Editing Zen Arcade

{{Infobox album
| name       = Zen Arcade
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Hüsker Dü]]
| cover      = HuskerDuZenArcade.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = July 3, 1984
| recorded   = October 1983 at [[Total Access Recording]] in [[Redondo Beach, California]]
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Hardcore punk]]<ref name="revolver50">{{cite web |title=50 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/50-greatest-punk-albums-all-time#29-h%C3%BCsker-d%C3%BC-%E2%80%94-zen-arcade |website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]] |date=24 May 2018 |access-date=February 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="essential">{{cite web |title=10 ESSENTIAL HARDCORE PUNK ALBUMS |url=https://www.treblezine.com/10-essential-hardcore-punk-albums/ |website=treblezine.com |access-date=May 28, 2022 |date=April 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="cooper">{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Ryan |title=Punk's Most Influential Albums |url=https://www.liveabout.com/punks-most-influential-albums-2803358 |website=LiveAbout.com |access-date=19 April 2022 |date=March 26, 2019 |quote=1984’s ''Zen Arcade'', while still predominantly a hardcore record, began exploring other sounds, including jazz, psychedelia, acoustic folk and pop -– all sounds Mould still explores today.}}</ref>|[[psychedelic music|psychedelia]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-psychedelic-albums/amp/ | title=Best Psychedelic Albums: 30 Mind-Expanding Records | date=19 August 2021 }}</ref>|[[indie rock]]<ref name= "Pitchfork Staff 2018">{{cite web|last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s |website= [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date= September 10, 2018 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/|quote= ...''Zen Arcade'' was one large step for the Minnesota trio and an even larger one for then-nascent indie rock.|accessdate= April 25, 2023}}</ref>|[[post-hardcore]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Greene|first=Doyle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FCQXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43|title=The Rock Cover Song: Culture, History, Politics|date=March 10, 2014|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-0-7864-7809-5|pages=43–44}}</ref>}}
| length     = 70:09
| label      = [[SST Records|SST]] (027)
| producer   = Hüsker Dü, [[Spot (producer)|Spot]]
| prev_title = [[Metal Circus]]
| prev_year  = 1983
| next_title = [[New Day Rising]]
| next_year  = 1985
}}
'''''Zen Arcade''''' is the second studio album by American [[punk rock]] band [[Hüsker Dü]], released in July 1984 on [[SST Records]]. Originally released as a [[double album]] on two vinyl LPs, ''Zen Arcade'' tells the story of a young boy who runs away from an unfulfilling home life, only to find the world outside is even worse.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=181}} ''Zen Arcade'' and subsequent Hüsker Dü albums were instrumental in the creation of the [[alternative rock]] genre,<ref>{{cite web|last=Bray|first=Ryan|title=Two Bands, Two Records, and the Beginning of Alternative Rock|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/07/two-bands-two-records-and-the-beginning-of-alternative-rock/|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=July 26, 2014|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mendelsohn|first1=Jason|last2=Klinger|first2=Eric|title=Counterbalance: Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade |url=https://www.popmatters.com/counterbalance-husker-du-zen-arcade-2495557517.html|website=[[PopMatters]]|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref> and it is considered by some to be one of [[List of 1980s albums considered the best|the greatest rock albums of all time]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-150477/husker-du-zen-arcade-70223/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=November 16, 1989|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=O'Hagan|first=Nathan|title=Spotlight Special: Hüsker Dü - 'Zen Arcade'|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/spotlight-special-h%C3%BCsker-d%C3%BC-zen-arcade|website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Patrick|title=Now and Zen: The greatest album of them all, Hüsker Dü's 'Zen Arcade,' turns 30|url=https://blog.thecurrent.org/2014/07/now-and-zen-the-greatest-album-of-them-all-husker-dus-zen-arcade-turns-30/|website=[[KCMP]]|date=July 19, 2014|access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref>

==Background==
Hüsker Dü had gained notice in the American [[Indie (music)|indie]] music scene of the early 1980s as a fast, aggressive hardcore punk band. They were the first non-West Coast group signed to the [[California]] [[independent record label]] [[SST Records]], which at the time specialized in releases by hardcore bands, most notably [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]. However, the trio's music was becoming more melodic and nuanced with each album; songs such as "Diane" (from the EP ''[[Metal Circus]]''), a true story about the rape and murder of a young woman, covered subjects not addressed in hardcore at the time, and the band indicated an interest in 1960s rock by covering [[The Byrds]]' "[[Eight Miles High]]".

