Changes

[[Image:Fragile_cover_big.jpg|thumb|Halo 14 - ''The Fragile''<br />[http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%5Fsb%5Fnoss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dnine%2520inch%2520nails%2520the%2520fragile%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=thniinnawi-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957 Find on Amazon] - [http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5574848848&toolid=10001&campid=5336384580&customid=&icep_uq=nine+inch+nails+the+fragile&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg Find on eBay]]]'''''The Fragile''''' (also known as '''''[[Halo numbers|Halo 14]]'''''), released on September 21, 1999, is the fourth studio album by [[Nine Inch Nails]]. The album features a rich array of electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy guitar. While it received critical acclaim from many, it did not receive the commercial success that its predecessor, ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]],'' did (attributed variously to the difference in musical climate, and insufficient promotion by [[Interscope Records]]).
The album features a rich array of electronic beatsPrior to its release, ambient noise, and heavy guitar. While it received critical acclaim from many, it did not receive the commercial success that its predecessor, single ''[[The Downward Spiral Day The World Went Away (halo)|The Downward SpiralDay The World Went Away]]'' came out on July 20; following ''The Fragile,'' did ''[[We're In This Together (attributed variously to the difference halo)|We're In This Together]]'' was released in musical climate, three parts on December 14. A collection featuring several [[Remixes|remixes]] and insufficient promotion by new material from ''The Fragile'' was released as ''[[Interscope RecordsThings Falling Apart]])'' on November 21, 2000.
Prior to its release, the single ''[[The Day The World Went Away (halo)|The Day The World Went Away]]'' came out on July 20; following ''The Fragile,'' ''[[We're In This Together (halo)|We're In This Together]]'' was released in three parts on December 14. A collection featuring several remixes and new material from ''The Fragile'' was released as ''[[Things Falling Apart]]'' on November 21, 2000. The [[Fragility 2.0]] tour was filmed and released as ''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' on 2-disc DVD (both Dolby Digital and DTS versions) and VHS on January 22, 2002. It was also released as a live CD, eventually combined with a second disc of re-constructed material and new songs called ''[[Still]].'' ==10th anniversary Reissue==In a Question and Answer session with NIN fans, Reznor hinted at the reissue of The Fragile for early 2010, a statement repeated via the [http://twitter.com/nineinchnails/status/4157519090 official twitter account], calling it an "Ultimate reissue." [[Rob Sheridan]] has since mentioned that the project is delayed due to packaging decisions, and as yet there is no new reissue date. [[Alan Moulder]] is working on a 5.1 surround sound mix for the re-issue[http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/mv/msg/32698/502417/0/#msg_502417]. ==Track Listing=====CD Release=List==
====Left====
#"[[Somewhat Damaged]]" - 4:31
#"[[La Mer]]" - 4:37
#"[[The Great Below]]" - 5:17
 
====Right====
#"[[The Way Out Is Through]]" - 4:17
#"[[Underneath It All]]" - 2:46
#"[[Ripe (With Decay)]]" - 6:34
 ===12" Vinyl Release===
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A1&nbsp; "Somewhat Damaged" – 4:31<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A2&nbsp; "The Day the The World Went Away" – 5:01<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A3&nbsp; "The Frail" – 1:54<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A4&nbsp; "The Wretched" – 5:36<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B1&nbsp; "We're in In This Together" – 7:17<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B2&nbsp; "The Fragile" – 4:35<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B3&nbsp; "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49<br>
*This release has several bootleg copies in wide circulation, including those pressed on red vinyl, and those with the white shrinkwrap sticker printed as part of the back artwork.
====Differences to the To The CD versionVersion====Many of the tracks on the vinyl release differ from the their CD equivalent:
* "The Day the World Went Away" has a longer guitar intro
* "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" begins with the full strings sample
* "Ripe" does not include the "With Decay" ending section, but rather fades out as the slinking guitars play the main riff
* "The Wretched," "We're in This Together," "Even Deeper," "Pilgrimage," "The Mark Has Been Made," "10 Miles High," "The New Flesh" and "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" all do not crossfade as on the CD version, because these songs either end or begin their respective sides
===Cassette Release===
The tracklist track list for the double cassette releases of ''The Fragile'' follow the CD tracklisttrack list, save for the insertion of "[[+Appendage]]" onto the end of "Please" on US and EU some other countries' copies. The first tape splits between "Just Like You Imagined" and "Even Deeper," while the second tape splits between either "Please (+ Appendage)" and "Starfuckers, Inc." or "Starfuckers, Inc." and "Complication".
