Red Hot Chili Peppers Album: “Fortune Faded [UK CD #2]”

The single starts out with Fortune Faded, the song they wrote in 2001 for their next album (which ended up being By The Way) and was meant to be a big hit, but they didn't like how that version came up. This new version, in my opinion, does not have the same power the older one had. In case you haven't heard it, John has different (less) backing vocals on it, the chorus melody is different, and there's no acoustic guitar. This version, however, is still cool.

The second track is a Californication remix by Ekkehard Ehelers. My first reaction when I found out this was gonna be on the single was denial. Why go back to the horrible remix days!? Well they did. The track is good for one listen, for curiosity, but that's it. Definately not worth it.

The last track is Tuesday Night In Berlin, an end of show jam recorded (yeah you've guessed it) in Berlin, in March 2003. The track is one of their most experimental jams. It starts out with the usual lineup (Flea on bass, John Frusciante on guitar, Anthony Kiedis on vocals, and Chad Smith on drums) plus Ekkehard Ehelers, who does sound effects on the song. In the middle of the song, the jam ends for a second, and then Flea starts playig his trumpet. Soon John joins him on bass, and then Ekkehard Ehelers. So the lineup ends with Flea on trumpet, John on bass, and Ekkehard Ehelers on the effects.

The song is worth a listen especially to hear John play bass and Flea playing trumpet (in case you hadn't before) but it's the kind of song you can get fed up with after a while, unlike another end of show jam, Nothing To Lose, from the Can't Stop single. For more jams you can also check out the Californication single.

This is the second version of the Fortune Faded single (released with blue writing, instead of red). The song can be heard, otherwise, on the RHCP Greatest Hits assemblage and Live In Hyde Park (for a live interpretation).

The song itself is a strange little number that is fairly funky, but mostly melodious. The lyrics are what really catches you, though, as it tells a tale of insightful anecdotes and interesting events. This would have to be up there in the best unreleased tracks.

The remixed version of Californication (done by Ekkehard Ehelers) is somewhat surprising. One would not expect that there would be so much in-laying and overlapping done. It's quite a mesmerizing piece of work, to tell you the truth. I wasn't completely overwhelmed and blown away by it, but there are times when one could feel themselves high above the earth--on Cloud Nine.

Tuesday Night In Berlin is the least eye catching of the three. It's not particularly essential, and is, in reality, a jam session to end a show. Nothing big, nothing bold. You can't blow it out of proportion in any way.

In the end, this isn't a bad Single to your collection, but if you aren't a die-hard fan, you can skip it untroubled.

Well i guess i should tell you about the album because there is no track listing and no reviews. The Songs on this single are.

1. Fortune Fadded

2. Californication (Remixed)

3. Tuesday Night in Berlin

Now you should have heard fortune fadded by now if you are looking at this but if you havent it is a great song. The version of californication is all weird with the solo at the begining and no drums for a while but still interesting. Tuesday Night in Berlin is not really a song, but an end of show, you guessed it, in Berlin on a Tuesday night. The begining is cool and kinda sounds like the intro to Live At Slane. From there Flea is playing trumpet and it is pretty fun. I would recomend Fortune Fadded 1 before buying this because that actually has two B-sides on it. Still a good singl though.

"Fortune Faded" was the single release from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Greatest Hits" compilation, and was issued in two parts. This one adds a remix and a live jam.

"Fortune Faded" is an odd little piece, with the sort of funky beat that was missing (not necessarily a bad thing) from "By the Way" and a suitably esoteric lyric. The "Californication" remix by Ekkehard Ehelers adds some sort of odd haze to the piece, rearranges it a bit, and is certainly an intriguing listen-- my problem with most remixes is that they either don't add much or totally reconsruct the piece so it's unrecognizable. This one strikes a good balance between the two. The "Tuesday Night in Berlin" jam is sort of whatever-- it's nice, it's kind of exciting, but invariably it doesn't bear too many repeated listens.

In the end, it's a decent release-- not quite as good as the other "Fortune Faded" single, but probably worth pursuing for fans. "Tuesday Night in Berlin" is one of the end of the show jams you see now and aagain