In an interview with [[Steve Albini]] for his ''Matter'' column in 1983, singer and guitarist [[Bob Mould]] told Albini: "We're going to try to do something bigger than anything like rock & roll and the whole puny touring band idea. I don't know what it's going to be, we have to work that out, but it's going to go beyond the whole idea of 'punk rock' or whatever."{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=180}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.thirdav.com/zinestuff/matter_sep83.html |title=Husker Du? Only their hairdresser knows for sure |first=Steve |last=Albini |author-link=Steve Albini |magazine=Matter |date=September 1983}}</ref>

The band began rehearsing in preparation for the album during the summer of 1983, in a church-turned-punk squat in [[St. Paul, Minnesota]]. The band brainstormed lyrics and musical ideas during jam sessions that lasted several hours.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=179}} Mould and drummer [[Grant Hart]] were the band's songwriters, and prior to embarking to California to record ''Zen Arcade'', Mould was moved (by artwork that Hart had done for another band that did not list songwriting credits) to demand that ''Zen Arcade'' list individual songwriter credits.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=181}} This practice would continue on all of the band's subsequent albums and would contribute to ever-growing tensions between Mould and Hart.

==Recording and production==
As their EP ''[[Metal Circus]]'' was being released, Hüsker Dü entered the Total Access Studio in [[Redondo Beach, California]] to record their next album with [[SST Records|SST]] producer [[Spot (producer)|Spot]]. The band recorded 25 tracks, with all but two songs ("Something I Learned Today" and "Newest Industry") being first takes, in 40 hours. The entire album was then mixed in one 40-hour session; the entire album took 85 hours to record and produce and cost [[USD|$]]3,200.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=181}} The band collaborated with underground contemporaries during recording; "What's Going On" contains guest vocals from ex-[[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] vocalist [[Dez Cadena]].

"Eight Miles High" was also recorded at the sessions and released as a non-album single in April 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdav.com/hd_discog/01_commercial.html |title=Section 1 - Commercial Releases |website=Hüsker Dü Database|access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> In a 2019 interview with ''[[Stereogum]]'', Mould talked about the track, saying, "Everything we did in the studio, basic tracks, was first take. We did not want to use one of the songs from the album as a warm up track. We would jam a little. We had to do something, so that was the first song. We did that, and I did vocals right away to warm up. It's a pretty crazy vocal take. It became this calling card, at the moment, for the band, coming out right before ''Zen Arcade''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2032046/bob-mould-sunshine-rock-daily-show-sugar-husker/interviews/weve-got-a-file-on-you/ |title=We've Got A File On You: Bob Mould |first=Ryan |last=Leas |website=[[Stereogum]] |date=February 20, 2019|access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref>

"Something I Learned Today" and "Newest Industry" were the album's only songs that were not recorded in one take.<ref name="Zenlinernotes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Zen Arcade |others=Hüsker Dü |year=1984}}</ref>

==Composition==

=== Music ===
''Zen Arcade'', in line with previous Hüsker Dü albums, had a mainly hardcore punk focus, with songs such as "Indecision Time" and "Pride" displaying common traits of the hardcore punk genre. However, the album also marked the point where the band introduced a more melodic and guitar-driven musical style, with elements of acoustic [[folk music|folk]] ("Never Talking to You Again"), [[psychedelic music|psychedelia]] ("Hare Krsna" and "The Tooth Fairy and the Princess") and piano interludes ("One Step at a Time," "Monday Will Never Be the Same"), concepts rarely touched upon in early '80s hardcore punk.

Indicative of the band's desire for the album to be taken as a whole, no singles were released from it.{{Original research inline|date=July 2010}}

The opening song, written by guitarist Bob Mould, was often used to open their set as early as 1983. The lyric describes growing up and trusting few people. A fast-paced song with simple verse and chord progressions, it begins with a simple drum beat, then an undulating bass rhythm, and finally kicks into the verse riff. Mould and Hart harmonize vocally in the chorus.

