Blue Days Black Nights

Last updated
Blue Days Black Nights
BlueDaysBlackNights.jpg
Studio album by Freedy Johnston
Released July 20, 1999
Genre Alternative rock
Length40:12
Label Elektra
Producer T-Bone Burnett, Roger Moutenot
Freedy Johnston chronology
Never Home
(1997)		Blue Days Black Nights
(1999)		Live at 33​1⁄3
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [3]

Blue Days Black Nights is the fifth album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 1999 on Elektra Records.

Freedy Johnston American singer

Freedy Johnston is a New York City-based singer-songwriter originally from Kinsley, Kansas.

Elektra Records record company and music label

Elektra Records is an American major record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk music and rock music between the 1950s and 1970s. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived as an imprint of Atlantic in 2009. As of October 2018, Elektra was detached from the Atlantic Records umbrella and reorganized into Elektra Music Group, once again operating as an independently-managed frontline label of Warner Music.

Contents

Reception

Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield called Johnston "[a] complete singer-songwriter" who "[u]nlike your typical solo guitar guy… can actually sing." Concluding that "Blue Days Black Nights is his finest bag of tunes since the 1992 cult classic Can You Fly , on which his emotional folk rock really came together." [2]

<i>Rolling Stone</i> American magazine focusing on popular culture, based in New York City

Rolling Stone is an American monthly magazine that focuses on popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is still the magazine's publisher, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its musical coverage and for political reporting by Hunter S. Thompson. In the 1990s, the magazine shifted focus to a younger readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors, and popular music. In recent years, it has resumed its traditional mix of content.

<i>Can You Fly</i> 1992 studio album by Freedy Johnston

Can You Fly is the second album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 1992 on Bar/None Records. Can You Fly appeared on Fast Folk's year-end list of the ten best albums of 1992, and The Village Voice's Robert Christgau later dubbed it "a perfect album".

AllMusic's Jason Ankeny called the album Johnston's "darkest, most understated to date" and "the singer's most intimate effort, largely rejecting the quirky character studies of prior outings in favor of more plainly personal narratives, and revealing new shades of depth and honesty in the process." Concluding that "Blue Days Black Nights possesses a hushed gravity which insinuates itself only over repeated listens." [1]

AllMusic online music database

AllMusic is an online music database. It catalogs more than 3 million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musical artists and bands. It launched in 1991, predating the World Wide Web.

Track listing

All songs written by Freedy Johnston.

  1. "Underwater Life" – 5:11
  2. "The Farthest Lights" – 3:55
  3. "While I Wait for You" – 3:33
  4. "Pretend It's Summer" – 5:27
  5. "Changed Your Mind" – 4:00
  6. "Caught as You Look Away" – 3:26
  7. "Moving on a Holiday" – 2:56
  8. "Until the Sun Comes Back Again" – 3:02
  9. "Depending on the Night" – 4:15
  10. "Emily" – 4:27

Personnel

Andy Hess American bassist

Andy Hess is an American bassist and former member of Gov't Mule, having joined the band in 2003. Previously, he was The Black Crowes' bassist from February 2001 until their hiatus early the following year. He has also played in Joan Osborne's band and has done session work for artists including David Byrne and Tina Turner. Hess is currently touring with Steve Kimock. He performed on The John Scofield's Band albums Up All Night which was released in 2003 and Überjam Deux which was released in 2013.

James Lee Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America".

Mark Spencer, is an American guitarist, steel guitarist, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and musician currently based in Brooklyn, New York. An original member of seminal alt-country band Blood Oranges, he continues to work as an in-demand band member and sideman with a diverse range of new and established musical artists. He is currently a member of the band Son Volt, and appears on their 2009 release American Central Dust as lap and pedal steel guitarist, keyboardist, background vocalist, and engineer.

Related Research Articles

<i>Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"</i> 1972 studio album by The Beach Boys

Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" is the 18th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on May 15, 1972. The album is frequently considered a transitional album for the band, with the addition of Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar on guitar and drums, respectively, and long-time member Bruce Johnston departing during its initial sessions.

<i>Faith</i> (Faith Hill album) 1998 studio album by Faith Hill

Faith is the third studio album by country artist Faith Hill, released in 1998. Due to the success of the single "This Kiss" in Australia and the UK, the album was released under the title Love Will Always Win, featuring the title track, a new version of "Piece of My Heart" and two new versions of "Let Me Let Go", which replace "You Give Me Love", "My Wild Frontier", "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me" and the original version of "Let Me Let Go". In some countries, "It Matters to Me", the title track and hit single from Hill's second album, is also included as a bonus track. "Better Days" was previously recorded by Bekka & Billy on their debut album. "Love Will Always Win" was later issued as a single by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood from Brooks' album The Lost Sessions. "I Love You" was originally recorded by Celine Dion for her album, Falling into You. The album was released on April 21, 1998 and was certified six-times Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over six million copies in the United States.