"+Appendage" is included on all US cassettes and on several other countries', such as Thailand and Poland. "+Appendage" is listed, but not actually included, in the tracklistings of some countries' cassettes, such as Europe and South Korea. Other countries' cassette releases, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Mexico, omit "+Appendage" entirely, from both the tracklisting and the tape. ==Instrumental Versions=====''The Fragile Instrumental''===[[Image:FragileInst.jpg|thumb|''The Fragile Instrumental'' Artwork]]''The Fragile Instrumental'' was made available on June 30th, 2015 exclusively via Apple Music. It contained instrumentals of every track, with some also being alternate versions (see the [[Remixes#The_Fragile_Era|remixes]] page for details.) It also contained three previously unheard tracks: "[[The March]]" (instrumental), "[[Hello, Everything Is Not OK]]" (instrumental) (a demo of "10 Miles High"), and "[[Can I Stay Here?]]" (instrumental). It is also notable that it contains the first non-cassette version of "+Appendage". It was released along with ''[[With Teeth (halo)|With Teeth Instrumental]]''. ====Track List===="The Frail" and "Pilgrimage" were not included in the playlist posted on Apple Music, but were still available as tracks on the service. #"Somewhat Damaged" (instrumental) - 4:53#"The Day The World Went Away" (instrumental) - 6:19#"The Wretched" (instrumental) - 5:57#"We're In This Together" (instrumental) - 7:36#"The Fragile" (instrumental) - 4:46#"Just Like You Imagined" (alt) - 3:41#"Even Deeper" (instrumental) - 6:17#"No, You Don't" (instrumental) - 3:18#"La Mer" (alt) - 4:55#"The Great Below" (instrumental) - 5:25#"The New Flesh" (alt) - 3:41#"The Way Out Is Through" (instrumental) - 4:27#"Into The Void" (instrumental) - 4:45#"Where Is Everybody?" (instrumental) - 4:54#"The Mark Has Been Made" (alt) - 4:46#"The March" (instrumental) - 3:42#"Please" (instrumental) - 3:30#"+Appendage" (instrumental) - 3:17#"Can I Stay Here?" (instrumental) - 4:22#"Hello, Everything Is Not OK" (instrumental) - 5:12#"Starfuckers, Inc." (instrumental) - 5:09#"Complication" (alt) - 2:54#"I'm Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally" (instrumental) - 4:18#"The Big Come Down" (instrumental) - 4:04#"Underneath It All" (instrumental) - 3:21#"Ripe (With Decay)" (alt) - 4:34 ===''[[The Fragile: Deviations 1]]''===On December 16, 2016 an expanded instrumental version of ''The Fragile'' on 180 gram vinyl was announced. Entitled ''The Fragile: Deviations 1'', it began shipping in June 2017 and contains over an hour of unreleased material. ==Sequencing=====For Different Formats===[[Trent Reznor]] on the different track sequencing for different formats: <blockquote><p>Hello everybody. I've been doing a lot of European press lately and they've been mentioning the various configurations of 'the fragile' and wondering if there was a reason (other than to make the hard-core fan buy them all) to have some different tracks on them. <br><br>If you're curious, here's why. We agonized over the sequencing of the record and focused solely on the CD config. as the definitive one. After the decision was made to move to two CDs the problem then became removing tracks to get the right feel and flow. <br><br>Taking the new flesh' off the CD was a tough call because Alan and myself really like the track, but it destroyed the balance and it just didn't fit. <br><br>When we assembled the cassette, we now had four beginnings and endings to contend with instead of two of each (for the CD) follow? It worked out pretty well just dividing the songs up, but we wanted the A sides of the cassettes to be slightly longer than the B sides (so that when the tape flips over you are not in the middle of the first song on that side). We added the 'appendage' to 'please' to make that work. <br><br>For the vinyl, the decision to move to three discs was based on fidelity. (you can only fit so many minutes on a side of vinyl before it degrades the sound) <br><br>So now we are faced with SIX beginnings and endings. Simply splitting the sides up didn't work as well this time so we decided to include the other two tracks we had been considering ('10 miles high' and 'the new flesh') as well as use the full unedited versions of all the other songs on the record. The vinyl sequencing has actually grown on me lately as a viable alternate! -just thought you might want to know…</p> <p>—Reznor [https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=780]</p></blockquote> ===Early Track Sequences===
