Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog
Temple of the Dog's debut album was a masterpiece of rock. It was also the band's only album. Having no agenda beyond saying goodbye to a friend (Andrew Wood), six of the Seattle Scene's finest record an album over the course of two weeks at London Bridge Studios in Seattle. That album is pretty much perfect.
⭐ 10/10
Temple of the Dog Track Listing
Hunger Strike. Say Hello 2 Heaven. Cornell. Gossard. Ament. McCready. Cameron. Vedder ... Temple of the Dog. Seattle's Super Supergroup is the Best Band that never was.
I was young at the time, still reeling from the end of my favorite era of music (hair metal) when Temple of the Dog was foist upon me by Boston's WAAF. My first thought, after wondering where Jani Lane, Joe Elliot, and Jon Bon Jovi went, was ... whoa, this ain't half bad!
Temple of the Dog was the least supergroup supergroup ever created. If they formed today, then sure, you could accuse them of just being a bunch of all-stars getting together to make a buck. People would say that some of the guys from Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were just making the rounds, kicking tires, drumming up college funds for their kids.
But they were actually almost a real band. Matt Cameron helped Stone, Jeff, and McCready launch Pearl Jam. Cornell was not only in Soundgarden with Cameron, but also friends with the other guys. There were in Cameron Crowe's Singles together.
Temple of the Dog was as real as it got.
Rating
I give Temple of the Dog's self-titled album a 10/10
It wasn't created produce hit singles or pad a record company's coffers. Nor was it created to launch a band to superstardom or takeover MTV with music videos (though they did: Hunger Strike). Temple of the Dog was simply the result of a group of friends/bandmates/colleagues making music.
How is that possible? Let's see what Stone had to say.
"We made a record with Chris Cornell called Temple of the Dog. I still listen to it and think that it's the best thing I've ever been involved with. Whatever that combination of people was, I'd never been in a situation where it was that easy. I've almost been looking for that ever since. The very first thing we did was a very high water mark, the way that our two bands complemented each other. And it was a bunch of songs that Chris wrote totally from the heart. He wrote these songs without any preconceived notions of where they might end up or what they were going to be. That's where the real gold is. In terms of writing music, being self-conscious is the worst place to be." - Stone Gossard
Other than a few shows, the band didn't tour, didn't do promos, and didn't even really exist. At least not until 2016.
Who was in Temple of the Dog
- Chris Cornell (Lead Vocals, Guitars)
- Eddie Vedder (Backing Vocals Only)
- Jeff Ament (Bass)
- Matt Cameron (Drums)
- Mike McCready (Lead Guitar)
- Stone Gossard (Rhythm Guitar)
Temple of the Dog 25th Anniversary Tour
Discussing the album wouldn't be complete without mentioning the time Pants and I went down to Madison Square Garden two years ago to see them.
The Temple of the Dog MSG show was a long way timewise from their performance at the Off Ramp Cafe in Seattle's Capitol Hill in 1990. A bit less hair, a bit more gray, ... a little less Cornell vocal thunder. But all in all, just amazing.
The funniest part about the Off Ramp Cafe is that it was a female-motorcyclist bar. Better yet, it was the club that Soundgarden appears in in Singles.
Temple of the Dog song notes
Say Hello 2 Heaven
One of the most complete songs I've ever heard. Growing up, I always preferred Hunger Strike. But as age and wisdom have taken over, I've come to realize just how incredible Say Hello 2 Heaven really is.
It really is a perfect song. Starts with the solo arpeggiated guitar. Then the band kicks in with an entirely different riff. Then Cornell and crew arrive.
The mounting amplification of Cornell's overdriven vocals is a work of art. Their presence grows and evolves over the course of six minutes and twenty two seconds of song, such that by the time you hit chorus number three, you are feeling every emotion you've ever felt.
As for the band, it's the first time we hear the Mike McCready pickup switch mid-solo, something you hear later in Yellow Ledbetter. Invisible Matt Cameron does what he always does, hits every note with the exact amount of crash and drive. And, Gossard and Ament are flawless in their rhythmic execution.
Exactly how do you describe one of the most powerful songs recorded and performed in the 90s?
Stripped of its drums and bass, the alternate mix of Say Hello 2 Heaven really puts lead singer Chris Cornell on display. There is between your ears and Cornell's raw vocal power.
Chilling.
Reach Down
The longest track on the album by far. Reach Down is one of the songs directly written for Andy Wood.
No one devolves into a 4-5 minute solo like Michael David McCready. The dude is straight up given to wail.
Even Chris Cornell agrees during a Spin Magazine interview, "You almost kind of had to yell at him to get him to realize that in the five-and-a-half minute solo of "Reach Down," that was his time and that he wasn't going to be stepping on anybody else. He started recording what was eventually the solo, halfway through it he got so into it that his headphones flew off, and he played half that solo without even hearing the song."
