S&M (an abbreviation of Symphony and Metallica) is a live album by
American heavy metal band Metallica, with the San Francisco Symphony conducted
by Michael Kamen. It was recorded on April 21 and 22, 1999, at The Berkeley
Community Theatre. This is the final Metallica album to feature bassist Jason
Newsted.
Album information
[edit]
S&M contains performances of Metallica songs with additional symphonic
accompaniment, composed by Michael Kamen, who also conducted the orchestra
during the concert. According to James Hetfield, the idea to combine heavy metal
with an epic classical approach was Cliff Burton's idea.[3][4] His love of classical music,
especially of Johann Sebastian Bach, can be found in many instrumental parts and
melodic characteristics in Metallica's songwriting, including songs from Ride the
Lightning (1984) and Master of Puppets (1986).[5] Kamen, who arranged and
conducted the orchestral background tracks for "Nothing Else Matters", met the band
at the 1992 Grammy award show for the first time, and after hearing the "Elevator
version" of the song, suggested the band perform with a whole orchestra; the band,
however, did not take him up on the offer until seven years later.[6] Lars Ulrich's
favorite band Deep Purple, whom he colorfully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 2016, is noted for having kicked off this kind of approach 30 years before,
in Concerto for Group and Orchestra (1969), although it had actually been done
multiple times before, most notably with the Moody Blues' Days of Future Passed in
1967.
In addition to songs from previous albums spanning Ride the
Lightning through Reload, there are two new compositions: "No Leaf Clover" and
"−Human". "The Ecstasy of Gold" by Ennio Morricone, Metallica's entrance music,
was played live by the orchestra. "No Leaf Clover" has since been performed by
Metallica in concert, using a recording of the orchestral prelude.
Changes were made to the lyrics of some songs, most notably the removal of the
second verse and chorus of "The Thing That Should Not Be" and playing the third
verse in its place.
The "S" in the stylized "S&M" on the album cover is a backwards treble clef, while
the "M" is taken from Metallica's logo.
The drum kit Ulrich used on the album currently resides in a Guitar Center in San
Francisco.
Critical reception
[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
[7]
AllMusic
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 5/10[8]
[9]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Entertainment Weekly B[10]
[11]
Q
[12]
Rolling Stone
[13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Spin 8/10[11]
Rolling Stone (January 20, 2000, pp. 57–59) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...create
the most crowded, ceiling-rattling basement rec room in rock....[in its]
sheer awesomeness...the live performance succeeded....the monster
numbers benefit from supersizing. The effect is more one of
timelessness..."[12]
Spin (February 2000, pp. 114–5) – 8 out of 10 – "...makes their tempo and
texture dynamics...into a topic in and off of itself, a deep evocation of bad-
voodoo creeping willies culminating in 'One' and 'Enter Sandman'....Freed
from ritualized superhuman extremism, it builds a soundtrack to everyday
life."[11]
Entertainment Weekly (December 3, 1999, p. 102) – "Buttressed by grim
strings, creaky horns, and thundering timpani, staples...creep with fearful
new dimension, like an old Posada print come to life." – Rating: B[10]
Q (February 2000, p. 86) – 3 stars out of 5 – "...another just about
forgivable flirtation with Spinal Tap-esque lunacy....a fine hit-heavy live LP
with bolted-on bombast from the S.F. Symphony....Michael Kamen's
scores swoop and soar with impressive portent throughout."[11]
CMJ (December 20, 1999, p. 24) – "...stunning....orchestral renditions of
hits from the band's '90s output."[11]
S&M was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You
Die.[14]
NME ranked the album 48th on its list of 50 Greatest Live Albums.[15]
Metal Hammer magazine named it one of the 20 best metal albums of
1999.[16]
Accolades
[edit]
Year Winner Category
199 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Award for Compilation Album
S&M
9 of the Year[17]
200 ARTIST Direct Online Music Award for Favorite Turn-It-
S&M
0 Up-Loud CD[18]
200 California Music Award for Arthur M. Sohcot Award for
S&M
0 Excellence
200 "The Call of
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
1 Ktulu"
Commercial performance
[edit]
S&M sold 300,000 units in the first week of release,[19] and went on to sell a total of
2.5 million copies in the US.[20] As of 2003, the album had been certified 5× platinum.
[21]
20th anniversary
[edit]
Further information: S&M2 (album)
After Kamen's death in 2003, Metallica did not revisit the S&M concept in any further
performances or recording work for years. However, the band announced on March
18, 2019, that they would hold a concert with the San Francisco Symphony at
the Chase Center on September 6 of that year to commemorate the 20th
anniversary with a single-night concert, headed by Michael Tilson Thomas as music
director. They later added a second concert on September 8.
