1100 - Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication 1999

In April 1998, Flea visited his friend, and former band-mate and openly invited Frusciante to re-join the band, an invitation an emotional Frusciante readily accepted. Within the week and, for the first time in six years, the reunited foursome gathered to play, and jump-started the newly reunited Red Hot Chili Peppers.
"Californication" was released as the band's seventh studio album. An almost instant achievement, the album ultimately sold over 15 million copies worldwide and became the band's most successful recording to date.
In Kiedis's book "Scar Tissue" he reveals that the band had enormous difficulty in putting the title track together. Kiedis had written the lyrics, which he felt were some of the best he had ever written, but the band could not decide how the song should sound musically. As they struggled with the song it seemed like they would not be able to finish it in time to include it on the album, until one day Frusciante walked into the studio and exclaimed that he had "figured it out". He played the song as he visualised it, and it went from being a song that could have been an afterthought, to becoming one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' greatest hits, similar to the way "Under the Bridge" was conceived.

537 - Red Hot Chili Peppers Give It Away 1991

"Blood Sugar Sex Magik" is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was the band's first record released on Warner Bros. Records. The musical style of Blood Sugar differed notably from the style of the Chili Peppers' previous album, Mother's Milk, featuring little use of heavy metal riffs. The album's subject matter incorporated sexual innuendo and references drugs, and death as well as themes of lust and exuberance. "Give It Away" was the first of five singles from the album and achieved fame around the world, quickly becoming the defining song of the Chili Peppers' distinct funk-influenced sound. The song was created through an improvised jam session. Flea, the band's bassist, was trying out some bass lines when he struck upon what is nowadays regarded as one of the most distinctive bass riffs in all of their work. Their drummer, Chad Smith, joined in. The lead singer Anthony Kiedis was so taken by Flea's bass part, he took to the microphone and belted out "Give it away, give it away now" over and over.

362 - Red Hot Chili Peppers By the Way 2002

The band´s new album, "By the Way", starts with the title track, and would satisfy all fans, hardcore or not. It starts off very mellow, however, Flea soon comes in with a kickass bass line. It gets into a very nice groove and lets fans know that this album isn´t really like what they´ve heard before, but that the band haven´t completely forgotten their roots. "By the Way" was applauded by critics as a departure from the band's previous styles, and is recognized for the melodic and subdued emotions given by the Chili Peppers. Guitarist John Frusciante is credited with writing most of the album's melodies, bass lines, and guitar progressions.

188 - Red Hot Chili Peppers Otherside 1999

The album "Californication" marked many things; for one, the return of John Frusciante to the line-up after he had confronted his demons. This was a good thing, "One Hot Minute" had been a substantial drop in quality in comparison to the Red Hot Chili Peppers´ previous albums. Whether or not the (temporary) addition of Dave Navarro was the main contributing factor for this significant drop in quality is a question many have asked before. A song like 'Otherside' is not just a great Chili Peppers' song, it is also a great musical moment where all the pieces somehow come together perfectly to form a captivating piece of art.

90 - Red Hot Chili Peppers Under the Bridge 1991

Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. The band's fifth album, 1991's "Blood Sugar Sex Magik", was a critical success and sold over twelve million copies. Blood Sugar Sex Magik marked the departure of guitarist John Frusciante mid-tour in 1992, the band employed Dave Navarro (of Jane's Addiction) for their subsequent album, 1995's One Hot Minute, until Frusciante´s return in 1998. The ballad "Under the Bridge" was released as the follow up single, it went on to reach #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the highest the band has reached on that chart, and would become one of the band's most recognizable songs.