I WANNNA REACH DOWWWWWWWNNNNNN ... AND LIFT THE CROWD UP!
Hunger Strike
The two biggest voices of grunge, alternative rock, and the 1990s, crush one of the most singable tunes of the decade. Cornell takes the highs, Vedder goes low.
Dude Rock before Dude Rock sucked (Nickelback, etc.)
Before we judge too harshly, Hunger Strike was more than Dude-Bro rock, it had a very active message. It wasn't pop fluff.
Lyrically, it's so much more than a radio hit.
Admit it, there are two types of people in this world:
- Those who sing Vedder's leadoff, "I'm going hungryyyyyyyy"
- Those who sing Cornell's follow-up, "Going hungraaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy"
Pushin' Forward Back
The riff to Pushin' Forward Back is literally vintage Ament and Gossard. If they had kept this for their burgeoning project (Pearl Jam), I'm not sure it would have been as good. Vedder doesn't do trepidation as well as Cornell.
Pushin' Forward Back - 11/13/90 @ Off Ramp (Seattle, WA)
Look at all the hair! You'd think Temple of the Dog was a hair metal band. Mike McCready was once part of one with Shadow (I believe).
Call Me a Dog
Definitely a Cornell penned tune. You can hear it in the melody.
Rick Parashar drops by for some piano work. Really completes the tonal foundation of Call Me a Dog.
Really solid tune.
Times of Trouble
Harmonica! Gotta love Cornell on the harmonica. And, more Parashar piano. The piano really makes the self-titled album glow, giving it both mass and finesse.
Cornell hits some Layne Staley styled notes with "Your body shakes!"
Times of Trouble would be repurposed into Footsteps, one part of the Momma-Son tape of Pearl Jam.
Wooden Jesus
I'm mildly shocked that Cornell wrote Wooden Jesus. Other than the repurposed Times of Trouble, it is the song that sounds the most like a Pearl Jam song.
Cameron might be one of the more versatile drummers that I have ever heard. I'm not sure if he has a strength, but I detect no weakness. He hits all the notes, never seeming to overplay.
Your Saviour
Love the guitar work on Your Saviour.
Signature Cornell vocal run on the "hey".
Awesome rhythmic interplay after the second "hey" part. Followed by McCready doing what he does best.
The outro IS the sound of Seattle. That will always remain the exact sound I think of when I think of the Seattle Scene, and not Teen Spirit.
Four Walled World
IN MY FOURRRRRRR!
Visceral lyrics, perhaps related to Badmotorfinger's Rusty Cage? I've always appreciated songwriting that binds itself thematically to an artist's other work.
All Night Thing
Cameron kicks All Night Thing off with a slow walk of a beat. Cornell and the organ come in right after.
Perfect way to end Temple of the Dog's self-titled album.
The piano over the organ is tasteful, I dig it. Parashar, other than the memory of Andy Wood, might be the unsung hero of these songs.
Final thoughts on the self-titled album of Temple of the Dog
Astounding creative work, Rock & Roll at its best.
Temple of the Dog Questions
Who is Temple of the Dog?
Temple of the Dog is Chris Cornell (Vocals, Guitars), Stone Gossard (Guitar), Mike McCready (Guitar), Jeff Ament (Bass), and Matt Cameron (Drums). Eddie Vedder performed additional/backing vocals on a couple of tracks on the album.
How many albums does Temple of the Dog have?
Temple of the Dog only release one album, their self-titled 1991 release, Temple of the Dog. The album coincided with the death of Andy Wood, so it was doubtful another would ever be created. Furthermore, Chris Cornell, the main songwriter of the album has since passed away. The rest of the band members remain alive in 2021.
Is Temple of the Dog Eddie Vedder?
No. Eddie Vedder is the least important member of Temple of the Dog. He was asked to add some backing vocals on the album and to split lead duties on Hunger Strike given his newly formed status in the band, Pearl Jam.
Did Temple of the Dog turn into Pearl Jam?
No, Temple of the Dog did not turn into Pearl Jam. The guys in Pearl Jam were close with Chris Cornell, and when Andy Wood died, they all came together to make a single record.
Who wrote Temple of the Dog songs?
Chris Cornell wrote most of the Temple of the Dog Songs. Stone contributed heavily.
Did Mother Love Bone become Pearl Jam?
No. Stone and Jeff were part of Mother Love Bone, and later became part of Pearl Jam. But Mother Love Bone did not become Pearl Jam.
Did Temple of the Dog ever tour?
Yes, they toured in 2016.
More Temple of the Dog Details
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| Studio | London Bridge Studios |
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Reviews of Temple of the Dog Albums
Grunge