===Lyrics===
''Zen Arcade'' tells the story of a young man who runs away to escape a miserable and abusive home life ("Broken Home, Broken Heart", "Never Talking to You Again"). The character briefly joins the military ("Chartered Trips"), turns to religion ("Hare Krsna"), and seems to find a tenuous peace through love ("Somewhere") before losing his lover to drugs ("[[Pink Turns to Blue]]").<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1182 |title=Husker Du: Zen Arcade |access-date=March 6, 2007 |last=Donohue |first=Mark T.R. |website=Nude as the News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115104722/http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/1182 |archive-date=November 15, 2006}}</ref> He reaches a point of despair, ultimately concluding that he won't be able to change his circumstances ("Newest Industry", "Whatever") before waking up to find that the whole odyssey had occurred in his subconscious during a night of troubled sleep; the challenges of his life—for better or worse—remain in front of him ("The Tooth Fairy and the Princess", "[[Turn on the News]]"). "Reoccurring Dreams", a disorienting 14-minute instrumental that reprises a shorter instrumental interlude ("Dreams Reoccurring"), closes the album.

==Release==
While the band insisted sales would be strong for ''Zen Arcade'', SST initially pressed only between 3,500 and 5,000 copies of the album. The album was out of stock for months afterward and the delay in further copies stifled sales.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=182}}

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/zen-arcade-mw0000197795 |title=Zen Arcade – Hüsker Dü |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 7, 2007 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2Score = {{rating|3.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/10/11/as-bob-mould-went-so-went-rock-music/ |title=As Bob Mould Went, So Went Rock Music |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=October 11, 1992 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|edition=5th|isbn=978-0857125958|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Martin C. Strong|The Great Rock Discography]]''
| rev4score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book|title=The Great Rock Discography|last=Martin C. Strong|author-link=Martin C. Strong|edition=1st|year=1998|isbn=978-0-86241-827-4|publisher=[[Canongate Books]]}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev5score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|title=[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide]]|editor=Gary Graff|editor-link=Gary Graff|edition=1st|year=1996|location=London|isbn=978-0-7876-1037-1|publisher=[[Visible Ink Press]]}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite website |title=Zen Arcade SST, 1983  |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029180424/http://home.q4music.com/cgi-bin/great_contenders/contender.pl?id=18 |archive-date=October 29, 2008 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |url-status=dead |url=http://home.q4music.com/cgi-bin/great_contenders/contender.pl?id=18}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS1985">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/zen-arcade-19850214 |title=Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade / Minutemen: Double Nickels on the Dime |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=441 |date=February 14, 1985 |access-date=January 16, 2007 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001003552/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/huskerdu/albums/album/110848/review/5944241/zen_arcade |archive-date=October 1, 2007}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Hüsker Dü |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/399 399] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |year=2004 |publisher=[[Fireside Books]] |location=London |edition=4th |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 }}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev9Score = 10/10<ref name="Spin">{{cite book |chapter=Hüsker Dü |page=187 |editor1-last=Weisband |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]] |edition=1st |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |location=New York |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score = A−<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv9-84.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=September 25, 1984 |access-date=March 18, 2010 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}

Upon its release ''Zen Arcade'' received positive reviews in many mainstream publications, including ''[[NME]]'',<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.thirdav.com/zinestuff/nme_zen.html |title=Zen And The Art Of Going Ultranova! |journal=[[NME]] |date=September 1, 1984 |access-date=January 16, 2006 |last=Kopf |first=Biba}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]''<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 23, 1984 |first=Robert |last=Palmer |author-link=Robert Palmer (American writer) |title=New Rock From The Suburbs |url=http://www.thirdav.com/zinestuff/nyt0984.html |access-date=January 16, 2006}}</ref> and ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. In his review for ''Rolling Stone,'' [[David Fricke]] described ''Zen Arcade'' as "the closest hardcore will ever get to an opera ... a kind of thrash ''[[Quadrophenia]]''."<ref name=RS1985/>

''Zen Arcade'' placed eighth in ''[[The Village Voice]]'' annual [[Pazz & Jop]] poll<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=February 19, 1985 |title=The 1984 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres84.php |access-date=January 19, 2007}}</ref> and [[Robert Christgau]] declared in his annual review of the poll's results that, while he preferred peers [[The Replacements (band)|The Replacements]]' ''[[Let It Be (The Replacements album)|Let It Be]]'', the song "Turn On the News" garnered his nomination for song of the year.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=February 19, 1985 |first=Robert |last=Christgau |author-link=Robert Christgau |title=The Rise of the Corporate Single |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj84.php |access-date=January 19, 2007}}</ref> The critical praise given to the album drew attention from major labels, including [[Warner Bros. Records]], with whom Hüsker Dü would eventually sign in 1985.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=190}}

