Debravation

Last updated
Debravation
DebbieHDebravation.jpg
Studio album by
Deborah Harry
ReleasedJuly 19, 1993
Genre Pop rock
Length59:20 (UK: 53:56)
Label Sire Records/
Reprise Records (U.S.)
Chrysalis Records (UK)
Producer
Deborah Harry chronology
The Complete Picture: The Very Best of Deborah Harry and Blondie
(1989)		Debravation
(1993)		 Deborah Harry Collection
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-neither.png [2]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Select Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Debravation is the fourth solo album by American singer Deborah Harry, released in July 19, 1993. It was the final album Harry made whilst signed to the Chrysalis label, thus ending a successful partnership that began with her time as a member of Blondie and had endured for over 15 years. The album reached No. 24 in the UK Albums Chart.

Contents

The US version of the album contains two additional tracks, including "My Last Date (With You)", which features instrumental backing from R.E.M.

Debravation was re-issued in 2005 by Wounded Bird Records.

Background

Speaking of the album, Harry told Melody Maker in 1993, "The album I originally wanted to make was quite different from the one that came out in the end. There were lots of people involved in producing and arranging it and it became perhaps a bit too polished. It was supposed to be a lot more raw. It's come out kind of interesting, though." [7]

Single releases

The first single from the album was the dance track "I Can See Clearly", which reached No. 23 in the UK. [8] The second single, ballad "Strike Me Pink", had a controversial promotional video that was banned[ citation needed ] for being too disturbing – it featured a man in a glass tank filled with water, as Harry sits and watches him drown.

Critical reception

In the UK, Chris Roberts of Melody Maker considered Debravation to be a "sensible attempt to consolidate fields ploughed" by Harry's previous album Def, Dumb & Blonde (1989), but also noted the lack of cohesion, calling it "something of a Jill of all trades – rock, pop, dance, rap etc". He felt the album's "great moments" were "as good as anything in the history of pop" and selected "Communion" as the album's "zenith", noting it boasts the "most irresistible chorus" since the Bee Gees' "Tragedy". He also praised "Stability", calling it the "Nineties kid sister" to Blondie's "Rapture", and "Strike Me Pink", with its "hovering 'Brite Side' haze". [9]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Can See Clearly" Arthur Baker, Tony McIlwaine Arthur Baker 3:52
2."Stability" Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, Franne Golde, Allee Willis Chris Stein4:59
3."Strike Me Pink"Deborah Harry, Anne Dudley, Johnathan BernsteinAnne Dudley4:02
4."Rain"Leigh Foxx Jon Astley, Chris Stein4:13
5."Communion"Deborah Harry, Guy Pratt Guy Pratt 6:35
6."Lip Service"Deborah Harry, Toni C.Toni C.3:32
7."Mood Ring"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinAnne Dudley4:30
8."Keep On Going"Jon AstleyJon Astley4:16
9."Dancing Down the Moon"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinChris Stein3:10
10."Standing In My Way"Deborah Harry, Leigh FoxxJohn Williams4:10
11."The Fugitive"Deborah Harry, Chris SteinChris Stein4:55
12."Dog Star Girl"Chris Stein, William Gibson Chris Stein5:34

Additional tracks

The following tracks also appear on the US CD release
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."My Last Date (With You)" Boudleaux Bryant, Floyd Cramer, Skeeter Davis R.E.M., Andy Paley 2:57
14."Tear Drops"Calhoun, GoldenAndy Paley2:27

Personnel

Production

  • Arthur Baker – producer on "I Can See Clearly"
  • Chris Stein – producer on "Stability", "Rain", "Dancing Down the Moon", "The Fugitive" and "Dog Star Girl",
  • Anne Dudley – producer on "Strike Me Pink" and "Mood Ring"
  • Jon Astley – producer on "Rain" and "Keep On Going"
  • Guy Pratt – producer on "Communion"
  • Adam Yellin – producer/recording engineer/mixing engineer
  • Toni C. – producer on "Lip Service"
  • John Williams – producer on "Standing In My Way"
  • R.E.M. – producers on "My Last Date With You"
  • Andy Paley – producer on "My Last Date With You", "Tear Drops"
  • Chris Lord-Alge – additional production and mixing on "Communion"
  • Kennan Keating – sound engineer
  • Louis Scalise – sound engineer
  • Andy Cardenas – sound engineer
  • Neil McLellan – sound engineer
  • Mike O'Hora – sound engineer
  • Roger Dudley – sound engineer
  • Glenn Skinner – sound engineer
  • Bill Esses – sound engineer
  • Darrin Tidsey- sound engineer
  • Geoff Foster – sound engineer
  • Rich Travali – sound engineer
  • Dean Chamberlain – art direction, photography
  • Gary Kurfirst – art direction, management

Debravation Producer's Cut

In 1994, Harry released independently a different version of the album, entitled Debravation (8½) Producer's (Director's) Cut. [10] According to her official website, this was the original version of the album, which was presented to Sire and rejected. When they opted for a different track listing and different mixes, Harry had a limited number of copies of Debravation (8½) Producer's (Director's) Cut pressed and sold them at her concerts and through her website. It contained two identical tracks to the official release, but also included alternate versions, as well as tracks that were used as B-sides, and some previously unreleased material.

The musicians for the Producer's Cut were Chris Stein (guitar and programming), Pete Min (guitar), Leigh Foxx (bass) and Geoff Dugmore (drums). On the live version of "Black Dog", the musicians were Steve Barnacle (bass); Carrie Boothe (keyboards); Geoff Dugmore (drums); Karl Hyde (guitar); and Melissa Poole-Stein (backing vocals). This version was engineered and mixed by Adam Yellin and produced by Chris Stein.

No.TitleWriter(s)NotesLength
1."8½ Rhumba" Nino Rota not included on Debravation, b-side to Strike me Pink 
2."Rain"Leigh Foxxalternate version 
3."Dog Star Girl" Chris Stein, William Gibson   
4."Stability" Deborah Harry, Stein, Franne Golde, Allee Willis alternate version 
5."Standing in My Way"Harry, Foxxalternate version with additional vocals by Joey Ramone  
6."Dancing Down the Moon"Harry, Steinalternate version 
7."Black Dog" Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London on July 23, 1991; not included on Debravation 
8."Mood Ring"Harry, Steinalternate version 
9."The Fugitive"Harry, Stein  
10."The Date"Harry, Steinnot included on Debravation 
11."On a Breath"Foxxnot included on Debravation, b-side to Strike me Pink 

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References

  1. ↑ Debravation at AllMusic
  2. ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 332". www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ↑ Jones, Alan (July 24, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week . p. 7. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Wood, Sam (September 7, 1993). "A Pale Shade of '70s Blondie; Orbital's Techno Beat; Flavored Blues". Philadelphia Inquirer .
  5. ↑ "Rolling Stone review". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 19, 2008.
  6. ↑ Higginbotham, Adam. "Deborah Harry: Debravation > Review".
  7. ↑ Mathur, Paul (10 July 1993). "Platinum Brunette". Melody Maker . pp. 12–13.
  8. ↑ "i can see clearly | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  9. ↑ Roberts, Chris (10 July 1993). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 36.
  10. ↑ "Deborah Harry Official Website - Debravation Producer's Cut". Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
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