Third

~ Release group by Portishead

Annotation

The album starts with a spoken-word Portuguese introduction. It was inspired by a Wiccan theory about the number three.
Translated to English: «Be aware to the rule of thirds. What you give will return to you. You have to learn this lesson. You only receive what you deserve» (Source: Discogs)

Adrian Utley explained on soundonsound.com:
“[Silence] had to go first because it has the Portuguese introduction about the number three. Geoff had a sample of a voice from a record, talking Portuguese, introducing a band. It kind of glued the track together and started it, and we liked it. Geoff discovered something about the Wiccan theory of three — do three good things and three good things will come back to you, related to the idea of bad luck coming in threes (without getting deeply into it) — so we wrote a sort of small manifesto, and got this Portuguese guy from Bristol to translate it, and recreated the sample, but with him speaking different words.”

Annotation last modified on 2022-07-19 21:15 UTC.

Album

ReleaseArtistFormatTracksCountry/DateLabelCatalog#Barcode
Official
ThirdPortishead2×12" Vinyl6 + 5
  • US2008-04-08
Mercury Records (or just “Mercury.” A UMG imprint, do not use it for ©/℗ credits)B0011141-01 JK02602517641044
ThirdPortisheadCD11
  • AU2008-04-24
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)1764013602517640139
ThirdPortisheadCD11
  • XE2008-04-25
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group), Island Records Group (UK label run by Universal Island Records)1766401602517664012
ThirdPortisheadCD11
  • DE2008-04-25
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)1766401602517664012
Third (Bonus track version - We Carry On)PortisheadDigital Media12
  • GB2008-04-25
Universal Island Records (not for release label use; a division of Universal Music Operations Limited)
Third (Bonus track version - Magic Doors)PortisheadDigital Media12
  • GB2008-04-27
Universal Island Records (not for release label use; a division of Universal Music Operations Limited)
ThirdPortisheadDigital Media11
  • CA2008-04-28
  • MX2008-04-28
  • US2008-04-28
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)602517664005
ThirdPortisheadCD11
  • NZ2008-04-28
Universal Island Records (not for release label use; a division of Universal Music Operations Limited)1766400602517664005
ThirdPortisheadCD11
  • GB2008-04-28
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)1764013602517640139
ThirdPortisheadDigital Media12
  • US2008-04-28
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)
ThirdPortisheadCD11
  • US2008-04-29
Mercury Records (or just “Mercury.” A UMG imprint, do not use it for ©/℗ credits)B0011141-02602517664005
ThirdPortisheadEnhanced CD12
  • JP2008-04-30
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)UICI-10694988005510273
ThirdPortisheadUSB Flash Drive + 3×12" Vinyl11 + 6 + 5 + 1
Universal Island Records (not for release label use; a division of Universal Music Operations Limited)1766390602517663909
ThirdPortisheadCD11
Mercury Records (or just “Mercury.” A UMG imprint, do not use it for ©/℗ credits)0251766400602517664005
Third (Made in Germany by EDC)PortisheadCD11
Go! Discs, Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group), Island Records Group (UK label run by Universal Island Records)1764013602517640139
ThirdPortisheadCD11
Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group)1766400602517664005

Relationships

associated singles/EPs:Machine Gun
The Rip
The Rip
part of:Sue: Vuosikymmenen levyt, ulkomaiset (2000s) (number: 23) (order: 23)
Fact Magazine: The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s (number: 28) (order: 28)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/5496 [info]
reviews:https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/c8p2 [info]
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/adrian-utley-recording-third [info]
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/portishead/third/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000784007 [info]
Wikidata:Q571394 [info]