American Gothic (album)

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American Gothic
Davidacklesamericangothic.jpg
Studio album by
David Ackles
ReleasedJuly 4, 1972
Recorded IBC, London
Genre Singer-songwriter, Americana
Length43:56
Label Elektra
Producer Bernie Taupin
David Ackles chronology
Subway to the Country
(1970)		American Gothic
(1972)		 Five & Dime
(1973)

American Gothic is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter David Ackles. It was released on July 4, 1972, by record label Elektra.

Contents

Recording

American Gothic was recorded at IBC Sound Recording Studios in London, England. It was produced by Bernie Taupin and conducted by Robert Kirby.

Release and reception

American Gothic was released on July 4, 1972. Soon after its release it charted on the Billboard Top LPs, peaking at No. 167, and staying on the chart for 10 weeks. [1]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
Billboard favorable [3]
Christgau's Record Guide C− [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Stylus Magazine A− [6]

Upon its release, Ramparts called the album "Vivid, lyrical – but at times maudlin and self-indulgent, American Gothic is [Ackles'] best to date". [7] Robert Christgau's review was critical, writing "'I won't get maudlin,' Ackles promises midway into the second side, locking himself in the barn as the dappled stallion gallops to join his brothers and sisters on the open range with his mane flying free in the breeze." [4]

In its retrospective review, AllMusic wrote "American Gothic remains one of those great albums that never found its audience. It waits to be rediscovered." [2]

American Gothic was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [8] Mojo called it "one of the most beautiful but rarely heard albums of his era". [9]

Track listing

All tracks composed by David Ackles.

  1. "American Gothic"
  2. "Love's Enough"
  3. "Ballad of the Ship of State"
  4. "One Night Stand"
  5. "Oh, California!"
  6. "Another Friday Night"
  7. "Family Band"
  8. "Midnight Carousel"
  9. "Waiting for the Moving Van"
  10. "Blues for Billy Whitecloud"
  11. "Montana Song"

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1967)Peak
position
US Billboard Top LPs [1] 167

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top LPs, 1955–1996. Record Research. p. 8. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "American Gothic – David Ackles | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard . July 22, 1972. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: Album: David Ackles: American Gothic". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 35. ISBN   978-1-84609-856-7.
  6. ↑ McElligatt, Colin (September 1, 2003). "David Ackles – American Gothic – Review – Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ "[American Gothic review]". Ramparts . Noah's Ark: 60. 1972. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (February 7, 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN   0-7893-1371-5.
  9. ↑ "David Ackles". The Mojo Collection (4th ed.). Canongate Books. November 1, 2007. p. 139. ISBN   9781847676436 . Retrieved December 10, 2014.


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