Sonic Youth released their 6th studio album on 26 June 1990.
After being courted by a number of “major” record labels, Sonic Youth signed a 5-album deal (for $300,000) with the fledgling DGC Records, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. The band had a “complete creative control” clause in their contract, which they used when Geffen balked at the album artwork by Raymond Pettibon, fearing that it would alienate a more mainstream audience.
Goo went on to sell more than 500,000 copies and peaked at #96 on the US Billboard chart (there first album to appear on the charts), helped in part by the single “Kool Thing,” a “duet” with Public Enemy’s Chuck D.
Goo is considered one of Sonic Youth’s most “approachable” albums and is important for not only ushering indie music into the mainstream, but paving the way for other bands to the major labels. Nirvana specifically signed to DGC because of Sonic Youth.