[[Image:Fragile_alt_tracklists_big.jpg|thumb|Alternate tracklists for ''The Fragile'' from the Fragility Tour Book]]
Prior to Bob Ezrin's treatment, the tracklist of ''The Fragile'' went through several transformations. Two of them were revealed within a photo from the Fragility Tour Book:
====Order 1====
#Somewhat Damaged
#La Mer
#10 Miles High
#Pilgrimage
====Order 2====
#Somewhat
#La Mer
#Pilgrimage
[[Image:Fragilecdr.jpg‎|thumb|Alternate tracklist for ''The Fragile'' from the Fragility Tour Book]]
====CD-R====
Another image of a CD-R cover tracklist was included in the Fragility Tour Book:
#Somewhat Damaged
#Stained
Note that whilst "[[Anomaly]]" has been confirmed to be the working title of "[[The Way Out Is Through]]", the final titles for "[[Rotation]]" and "[[Stained]]" have not been revealed; "[[Underneath It All]]" may be the final title for the latter, based on its prominent lyrical use of the word.Stated in an interview with the [[Nailed]] Podcast, [[Charlie Clouser]] believes that "Rotation" is an early iteration of "[[The Big Come Down]]", but could not say for certain. ===Bob Ezrin on Album Sequencing===Bob Ezrin posted on [http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?p=1966685&sid=9660ab52e8096b0e71a1bf91d0198514#1966685 ETS] about his experience working on ''The Fragile''. <blockquote><p>Trent was anything but brain addled at the time we were completing the Fragile. He was brilliant and feverishly recording and mixing in 3 rooms at the same time to complete the project on time for its scheduled release. What he had realized was that he'd created a work that was much longer than was practical to release and that wasn't quite hanging together the way he had hoped when he created its individual parts. Remember, there are thousands of bits of music and lyric that went into this record and they were recorded asynchronously. So he called me for help. Luckily, I had just come off another project and was able to head to New Orleans immediately—supposedly for a few days.</p> <p>My job was to take all of this work and reorganize it to more practically and effectively tell the story that originally generated all these bits. Sort of like editing a film. Trent had "shot" more than he needed and it wasn't hanging together the way he wanted. But he was also tied to the other studios recording and mixing while this was going on so he needed someone he trusted to come in and take over the "editing" process and help his "film" hang together better.</p> <p>And it was a totally thrilling process. We had SO much stuff and so much to say but we needed to tighten it up and review the pacing etc. So we were literally working round the clock for what turned out to be weeks until we finally nailed it and I was able to go home.</p> <p>I loved working with him - and his whole team in fact - on this project. It just increased my respect for him as an artist and a man.</p><p>— Bob Ezrin</p></blockquote> 
==The Lost Fragile Tracks==
[[Image:Nindotcom991013.jpg|thumb|"The Lost Fragile Tracks"]]
Interestingly, the same photo also shows another CD-R featuring "Please Part 2" (presumably renamed to "Appendage" for ''The Fragile'' cassette version) and "The New Flesh."
 
==Proposed Reissue==
In a question and answer session with NIN fans, Reznor hinted at the reissue of ''The Fragile'' for early 2010, a statement repeated via the [http://twitter.com/nineinchnails/status/4157519090 official twitter account], calling it an "ultimate reissue." [[Rob Sheridan]] has since mentioned that the project is delayed due to packaging decisions, and as yet there is no new release date. [[Alan Moulder]] has completed a 5.1 surround sound mix for the reissue.[http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/mv/msg/32698/502417/0/#msg_502417] In a nin.com post about the 2020 Dolby Atmos version of ''[[The Social Network Soundtrack]]'', Reznor hinted at a possible Dolby Atmos version of ''The Fragile'' in the future.