The shows included many songs from the original S&M performances, as well as
renditions of songs that had been released since then. In August, it was announced
that a film of the concerts would receive a limited worldwide theatrical release.[22] The
concert was given a limited release and has grossed over 5.5 million dollars.[23] In
August 2020, the band released the two 20th anniversary performances as an
album, video, and box set entitled S&M2.[24][25]
Track listing
[edit]
Disc one
No. Title Writer(s) Original album Length
1. "The Ecstasy of Gold" Ennio Morricone The Good, the 2:31
(instrumental) Bad and the Ugly
2. "The Call of Ktulu" James Hetfield, Lars Ride the 9:34
(instrumental) Ulrich, Cliff Burton, Dave Lightning
Mustaine
3. "Master of Puppets" Hetfield, Ulrich, Master of 8:55
Burton, Kirk Hammett Puppets
4. "Of Wolf and Man" Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett Metallica 4:19
5. "The Thing That Should Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett Master of 7:27
Not Be" Puppets
6. "Fuel" Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett Reload 4:36
7. "The Memory Remains" Hetfield, Ulrich Reload 4:42
8. "No Leaf Clover" Hetfield, Ulrich S&M 5:43
9. "Hero of the Day" Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett Load 4:45
10. "Devil's Dance" Hetfield, Ulrich Reload 5:26
11. "Bleeding Me" Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett Load 9:02
Total length: 67:00
Disc two
No. Title Writer(s) Original album Length
1. "Nothing Else Matters" Hetfield, Ulrich Metallica 6:48
2. "Until It Sleeps" Hetfield, Ulrich Load 4:30
3. "For Whom the Bell Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton Ride the 4:52
Tolls" Lightning
4. "– Human" Hetfield, Ulrich S&M 4:20
5. "Wherever I May Roam" Hetfield, Ulrich Metallica 7:02
6. "The Outlaw Torn" Hetfield, Ulrich Load 9:59
7. "Sad but True" Hetfield, Ulrich Metallica 5:46
8. "One" Hetfield, Ulrich ...And Justice for 7:53
All
9. "Enter Sandman" Hetfield, Ulrich, Metallica 7:39
Hammett
10. "Battery" Hetfield, Ulrich Master of 7:25
Puppets
Total length: Disc
two: 66:14
Total: 133:14
Video release
[edit]
Metallica also filmed and released the concert in DVD and VHS with direction
by Wayne Isham. The VHS set has only the concert video, while the double DVD set
has 5.1 sound (also: 2.0 band+orchestra, 2.0 band-only and 2.0 orchestra-only), 41
minute documentary about the concert, and two "No Leaf Clover" music videos:
"Slice & Dice" version and the "Maestro Edit". The DVD also contains four songs with
multi-angles where each band member can be viewed individually: "Of Wolf and
Man", "Fuel", "Sad But True", and "Enter Sandman".
Personnel
[edit]
Metallica Video production
James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, electro-acoustic Wayne Isham – video d
guitar in "Nothing Else Matters"; first solo in "Master of Bart Lipton – video pro
Puppets", solo on "Nothing Else Matters", outro solo in "The Dana Marshall – video
Outlaw Torn"
Kirk Hammett – lead guitar, backing vocals, sitar on
"Wherever I May Roam"
Jason Newsted – bass guitar, backing vocals
Lars Ulrich – drums
San Francisco Symphony
Michael Kamen – orchestral arrangements and conducting
John Kieser – general manager
Eric Achen, Joshua Garrett, Douglas Hull, Jonathan Ring, Bruce Roberts,
Robert Ward, James Smelser – French horns
David Teie principal, Richard Andaya, Barara Bogatin, Jill Rachuy Brindel,
David Goldblatt – cello
Jeremy Constant concertmaster, Daniel Banner, Enrique Bocedi, Paul
Brancato, Catherine Down, Bruce Freifeld, Connie Gantsweg, Michael
Gerling, Frances Jeffrey, Robert Zelnick, Yukiko Kamei, Naomi Kazama,
Kum Mo Kim, Yasuko Hattori, Melissa Kleinbart, Mo Kobialka, Daniel
Kobialka, Rudolph Kremer, Kelly Leon-Pearce, Diane Nicholeris, Florin
Parvulescu, Anne Pinsker, Victor Romasevich, Philip Santos, Peter
Shelton – violins
Chris Bogios, Glenn Fischthal, Andrew McCandless, Craig Morris –
trumpets
Stephen Paulson, Steven Dibner, Rob Weir – bassoons
Steven Braunstein – contrabassoon
Charles Chandler, Laurence Epstein, Chris Gilbert, William Ritchen,
Stephen Tramontozzi, S. Mark Wright – double basses
Anthony J. Cirone, Ray Froelich, Thomas Hemphill, Artie Storch –
percussion
Don Ehrlich, Gina Feinauer, David Gaudry, Christina King, Yun Jie Liu,
Seth Mausner, Nanci Severance, Geraldine Walther – violas
John Engelkes, Tom Hornig, Paul Welcomer, Jeff Budin – trombones
Julie Ann Giacobassi, Eugene Izotov, Pamela Smith – oboes
Russ deLuna – English horn
David Herbert – timpani
Linda Lukas, Tim Day, Robin McKee – flutes
David Neuman, Carey Bell, Luis Beez – clarinets
Catherine Payne – piccolo
Douglas Rioth – harp
Robin Sutherland – keyboards
Peter Wahrhaftig – tuba
Technical personnel
Bob Rock – producer, engineer
James Hetfield – producer
Lars Ulrich – producer
Michael Kamen – producer, orchestration, arranger, liner notes, music
director
Randy Staub – engineer, mixing
Steve McLaughlin – engineer, recording
George Marino – mastering
Billy Bowers – digital editing
Paul DeCarli – digital editing
Mike Gillies – digital editing
Darren Grahn – digital editing, assistant
John Vrtacic – technical assistance
James Brett – assistant, music preparation