==Legacy==
The release of ''Zen Arcade'' inspired SST label-mates [[Minutemen (band)|Minutemen]] to record their own double album, ''[[Double Nickels on the Dime]]'' in 1984.{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=81}} By spring of 1985 ''Zen Arcade'' had sold 20,000 copies,{{sfnp|Azerrad|2001|p=186}} and in subsequent years it has maintained a high critical status regardless of commercial success. [[AllMusic]] says in its review of the album that "Hüsker Dü try everything" and while "that reckless, ridiculously single-minded approach does result in some weak moments," it is "also the key to the success of ''Zen Arcade''."<ref name=allmusic/> In 1989, it was ranked No. 33 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.<ref name=RS1989>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=565 |date=November 16, 1989 |page=53 |first1=Michael |last1=Azerrad |author-link=Michael Azerrad |first2=Anthony |last2=DeCurtis |author2-link=Anthony DeCurtis |title=The 100 Best Albums of the Eighties: 33 {{pipe}} Hüsker Dü, 'Zen Arcade' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/huesker-due-zen-arcade-19691231 |access-date=21 February 2007 |ref=RS1989}}</ref> The [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] has placed "Turn On the News" on its list of "[[The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll|500 songs that shaped rock and roll]]."<ref>{{cite web | title=500 songs that shaped rock and roll |website=RockHall.com | url=http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitions/permanent.asp?id=665 | access-date=January 19, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061123144321/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitions/permanent.asp?id=665 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = November 23, 2006}}</ref> It was ranked No. 4 on ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' magazine's list of top 100 Alternative music albums, ahead of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]'s ''[[Nevermind]]'' (No. 5), and [[Patti Smith]]'s ''[[Horses (album)|Horses]]'' (No. 6).<ref name=Spin/> It was also ranked the 32nd best album of the 1980s by Pitchfork Media, who also included "Pink Turns to Blue" in ''[[The Pitchfork 500]]''.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Plagenhoef |editor1-first=Scott |editor2-last=Schreiber |editor2-first=Ryan |date=November 2008 |title=[[The Pitchfork 500]] |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |page=59 |isbn=978-1-4165-6202-3 }}</ref>  [[Slant Magazine]] listed the album at No. 73 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/best-albums-of-the-1980s/P3 |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s |website=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=March 5, 2012}}</ref> [[Andy Cairns]], from the Northern Irish alternative band [[Therapy?]], listed the album as his seventh favourite album of all time on an article for the online music publication ''Louder Than War''. In the article, Cairns said "I got this at a time when [I] needed to hear fearsome music that wasn't just boneheaded rage. An album to completely lose yourself in, a punk headphone album. After sitting through the whole album the world takes on a different colour and taste. The first time [I] heard it [I] thought it sounded like The Byrds with a [[fuzzbox]].  I love not only the tunes but all the little interludes and backwards masking that goes on. The whole thing just shimmers from start to finish."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://louderthanwar.com/andy-cairns-therapy-my-top-10-favourite-albums-number-7/ |title=Andy Cairns (Therapy?) : My top 10 favourite albums : number 7 |website=[[Louder Than War (website)|Louder Than War]] |date=March 13, 2014}}</ref>
 
===Covers===
''Zen Arcade'' was the subject of two tribute albums, ''Du Huskers: The Twin Cities Replays Zen Arcade'' (Synapse Recordings, 1993)<ref name="synapse">{{cite web |title=Various - Du Huskers: The Twin Cities Replays Zen Arcade |url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-Du-Huskers-The-Twin-Cities-Replays-Zen-Arcade/release/752123 |website=Discogs }}</ref> and the fan-compiled ''Something I Learned Today: An International Tribute to Zen Arcade'' (Krapp, 2004).<ref name="powertool">{{cite web |url=http://www.powertoolrecords.co.nz/krapprecords.htm |title=Krapp Records |website=Powertool Records |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523023845/http://www.powertoolrecords.co.nz/krapprecords.htm |archive-date=May 23, 2005}} &ndash; reprinted from ''Drill'' magazine, February 2005 issue</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2010}}<!-- Resembles a hoax. -->

==Track listing==
''Zen Arcade'' was released on double LP, CD and cassette. CD and cassette releases of the album combine all the songs onto a single disc/cassette.

