arrangement!) and it seemed like a viable candidate for the Pop chart. It was a grand tune with a sweeping chorus and I was surprised it didn't do better.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  The Cult would return in '91 with Ceremony. While it would reach #25, it would fail to go gold and would not contain any Pop chart singles. Three tracks would make the Rock/Modern Rock charts with the best performing one being the first single "Wild Hearted Son" (#4 Modern Rock/#12 Rock). Although The Cult were lumped in with the glam metal bands of the day, their music wasn't along the same lines as bands like Poison or Mötley Crüe. They had an edgier sound that leaned towards alt rock. So when grunge came in and nearly killed off most of the hair metal bands, The Cult were in a position to roll with the times. For their self-titled '94 album, the band dug in and got dirty with elements of grunge, alt rock, and noise. The results were not great with the album stopping at #69 and only one track making the Modern Rock/Rock charts. That along with internal struggles on tour led to the break up of the band. There would be various splits/reunions over the years and along the way some albums were recorded. However, nothing would come close to the success they had in the prime days with Sonic Youth.

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