BeastieMania.com - Song Spotlight

Lighten Up

First Appearance: Check Your Head LP, 21 April 1992
Written by: Beastie Boys and Mark Nishita
Performed by: Adam Yauch (bass), Michael Diamond (drums), Adam Horovitz (guitar), Mark Nishita (D6, Clav, Organ, Wurlitzer), Juanito Vasquez (cuita, conga), Arturo (Ture) Oliva (bata', shakeree)
Production Notes: Engineered by Mario Caldato, produced by Beastie Boys and Mario Caldato. Recorded and mixed at G-Son Studios, Atwater Village, CA. Sequenced at PCP Labs.

Click for Lighten Up Lyrics

Commentary

Press

"...lifted by African beats, [Lighten Up] journeys into the psychedelic" - Rolling Stone, 1992

"...very spacey" - Seventeen, 1992

"...where [the Beastie Boys] pick up instruments and create the guitar and keyboard funk sessions that are [Check Your Head's] true vibe" - The Source, 1992

Released Versions:

Lighten Up
Lighten Up (Instrumental)
Lighten Up (Live)

Live Versions:

Performed in 144 known Concerts.

First known Performance:
17-May-1992 : Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States

Last known Performance:
10-Jun-2009 : Orange Peel, The, Asheville, NC, United States