Give It Away by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Can left-field bands score hit singles? Sure, and this was the proof. The Chili Peppers had already released four albums before Blood Sugar Sex Magik, collaborating with heroes like Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill and funkmeister George Clinton. Their punk-funk mayhem had a solid audience, but nothing was putting them over the top until they linked up with producer Rick Rubin (already a hotshot after work with the Beastie Boys and the Cult).

The band pulled a neat trick by releasing a good-timey single first, then following it with a ballad (“Under the Bridge”) that showed a deeper side to the band. By the end of 1992 the Chili Peppers were so popular that guitarist John Frusciante rebelled and quit the band in the middle of a tour.

The original CD single of “Give It Away” also featured a cover version of the punk classic “Search & Destroy,” by Iggy Pop & the Stooges.

The bass is one of those effective, repetitive parts; but there’s one bit where bassist Flea evidently got bored and decided to throw in something a little tricky. That happens with a string of HOPOs at the end of the first guitar solo.

The first guitar solo is relatively easy with a lot of long sustains; the second gets tougher with a string of alternating pairs—Save your energy for that.

The drums are mainly a straight backbeat—there’s a fill at the end that may catch you by surprise, but it won’t fail you if you blow it.

They took a hiatus after the epic double CD Stadium Arcadium, but they’ll be back.