Billy Konkel – assistant
Leff Lefferts – assistant
Kent Matcke – assistant
Geoffrey Alexander – orchestration
Ted Allen – orchestration
Pete Anthony – orchestration
Chris Wagner – orchestration
Bruce Babcock - orchestration
Chris Boardman – orchestration
Bob Elhai – orchestration
Blake Neely – orchestration, music copyist, music preparation
Jonathan Sacks – orchestration
Brad Warnaar – orchestration
Michael Price – music preparation
Vic Fraser – music copyist
Andie Airfix – design
Anton Corbijn – photography
Chart positions
[edit]
Weekly charts Year-end charts
[edit] [edit]
Weekly chart performance for S&M 1999 year-end chart performa
Peak Chart (1999)
Chart (1999–2000)
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[49]
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flander
Weekly chart performance for S&M 1999 year-end chart performa
Peak Chart (1999)
Chart (1999–2000)
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[27] 3
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[51]
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [28]
4
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[52
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 16
German Albums (Offizielle Top 1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [30]
3
2000 year-end chart perfor
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 2
Chart (2000)
Europe (European Top 100 Albums) [32]
2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[54]
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[33] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flander
French Albums (SNEP) [34]
7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallon
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [35]
1
Canadian Albums (Nielsen Sound
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [36]
25
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[58]
Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 42
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[59
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)[38] 26
European Albums (Music & Medi
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[26] 55
German Albums (Offizielle Top 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [39]
11
Weekly chart performance for S&M 2000 year-end chart perfor
Peak Chart (2000)
Chart (1999–2000)
position
South Korean International Album
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [40]
1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitpara
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[41] 1
US Billboard 200[64]
Scottish Albums (OCC) [42]
28
2020 year-end chart perform
Spanish Albums (AFYVE) [43]
6 for S&M
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 1 Chart (2020)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 4 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[65]
UK Albums (OCC)[46] 33 2021 year-end chart perform
for S&M
US Billboard 200[47] 2
Chart (2021)
Peak
Chart (2020) Polish Albums (ZPAV)[66]
position
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[48] 1
Singles
[edit]
Year Single Chart Position
1999 "No Leaf Clover" Mainstream Rock 1
Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks 18
2000 Billboard Hot 100 74
Certifications and sales
[edit]
Certifications and sales for S&M
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[67] Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[68] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[69] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[70] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[71] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Denmark — 23,262[72]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[73] Platinum 72,831[73]
France (SNEP)[74] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[75] 5× Gold 750,000‡
Greece (IFPI Greece)[76] Platinum 30,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[77] Gold 75,000^
Certifications and sales for S&M
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[78] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[79] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[80] 2× Platinum 200,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[81] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[82] Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[83] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[84] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[85] 5× Platinum 2,500,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[86] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
Sales figures based on certification alone.
*
^
Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Certifications and sales for the video release
Certified
Region Certification
units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[87] 7× Platinum 105,000^
Certifications and sales for the video release
Certified
Region Certification
units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[88] Gold 5,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[89] Platinum 50,000*
United States (RIAA)[90] 6× Platinum 600,000^
*
Sales figures based on certification alone.
^
Shipments figures based on certification alone.
