The Real Thing (album)

{{Album infobox |

  Name        = The Real Thing |

Type = Album | Artist = Faith No More |

  Cover       = The_Real_Thing_album_cover.jpg |
  Background  = Orange |

Released = June 20, 1989 | Recorded = December 1988 at the Studio D in Sausalito, California | Genre = Alternative Metal |

  Length      = 54:58 |

Label = Slash Records | Producer = Matt Wallace | Reviews = *All Music Guide (4/5) link
Rolling Stone link
*ARTISTdirect (4.5/5) link | Last album = Introduce Yourself
(1987) | This album = The Real Thing
(1989) | Next album = Live at the Brixton Academy
(1990) |

The Real Thing is the third album released by Faith No More in 1989. It was their first record with Mike Patton and became their breakthrough. On this album, Faith No More advanced their sound range combining metal, hardcore punk, funk and soul.

Most known for its track "Epic," whose video featured a fish flopping about on the ground, the album's "Falling to Pieces" also became popular (its video was a favorite of MTV's "Beavis and Butthead"). The video for "Epic" was subject to controversy because of the perceived treatment of the fish, which appears to be dying--it was in fact slow motion footage; the fish was returned to its tank alive.

The album also features "War Pigs," a cover of the anti-war protest song by Black Sabbath, as well as "Edge of the World," a piano ballad about a pedophile.

Track listing

# "From Out Of Nowhere" (music: Gould/Bottum; lyrics: Patton)# "Epic" (music: Gould/Martin/Bottum/Bordin; lyrics: Patton)# "Falling to Pieces" (music: Gould/Bottum/Martin; lyrics: Patton)# "Surprise! You're Dead!" (music: Martin; lyrics: Patton)# "Zombie Eaters" (music: Martin/Gould/Bordin/Bottum; lyrics: Patton)# "The Real Thing" (music: Gould/Bottum; lyrics: Patton/Gould)# "Underwater Love" (music: Gould/Bottum; lyrics: Patton)# "The Morning After" (music: Gould/Bottum/Martin; lyrics: Patton)# "Woodpecker from Mars" (music: Martin/Bordin)# "War Pigs" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward)# "Edge of the World" (music: Gould/Bottum/Bordin; lyrics: Patton)

The cassette version has "Edge Of The World" as track 6, ending Side 1. The vinyl version did not feature "War Pigs" or "Edge Of The World."

Official songwriting credits revealed in an email from Billy Gould, 2004.

Chart positions

Album

Year	Album	Chart	Position
1990	The Real Thing	The Billboard 200	No. 11

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1990	"Epic"	The Billboard Hot 100	No. 9
1990	"Epic"	Modern Rock Tracks	No. 2
1990	"Epic"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	No. 25
1990	"Falling To Pieces"	Modern Rock Tracks	No. 12
1990	"Falling to Pieces"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	No. 40
1990	"Falling to Pieces"	The Billboard Hot 100	No. 92