Hangin' Around the Observatory

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Hangin' Around the Observatory
Hiatt Observatory.jpg
Studio album by
John Hiatt
Released1974
RecordedJuly 1973
Studio Columbia Studio A (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre Rock
Length37:44
Label Epic
Producer Glen Spreen
John Hiatt chronology
Hangin' Around the Observatory
(1974)		 Overcoats
(1975)
Singles from Hangin' Around the Observatory
  1. "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here"
    Released: 1974

Hangin' Around the Observatory is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter John Hiatt. It was released in 1974 through Epic Records. The recording sessions took place at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville. [1] The album was produced by Glen Spreen. [2] [3] The song "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" was released as a single, [4] and was covered that same year by Three Dog Night on their album Hard Labor , and was a top 20 hit. [5]

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Christgau's Record Guide B [7]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

A Billboard magazine reviewer says that the album "showcases a young writer and vocalist of obvious promise," and that "Hiatt's rich, slightly crazed and occasionally overwrought vocals are sympathetically buoyed by Glen Spreen's production, ranging from buzz-saw rock to sweet country without losing its coherence." [2] A Record World reviewer calls Hiatt an "unusually gifted writer and performer whose voice and songs are strangely compelling and often insightful." [11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Hiatt.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Maybe Baby, Say You Do"2:35
2."Whistles in My Ears"3:24
3."Sure As I'm Sittin' Here"3:18
4."Rose"3:05
5."Hangin' Around the Observatory"3:00
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Full Moon"5:16
2."Wild-Eyed Gypsies"4:44
3."It's All Right with Me"3:46
4."Little Blue Song for You"3:12
5."Ocean"5:24
Total length:37:44

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Hangin' Around the Observatory Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic .
  2. 1 2 "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard . February 2, 1974. p. 48 – via World Radio History.
  3. ↑ "Record World Album Picks" (PDF). Record World . January 19, 1974. p. 12 – via World Radio History.
  4. ↑ "Hollywood - Cash Box's Greatest Hits: The Editors Discuss Their '74 Faves" (PDF). Cashbox . December 28, 1974. p. 102 – via World Radio History.
  5. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 446–447. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  6. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Hangin' Around the Observatory – John Hiatt | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  7. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: H". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 26, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  8. ↑ Jones, Tim. "Hangin' Around the Observatory/Overcoats John Hiatt". Record Collector .
  9. ↑ "RollingStone.com – John Hiatt Recordings". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 20, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2022– via Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 378. ISBN   978-0-7432-0169-8.
  11. ↑ "Record World Album Picks" (PDF). Record World – via World Radio History.
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