<i>Shadowland</i> (k.d. lang album) 1988 studio album by k.d. lang

Shadowland is the debut solo album by k.d. lang, released in 1988. The album included her collaboration with Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn and Brenda Lee on "Honky Tonk Angels' Medley" and was produced by Owen Bradley, who produced Patsy Cline's best-known work.

<i>Hard Rain</i> (Bob Dylan album) 1976 live album by Bob Dylan

Hard Rain is a live album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 13, 1976 by Columbia Records. The album was recorded during the second leg of the Rolling Thunder Revue.

<i>Tomorrow the Green Grass</i> 1995 studio album by The Jayhawks

Tomorrow the Green Grass is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on February 14, 1995. It peaked at number 92 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>This Perfect World</i> 1994 studio album by Freedy Johnston

This Perfect World is the third album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 1994 on Elektra Records.

<i>Never Home</i> 1997 studio album by Freedy Johnston

Never Home is the fourth album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 1997 on Elektra Records. Johnston credited producer Danny Kortchmar with imparting a more spontaneous, live-sounding feel to this album than its predecessor, This Perfect World.

Got No Shadow is an album by Mary Lou Lord, released in early 1998 on Work Records.

<i>No Time to Kill</i> 1993 studio album by Clint Black

No Time to Kill is the fourth studio album by American country singer-songwriter Clint Black. The title is a play on the title of his debut album, Killin' Time.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Clint Black album) compilation album by Clint Black

Greatest Hits is a 1996 compilation album by country singer Clint Black. It compiles 12 hit songs from his first five albums. It also includes four new recordings: the singles "Like the Rain" and "Half Way Up", as well as "Cadillac Jack Favor" and a live cover of the Eagles' "Desperado". Black had originally covered this song in 1993 for the album, Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.

<i>West</i> (Lucinda Williams album) Lucinda Williams album

West is the eighth studio album by Lucinda Williams, her ninth album overall. It was released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records. West is Williams' first studio album since 2003's World Without Tears.

<i>Hasten Down the Wind</i> 1976 studio album by Linda Ronstadt

Hasten Down the Wind is the Grammy Award-winning seventh studio album by singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt. Released in 1976, it became her third straight million-selling album. Ronstadt was the first female artist in history to accomplish this feat. The album earned her a Grammy Award for 'Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female' in 1977, her second of 13 Grammys. It represented a slight departure from 1974's Heart Like a Wheel and 1975's Prisoner in Disguise in that she chose to showcase new songwriters over the traditional country rock sound she had been producing up to that point. A more serious and poignant album than its predecessors, it won critical acclaim.

<i>Kicking Stones</i> 2007 studio album by Johnny Reid

Kicking Stones is the fourth studio album by the Canadian country music singer-songwriter Johnny Reid. It was released on April 10, 2007, by Open Road Recordings. "Love Sweet Love", "Kicking Stones", "Darlin'", "Thank You" and "Out of the Blue" were released as singles.

<i>The Way I Should</i> 1996 studio album by Iris DeMent

The Way I Should is the third album released by singer-songwriter Iris DeMent. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

<i>Simple Things</i> (Carole King album) 1977 studio album by Carole King

Simple Things is an album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1977. It is her first album on the Avatar / Capitol label.

<i>The Trouble Tree</i> 1990 studio album by Freedy Johnston

The Trouble Tree is the debut album of Freedy Johnston, released in 1990 through Bar/None Records.

<i>Right Between the Promises</i> 2001 studio album by Freedy Johnston

Right Between the Promises is the sixth studio album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 2001 on Elektra Records.

<i>Rain on the City</i> 2010 studio album by Freedy Johnston

Rain on the City is the eighth studio album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 2010 on Bar/None Records. It is Johnston's first album of original material since 2001's Right Between the Promises.

<i>Neon Repairman</i> 2015 studio album by Freedy Johnston

Neon Repairman is the ninth studio album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston, as well as his first self-produced album. It was released in 2015 on Singing Magnet Records. Robbie Fulks wrote that on the album, "The music is played with hearts out and dicks in, to coin a phrase that I sincerely hope does not catch on." Peter Gerstenzang of City Pages called the album "another stunning collection brimming with both indelible melodies and wonderfully seedy characters."

References

  1. 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. Blue Days Black Nights at AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Sheffield, Rob. "Blue Days Black Nights", Rolling Stone , August 19, 1999, p. 115.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Freedy Johnston". Robert Christgau . Retrieved 4 August 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.