 
In a February 2014 interview with New Zealand's ''News 3'', Reznor gave the following update:
 
<blockquote><p>Yeah, we've done a lot of the work for that. Really what it's come down to is with all the other stuff going on, the Fragile thing in particular, I want to make sure I get it right. You know, we've mixed everything in surround, it sounds amazing, we have a great package ready to go. I just stumbled across 40-or-so demos that are from that era that didn't turn into songs, that range from sound effects to full-fledge pieces of music, and I kind of feel like - something should happen with that.</p>
 
<p>And I think it has something to do with that package, and I just need the bandwidth to kind of calmly think about it, and decide how much effort I want to devote into that and what to do with it. I have a lot of ideas that could eat up immense amounts of time and I'm trying to weigh out - just think it through. I don't want to pull the trigger on something and go, 'Man, I should have done it in this way.' And I just haven't had a chance to be in a calm place where I can think it through completely and make that decision.[http://www.3news.co.nz/Trent-Reznor-on-40-unreleased-demos-NZ-tour-Gone-Girl-Grammys/tabid/418/articleID/332710/Default.aspx]</p></blockquote>
 
===Definitive 2017 Edition Vinyl===
A vinyl reissue was announced in December 2016 and began shipping in August 2017, with further vinyl reissues of the other major NIN releases to follow.[http://www.nin.com/nine-inch-nails-records-reissued-vinyl/]
 
<blockquote>Trent Reznor and NIN art director [[John Crawford]] set out to make the “definitive editions” of all the main NIN releases on vinyl. Reznor: "We want to present the catalog as it was intended to be, with no compromises. That means a careful remastering of the audio from the original sources, a careful and painstaking recreation of the artwork, pristine materials, some surprises and an insane attention to detail that you probably won’t notice… but it matters to us. No extra bullshit and gimmicks – the “real” records in their truest form available at a reasonable price."</blockquote>
 
This edition of the vinyl also comes with a digital download card and a booklet containing photos and an essay about the sequencing of the album, written by Bob Ezrin.
==Touring==
''For more information, see [[Fragility]]''
The album was supported by a tour that visited North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. The chaos of earlier tours was beginning to subside and the shows were somewhat more focused on production and good precise performance. During the North American portion of the tour, three tall rectangular screens were lowered mid-set for showing pieces of film. Despite the fact that [[Trent Reznor]] was in the throes of addiction during this tour, it was well-received by fans and critics alike. The [[Fragility 2.0]] tour was filmed and released as ''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' on 2-disc DVD (both Dolby Digital and DTS versions) and VHS in 2002. It was also released as a live CD, at one point combined with a second disc of re-constructed material and new songs called ''[[Still]].'' ==Live==A number of songs from this album [[NIN_songs_never_played_live|have not been played live]], including non-CD tracks "10 Miles High" and "The New Flesh". During the [[Cold And Black And Infinite Tour]] in 2018, several shows teased the possibility of hearing ''The Fragile'' in its entirety, with the first four songs on the album starting the show, but then breaking the sequence with non-''Fragile'' songs.
