"The Blind Leading the Naked" is the third album by American alternative rock band Violent Femmes, released in 1986. Produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, the album's title is a play on the phrase "the blind leading the blind." This album marked the band's first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number 84, and it remains the only Violent Femmes album to chart in the United Kingdom.
The production and recording of The Blind Leading the Naked were notably marked by some tensions between the band and Harrison. While the band had been familiar with Harrison, they were not entirely happy with him as a producer. According to bassist and vocalist Gordon Gano, Harrison was suggested by the band's label, Warner Bros., due to his proximity to Milwaukee, where the band had insisted on recording. This was an unpopular decision within the band, with Gano commenting that Harrison’s tastes did not align with the band's aesthetic. In fact, they found Harrison’s focus on technical quality to be at odds with their more raw, unpolished style, with Gano stating, "We didn’t think he was right to produce music as weird as ours."
Despite the tensions, some special guests contributed to the album. The band had approached guitarist Leo Kottke and experimental musician Fred Frith to appear on the album after seeing them perform live, which they later successfully persuaded them to do. According to guitarist Brian Ritchie, their participation was the result of informal approaches made during live shows.
Although the album's production was more polished compared to their earlier works, the Violent Femmes were still intent on retaining their distinctive style. They attempted to "clean up" their sound without sacrificing the essence of their music, resulting in a blend of tighter arrangements while maintaining the band's trademark rawness and energy.