{{Track listing
| headline        = Side one
| title1          = Something I Learned Today
| writer1         = [[Bob Mould]]
| length1         = 2:02

| title2          = Broken Home, Broken Heart
| writer2         = Mould
| length2         = 2:04

| title3          = Never Talking to You Again
| writer3         = [[Grant Hart]]
| length3         = 1:40

| title4          = Chartered Trips
| writer4         = Mould
| length4         = 3:39

| title5          = Dreams Reoccurring
| writer5         = Mould, Hart, [[Greg Norton]]
| length5         = 1:40

| title6          = Indecision Time
| writer6         = Mould
| length6         = 2:14

| title7          = Hare Kṛṣṇa
| writer7         = Mould, Hart, Norton
| length7         = 3:35
}}

{{Track listing
| headline        = Side two
| title1          = Beyond the Threshold
| writer1         = Mould
| length1         = 1:36

| title2          = Pride
| writer2         = Mould
| length2         = 1:48

| title3          = I'll Never Forget You
| writer3         = Mould
| length3         = 2:19

| title4          = The Biggest Lie
| writer4         = Mould
| length4         = 2:02

| title5          = What's Going On
| writer5         = Hart
| length5         = 4:23

| title6          = Masochism World
| writer6         = Hart, Mould
| length6         = 2:47

| title7          = Standing by the Sea
| writer7         = Hart
| length7         = 3:22
}}

{{Track listing
| headline        = Side three
| title1          = Somewhere
| writer1         = Hart, Mould
| length1         = 2:31

| title2          = One Step at a Time
| writer2         = Hart, Mould
| length2         = 0:44

| title3          = [[Pink Turns to Blue]]
| writer3         = Hart
| length3         = 2:42

| title4          = Newest Industry
| writer4         = Mould
| length4         = 3:05

| title5          = Monday Will Never Be the Same
| writer5         = Mould
| length5         = 0:53

| title6           = Whatever
| writer6         = Mould
| length6         = 3:52

| title7          = The Tooth Fairy and the Princess
| writer7         = Mould
| length7         = 2:44
}}

{{Track listing
| headline        = Side four
| title1          = [[Turn On the News]]
| writer1         = Hart
| length1         = 4:27

| title2          = Reoccurring Dreams
| writer2         = Mould, Hart, Norton
| length2         = 14:00
}}

==Personnel==
Liner notes adapted from the album sleeve.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes| title= Zen Arcade| year= 1984| type= Back cover| publisher= [[SST Records]]| id=SST 027}}</ref>

* [[Grant Hart]]&nbsp;– [[drum kit|drums]]; [[singing|lead]] and [[background vocals]]; [[percussion instrument|percussion]]; [[piano]] on "Chartered Trips", "What's Going On", "Standing by the Sea" and "Monday Will Never Be the Same"
* [[Bob Mould]]&nbsp;– lead and background vocals; [[electric guitar]]; [[acoustic guitar]]; percussion; piano on "Chartered Trips", "One Step at a Time", "Newest Industry" and "Monday Will Never Be the Same", [[bass guitar|bass]] on "Turn On the News"
* [[Greg Norton]]&nbsp;– bass; background vocals
* [[Dez Cadena]]&nbsp;– vocals on "What's Going On"
;Technical  
* Hüsker Dü&nbsp;– producer
* [[Spot (producer)|Spot]]&nbsp;– producer, engineer
* [[Grant Hart|Fake Name Graphx]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1857976-Fake-Name-Communications |title=Fake Name Communications |publisher=[[Discogs]] |access-date=February 3, 2021}}</ref> &nbsp;– artwork
* Mark Peterson&nbsp;– cover photos

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (1985)
! scope="col" | Peak<br />position
|-
| [[UK Indie Chart]]<ref>{{cite book |first=Barry |last=Lazell |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/h.htm |title=Indie Hits 1980-1989 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |date=1997 |access-date=September 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607201541/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/h.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|}

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist|30em}}
'''Bibliography'''
* {{cite book |last=Azerrad |first=Michael |title=[[Our Band Could Be Your Life|Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991]] |publisher=Little Brown and Company |year=2001 |isbn=0-316-78753-1}}

==External links==
*[http://chicagomaroon.com/2005/06/03/zen-and-the-art-of-husker-du/ Review from the Univ. of Chicago ''Maroon'']

{{huskerdu}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1984 albums]]
[[Category:1980s concept albums]]
[[Category:Rock operas]]
[[Category:Hüsker Dü albums]]
[[Category:SST Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Bob Mould]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Spot (producer)]]