Poison was the fourth single taken from 'Music For The Jilted Generation'. Poison was the first Prodigy song which had Maxim on vocals. Liam wrote the music and Maxim the lyrics. 'Poison' was only 104 bpm hip hop flavoured song which is without a doubt one of the best Prodigy songs - ever. 'Poison' was important for the band because with it Liam got Maxim more into his music and despite it was a slow hip hop track it was strong song packed with energy. 'Poison' was astandoutt track from 'Jilted' and it was something Liam had not written since his hip hop days: "That track could lose a lot of fans because it is so slow, but the point is is that slow tracks can be the hardest tracks if they are written right. 'Poison' is proof of that old school of thought, because despite its speed it is still one of the hardest tracks on the album. I wanted to bring Maxim into the picture a bit more and that track came together very well. He tried a few lyrical ideas but they weren't working, then he came back with the 'Poison' lyric which is not a rap or raggae or anything. I liked it, there were drug ambiguities in there as well, and as a result of the buzz that idea gave me, the tracks is a stand out track for me. It is a mix between hip hop and techno and Maxim works perfect on there. Ironically, that is also perhaps the most autobiographical I have ever written. Hip hop was the first style of music I was really into and that track has a lot of that element. It sums up that portion of my life as well."

    The song has been a long time in Prodigy's live set and it has changed a lot over the years. In 1996 Liam started to add a flute sample from his remix of Method Man's 'Release Yo' Delf' and the song has a kind of a "jamming feeling" on stage. "That ('Poison') started to open up other possibilities to the band, both in terms of the gigs and on record" -Maxim.

    In 1996 CJ Bolland "sampled" the lyrics of 'Poison' for his song 'Sugar Is Sweeter'. He had earlier, in 1994, remixed Prodigy's 'No Good (Start The Dance)'. Since CJ Bolland ripped off the lyrics without Prodigy's permission, the incident didn't please the band.

    Tracks

    The original version was released on 'Music For The Jilted Generation' album (XLLP 114). For the single release Liam re-worked on the track, changing the vocals and some sounds. The single version was titled 95 EQ - the CD single contained shorter, edit version of 95 EQ and the 12-inch single had a longer version, even though both versions are titled just as 95 EQ. 'Rat Poison' was totally different version of the original version. Liam has described the remix as "The result is somewhere between Biohazard and Nine Inch Nails". On the remix Liam himself played bass guitar and his friend lead guitar. 'Scienide' was originally released on a 12-inch white label and it was a rude techno song which has been known played live only once. 'Enviromental Science Dub Mix' was a remix done bEnvironmentalal Science and it's more laid back and ambient that the Prodigy's version.

    Thofficialal press release which was in 'Poison' 12" XL promo said: "Release date Feb 27th 1995. Following the success of "No Good" and "Voodoo People", The Prodigy return with "Poison", a deadly mixture of phat beats, basslines and orinding synths, an intoxicating aural extravaganza that, at very least, can only be described as an experience!!!!! The 95 EQ mix although similar to the album version, has been re-mastered and slightly altered for thdance flooror, Rat Poison includes guitars played by Liam giving the track a harder live feel anEnvironmentalal Science give the track a dubby "trip hop" makeover. Also included is the bonus techno stormer "Scienide". Track listing: A1 Poison (95 EQ) A2 Rat Poison B1 Scienide Environmentaltal Science Dub Mix"

    Releases

    'Poison' was released on XL Recordings as 12-inch (XLT 58), 4-trk CD (XLS 58 CD) and 2-trk CD (XLS 58 CDS). 'Scienide' was originally released on 12" white label (XL SC 1) which only 500 copies were made (an A4 paper was included with the white label - as pictured on right). A live version of 'Poison' was released on Breathe CD single (XLS 80 CD). The song was recorded live at The Tourhout & Werchter Festival 1996.

    The single was released in tNetherlandsnds by Play It Again Sam as 4-trk single (825.0058.22) and as 2-trk single in cardsleeve (825.0058.24). In Germany the single was released by Intercord (INT 827.914). 95 EQ Edit appeared on French Delabel promo CD (LC 3098).

    'Music For The Jilted Generation' was released in the US by Mute and even though 'Poison' was never released as single in the US, Mute made promos of the song - promo CD (MUS1-2) and promo 12" (MUS1-0). 'Rat Poison' appeared on Mute 'Voodoo People' single (Mute CD 7007-2 and 12-inch 7007-0).
1