==Trent Reznor on ''The Fragile''Concept and Interpretations==
Reznor described ''The Fragile'' in a 1999 interview:
<blockquote>
<p>"There's a general theme to the album of systems failing and [[Things Falling Apart|things sort of falling apart]]. In keeping with the idea of making everything sound a little broken, I chose stringed instruments because they're imperfect by nature. Although it may not sound like it, most of the album is actually guitar - and that includes the orchestral sounds and weird melodic lines. When it came to instruments that I didn't really know how to play - like the ukulele or the slide guitar - we were able to get some really interesting sounds by making the studio the main instrument".</p>
<p>—Reznor [http://www.abc.net.au/rage/guest/1999/NIN.htm]</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I wanted this album to sound like there was something inherently flawed in the situation, like someone struggling to put the pieces together. Downward Spiral was about peeling off layers and arriving at a naked, ugly end. This album starts at the end, then attempts to create order from chaos, but never reaches the goal. It’s probably a bleaker album because it arrives back where it starts—[with] the same emotion”emotion. The album begins “Somewhat Damaged” "Somewhat Damaged" and ends “Ripe "Ripe [With Decay]".</p>
<p>—Reznor [http://www.ransomfellowship.org/articles_music/Music_Reznor.html]</p>
</blockquote>
On the different track sequencing for different formats==="From Machine To Man:An Interpretation of The Fragile"=== <blockquote><p>"Hello everybody. I've been doing This is a lot lengthy interpretation of European press lately and they've been mentioning the various configurations of album'the fragile' and wondering if there was a reason (other than to make the hard-core fan buy them all) to have some different tracks on thems story written in 2000. Read it at: If you're curious, here's why* http://www. We agonized over the sequencing of the record and focused solely on the CD config. as the definitive onetheninhotline. After the decision was made to move to two CDs the problem then became removing tracks to get the right feel and flownet/archives/articles/otherinterpretation. shtml
Taking ==Recurring themes and styles==* The piano and bassline of "La Mer" is reused for "Into The Void". The piano motif is also played at the end of "We're In This Together" at a slower tempo.* The piano in "The Frail" is repeated in the guitar solo of "The Fragile".* The descending wah guitar melody played during the intro of "We're In This Together" is similar to the wah guitar that occurs roughly halfway into "Complication".* The three note motif used in the first part of "The Great Below" is briefly quoted in the new fleshending of "We' off re In This Together" two semitones down and at a slower tempo. This melody may also be used to end the CD was guitar solo, and may be played on a background synth at the end of the first verse of "The Wretched".* "The Great Below" climax melody and bassline are reused for a tough call because Alan quiet bridge in the leftover/outtake "[[And All That Could Have Been (song)|And All That Could Have Been]]".* A sampler keyboard pad created from Reznor's voice is used for "The Frail" and myself really leftover/outtake "[[Leaving Hope]]".* Rapidly ascending, very chromatic guitar riffs are prominently featured in "Somewhat Damaged", "The Day The World Went Away", and "The Wretched".* Mike Garson's piano improvisations are prominently featured on "Just Like You Imagined", "The Way Out is Through", and "Ripe (With Decay)".* The lyric "underneath it all" from "The Way Out is Through" is repeated in and used to title "Underneath It All".* The lyrics "now you know/this is what it feels like " are the trackrefrain for both "The Wretched" and leftover/outtake "[[The Great Collapse]]".* The lyric "[[Nothing Can Stop Me Now|nothing can stop me now]]" appears in "La Mer" and "We're In This Together", albeit translated into French Creole on the former and altered to "none of them can stop us now" on the latter. The same phrase was previously used in "[[Piggy]]", "[[Ruiner]]" and "[[Big Man With A Gun]]" and would recur later in "[[Sunspots]]".* The lyrics of "The Great Below" and "Underneath It All" are similarly composed, but it destroyed and both use the balance refrain "I can still feel you".* The lyric "could have been" is prominently used in "The Wretched", "The Great Below" and it just didn"And All That Could Have Been".* The mid-song verse of both "I'm Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally" and "No, You Don't fit" use the same lyrical meter.
When we assembled ==Composition and inspiration==In one interview, Alan Moulder stated that the cassettealbum started out with 173 different pieces or musical ideas, we now had four beginnings and endings to contend with instead the cover of two of each (for [[Gary Numan]]'s "[[Metal]]" had been completed when the CD) followalbum sessions began.[https://www.youtube.com/watch? It worked out pretty well just dividing the v=9CrXjiTnwN8] He also stated in a different interview that 120 songs upwere recorded[https://www.soundonsound.com/people/alan-moulder-recording-nine-inch-nails-smashing-pumpkins], but we wanted the A sides of the cassettes to be slightly longer than the B sides (so it is likely that when some of the tape flips over you are not in the middle 173 pieces were merely seeds of the first song on inspiration that side)were never developed into anything usable. We added The orginal large amount of song ideas was evidently whittled down before they even reached the 'appendage' demo stage, as Reznor stated in a 2000 interview that he demoed 47 songs, which he then chose from when deciding which ones to 'please' to make that workwrite lyrics for.[https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/articles/manager/display_article. php?id=935]
For the vinylDuring a podcast with [[Skinny Puppy]]'s cEvin Key, [[Danny Lohner]] revealed that Reznor was inspired by Tom Waits' ''Bone Machine'' when making ''The Fragile'', and that "Somewhat Damaged" was written and originally demoed around the decision to move to three discs was based on fidelitytime of "[[The Perfect Drug (song)|The Perfect Drug]]".[https://www.youtube. (you can only fit so many minutes com/watch?v=r8AJHQGtnsI] ''Bone Machine'''s use of Harry Partch-style found object percussion influenced the unique percussion on a side certain parts of vinyl before it degrades the sound) album.
