"Honi Soit" is the seventh solo studio album by Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer John Cale. This album was released on March 3rd, 1981, by A&M Records.
Cale worked with producer Mike Thorne on "Honi Soit", employing a more direct and pop-oriented sound compared to his previous work, moving away from the experimental styles that he was known for. The album title, "Honi Soit," is derived from the old anglo-norman maxim "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense," which means "Shame Be To Him Who Thinks Evil Of It". The saying is the motto of the Order of the Garter, a British order of chivalry.
The album includes nine tracks, including the lead single, "Dead or Alive," and the semi-autobiographical "Wilson Joliet," containing references to his Welsh background and journey to America. The album's original artwork was a series of four pictures of Cale in a boxing ring, designed to simulate the movement achieved with lenticular printing. However, due to its high manufacturing cost, this innovative idea was dropped, and a single photo of Cale was later used instead.
Despite being a critically acclaimed artist, a founder member of the Velvet Underground, and having a highly respected career in avant-garde music, the commercial success of "Honi Soit" was limited when released. The album was, however, well-received, seen as a return to form for the artist, and is appreciated by his fans.
