For the Lips, the future begins here. – All Music Guide
“Ambulance” is a fourth album by Flaming Lips and first of their albums to feature drummer Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev) and drummer Nathan Roberts. This was also the last album that the band recorded for Restless before they signed to Warner Bros (and released “Hit To Death In The Future Head“).
Its a concept record built around Wayne Coyne’s fascination with religion. Curiously, the original edition of the record listed running time for all tracks as 3:26 in “a Phil Spector ruse” (according to Trouser Press). The album features the cover of Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” and “Take Meta Mars” is based on Can’s track “Mushroom”.
Some of the outtakes from “Ambulance” were featured on “Unconsciously Screaming” EP and the album was reissued numerous times. In 2002, Restless Records released “The Day The Shot A Hole In The Jesus Egg“, a 2xCD collection that included “Ambulance”, b-sides for the album and “Mushroom Tapes”, a collection of early versions/alternate mixes of tracks from the “Ambulance”.
Tracklist: Shine On Sweet Jesus – Jesus Song No. 5 | Unconsciously Screamin’ | Rainin’ Babies | Take Meta Mars | Five Stop Mother Superior Rain | Stand In Line | God Walks Among Us Now – Jesus Song No. 6 | There You Are – Jesus Song No. 7 | Mountain Side | What A Wonderful World
Reviews: Trouser Press | Jim DeRogatis | Adrian Denning | Scott’s Rock And Soul Album Reviews
Videos:
Flaming Lips performing “Ambulance” in its entirety at the Water Palace (Norman, OK) on Jan. 28, 1995