So now we are faced Reznor stated in an interview with SIX beginnings and endings. Simply splitting the sides up didn't work as well this time so we decided to include the other two tracks we had been considering ('10 miles highGuitar World'' that My Bloody Valentine and their album ''Loveless'the new flesh'(also produced by Moulder) as well as use were influences during the full unedited versions recording. He also revealed that the majority of all the other songs guitar sounds on the record. The vinyl sequencing has actually grown album were played on me lately as a viable alternate! -just thought you might want to know…"</p> <p>—Reznor Parker Fly guitar, utilizing its piezo pickup.[http://www.theninhotlinenin-pages.netde/archives/articles/xart1802000_Guitar_World_Juni_englisch.shtmlhtm]</p></blockquote>This guitar sound was also likely used on "The Perfect Drug" and later showed up on some tracks from ''With Teeth''.
===Alan Moulder on Songwriting===
Alan Moulder wrote for the Fragility Tour program about the songwriting process.
<blockquote>
<p>"I got involved pretty early on. Trent had one song written and about 15 demos. He also had about sixty 'bits,' varying from a riff or noise loop to a more evolved drum pattern with a bass or guitar line. We sorted through these and decided which ones to work on. Sometimes we combined drums from one piece with a guitar loop from another and a piano piece from another to make one new track.</p>
<p>We also started a lot of tracks from scratch. This is unusual as I am normally brought in at a later stage when the songs have been written. It was great to be involved from the 'blank canvas' stage. We would go through the tracks and pick one to work on. Then we'd spend a couple of days evolving that and messing around with the structure, adding new sections and instrumentation.</p>
Pedals:
<br>Mutron Bi-Phase / Mutron III / Lovetone: Big Cheese / Meatball / Doppelganger / Prescription Experience / Danelectro: Daddy O/Fab Tone/Cool Cat / ZVex: Fuzz Factory/Machine / Moogerfooger Filter / Foxx Tone Machine / Sans Amp Bass Driver / Black Cat Ring Modulator / Way Huge Swollen Pickle / Electo Harmonix: Micro Synthesizer/Bass Micro Synthesizer/QTron/Big Muff Fuzz/Memory Man/Electric Mistress Flanger / Smokies / Digitech: SpaceStation/Whammy-Wah/UniFuzz/Tone Control
String Instruments:
==Artwork==
[[Image:Fragile_cover_explanation.jpg|thumb|David Carson's explanatory image of ''The Fragile'' covers]]
[[Image:Fragileartsource1.jpg|thumb|David Carson's images showing inside of seashell, and original source image for the abum cover]]
[[Image:Fragileartsource2.jpg|thumb|Another David Carson image of the same seashell, demonstrating the out-of-focus aspect]]
[[Image:TFconceptart1.jpg|thumb|''The Fragile'' concept art]]
[[Image:TFconceptart2.jpg|thumb|''The Fragile'' concept art]]
A look through David Carson's book ''Fotografiks'' reveals that the top section of the album cover is from a photo of a Öxarárfoss waterfall in Iceland and the bottom section is from a closeup photo of the inside of some kind of seashell. The flowers on the back cover are widely assumed to be a variety of Indian Paintbrush. He explained further in an image on his website:
<blockquote>
<p>"packaging for trent reznor, back was going to be the front till the last moment. trent changed it saying it was kinda irritating yet something about it we liked so maybe it fit the music. front cover flowers i shot outside of austin texas. the 1 hour place called and said they messed up and used the wrong chemicals and the film was ruined. i said lemme see em anyway. this is how they came out. cover image is a waterfall in iceland and a seashell in the west indies."</p>
<p>—David Carson</p>
</blockquote>
Several other designs for the album cover were also created, and images of this concept art were posted on nin.com. ==Bob Ezrin on Album Sequencing==Bob Ezrin posted on [http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?p=1966685&sid=9660ab52e8096b0e71a1bf91d0198514#1966685 ETS] about his experience working on Many images that were used in the booklet for ''The Fragile''. <blockquote><p>"Trent was anything but brain addled at , as well as the time we were completing the Fragile. He was brilliant and feverishly recording and mixing artwork for its associated singles, can be found in 3 rooms at the same time to complete the project on time for its scheduled release. What he had realized was that he'd created a work that was much longer than was practical to release and that wasn't quite hanging together the way he had hoped when he created its individual partsFotografiks'' book. Remember, there are thousands of bits of music and lyric that went into this record and they were recorded asynchronously. So he called me The cover art for help. Luckily, I had just come off another project and was able to head to New Orleans immediately—supposedly for a few days.</p> <p>My job was to take all of this work and reorganize it to more practically ''The Fragile Instrumental'' used an uncropped and effectively tell the story that originally generated all these bits. Sort unpixelated version of like editing a film. Trent had "shot" more than he needed and it wasn't hanging together the way he wanted. But he was also tied to the other studios recording and mixing while this was going on so he needed someone he trusted to come in and take over the "editing" process and help his "film" hang together better.</p> <p>And it was a totally thrilling process. We had SO much stuff and so much to say but we needed to tighten it up and review the pacing etc. So we were literally working round the clock for what turned out to be weeks until we finally nailed it and I was able to go home.</p> <p>I loved working with him - and his whole team in fact - on this project. It just increased my respect for him as an artist and a manaforementioned waterfall photo."</p><p>— Bob Ezrin</p></blockquote>
==Personnel==
*[[wp:Bob Ezrin|Bob Ezrin]] - Album Sequencing Assistant
*[[wp:Mike Garson|Mike Garson]] - Piano (on "Just Like You Imagined," "The Way Out Is Through" and "Ripe (With Decay)")
*[[Page Hamilton]] - Guitar (on "No, You Don't") - '''uncreditedunconfirmed'''
*Tracy Hardin - Vocals (Background)
*[[Leo Herrera]] - Engineer
*[[Keith Hillebrandt]] - Programming, Choir, Chorus, Sound Design
*[[Danny Lohner]] - Drum Programming, Ambiance, Synthesizers, Guitar on "Somewhat Damaged", "Just Like You Imagined," "The Great Below," "Complication"
*[[Clint Mansell]] - Choir, Chorus
*[[Alan Moulder]] - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
*[[Dave Ogilvie]] - Engineer
*[[Brian Pollack ]] - Engineer *[[Trent Reznor]] - Vocals, Guitars, Cello, Piano, Synthesizers, Programming, Producer
*Elquine Rice - Vocals (Background)
*Terry Rice - Vocals (Background)
==Album Credits==
*Writing and performance: Trent Reznor (except where noted on Song pages)
*Production: Trent Reznor, [[Alan Moulder]]
*Management: [[John A. Malm, Jr.]] for Conservative
*Engineering and mix: Alan Moulder<br><br>*Final continuity and flow: Bob Ezrin<br><br>*Programming: [[Keith Hillebrandt]], [[Charlie Clouser]], Trent Reznor, Paul Decarli, Steve Duda, Clinton Bradley
*Second engineering: Brian Pollack
*Additional engineering: [[Leo Herrera]]. [[, Dave “Rave” Ogilvie]]
*Supplemental drum recording: Steve Albini at Electical Studio
*Additional sound design: Keith Hillebrandt, Charlie Clouser, Steve Duda
*Mastering: Tom Baker at Precision Mastering<br><br>Recorded and mixed at [[Nothing Studios]], New Orleans<br><br>
*Art direction and design: David Carson
*Photography: David Carson
*Merchandising: David "Khan" Johnson for Object
*Web integration: [[Rob Sheridan]]
*Being there provided by Jerry Meltzer<br><br>*Nine Inch Nails Live: Charlie Clouser, [[Jerome Dillon]], [[Robin Finck]], [[Danny Lohner]], Trent Reznor<br><br>*Thank you for the continuing belief and support: Steve Berman, Chris Blackwell, David Cohen, Ted Field, Jimmy Iovine, Marc Marot, Jacqueline McPherson, Michael S. Toorock, Tom Whalley<br><br>*Thank you very much: Cemal Adiguezel, Gretchen Anderson, Simon Baeyertz, Roy Bennett, Nancy Berry, Michael Blum, Steve Bottomley, [[David Bowie]], Steve "Coco" Brandon, Tim Buckley, Karen Ciccone, Paul Connolly, Melissa Daigle, Daisy May, Renee Dodson, Duane Fogg, Ernie Fortunato, Ken Friedman, Gerry Gerrard, Erin Gilligan, Robert Hales, Toni Halliday, Page Hamilton, Mike Harris, Dan Hill, Doug Idleman, Stuart Issleib, Leslie Kaufman, Martin Kierszenbaum, Sam Kirby, Paris Langford, John Lewis, Tim Lightfoot, Tiffany Luning, Clint Mansell, Denise Milfort, Tina Montalbano, Mike Montero, Chuck Ortner, Dean Parker, [[Mark Pellington]], Lynn Pompey, Gina Pontius, [[Kim Prevost]], [[Porter Ricks]], Rodney Robertson, Lu Rojas, [[Mark Romanek]], [[Rick Rubin]], Barry Sanders, Trish Schultz, Nick Scott, Winston Simone, Jeff Slippen, Nick Stern, Rick Szekelyi, Tony Thompson, Tomato, Bob Uzzo, Ed Vigueira, Larry Weinstein, Nigel Wiesehan, Angele Ylisastigui, Dawn Zillich, Sioux Zimmerman, Aqua Marine, Brennan's, Clavia, DigiDesign, Jason Lamb and Dod, eMagic, Sean Wilhelmson and EMU Systems, Rob Timmons and Fernandez, Geoff Farr and GSF Agency, Id Software, Jens Gellhaar, K-Paul's, Brad Strickland and Korg/Parker, Tim Godwin and Line 6, Greg Perry, DK Sweet and Mackie, Musician's Friend (New Orleans), Bill Noll at Neoview, N.O. Music Exchange, Nola, Opcode, Pedalman, Solid State Logic, Sound Chek (New Orleans), Waves, Werlein's Music
==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tInEeD81eJk "ninetynine" TV Commercial aired in 1998]
*[http://vimeo.com/65825592 TV Commercial directed by David Carson]
*[http://wwwnineinchnails.tumblr.nincatalogcom/post/51818928436/software-screenshots-from-the-recording-of-the ''The Fragile'' software screenshots from nin.com]*[http:/index/nineinchnails.tumblr.asp?halo=14 com/post/51370793367/the-fragile-production-journals-published-on-the ''The Fragile'' at nincatalogproduction journals from nin.com]*[httphttps://www.nincollectorflickr.com/archivephotos/10729782@N03/albums/72157624007552825 David Carson images that were used for ''The Fragile'' era releases]*[http:/halo_14/halo14nincatalog.htm com/the-fragile/ ''The Fragile'' at nincollectornincatalog.com]
*[http://www.disinfo.com/archive/pages/article/id1983/pg1/index.html Disinfo.com: ''A listener's guide to 'The Fragile''']
*[httphttps://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may00/articlespeople/alan.htm -moulder-recording-nine-inch-nails-smashing-pumpkins Sound On Sound: Interview with Alan Moulder with info on the making of ''The Fragile'']*[http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/xart183.shtml ''Keyboard'' Magazine article about the making of ''The Fragile'']
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%5Fsb%5Fnoss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dnine%2520inch%2520nails%2520the%2520fragile%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=thniinnawi-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957 ''The Fragile'' at Amazon]
*[http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5574848848&toolid=10001&campid=5336384580&customid=&icep_uq=nine+inch+nails+the+fragile&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg ''The Fragile'' at eBay]
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