Pieces of You

Last updated
Pieces of You
Jewel - Pieces of You.png
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1995
Studio
Genre
Length58:31
Label Atlantic
Producer Ben Keith
Jewel chronology
Pieces of You
(1995)
Spirit
(1998)
Singles from Pieces of You
  1. "Who Will Save Your Soul"
    Released: June 4, 1996
  2. "You Were Meant for Me"
    Released: November 12, 1996
  3. "Foolish Games"
    Released: July 8, 1997
  4. "Morning Song"
    Released: January 9, 1998

Pieces of You is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on February 28, 1995, by Atlantic Records. It was produced by Ben Keith, who has also produced works for artists such as Neil Young and Patsy Cline. Featuring acoustic guitar-based songs written when Jewel was a teenager, the album is composed of both live recordings from 1994 at the Innerchange, a coffeehouse in San Diego, and studio recordings completed at Neil Young's personal studio in Redwood City, California.[ citation needed ]

Contents

After its release in February 1995, the album initially failed to chart. Two years later, in 1997, Bob Dylan invited Jewel to tour with him as his opening act, which gave the album widespread public exposure. The single "Who Will Save Your Soul" eventually received airplay, and the album peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, almost exactly two years after its release. Other hits included were "Foolish Games" and "You Were Meant for Me", as well as the UK single "Morning Song". After two years, the album was re-released featuring the re-recorded versions of "You Were Meant for Me" and "Foolish Games". Despite a mixed critical response, the album is listed at number 64 of the "Definitive 200" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [2]

Pieces of You was certified 12-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 30, 2006, denoting shipments in excess of 12 million copies in the United States. [3] As of June 2010, the album had sold over 7.3 million copies in the US, [4] becoming one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. [5]

On September 28, 2020, Jewel announced that the album would be re-released in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the album's release. It was released through Craft Recordings in multiple formats including the original album remastered, alongside a four-disc box set containing B-sides, demos, outtakes, and live performances of the album's songs. [6]

Background

The bulk of the songs featured on Pieces of You were written by Jewel between the ages of 16 and 19; she has said that "Who Will Save Your Soul" specifically was written while she was busking during a hitchhiking trip she took by herself over spring break from the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she had been studying on a vocal scholarship. [7]

While living in San Diego, California, Jewel managed to amass a local following while performing in coffee houses and local bars, which resulted in a bootleg being broadcast on 91X FM. [7] Jewel then became subject of a bidding war between labels, eventually signing with Atlantic Records. [7]

Recording

Several tracks on Pieces of You were recorded live in 1994 at the Innerchange, a San Diego coffeehouse where Jewel was a regular performer. [8] The remainder of the album was recorded in Neil Young's studio at Broken Arrow Ranch in Redwood City, California, under the supervision of producer Ben Keith. [9] Jewel told Time about the recording process: [10]

"[...] Typically I've had difficulty in the studio. I don't sing as raw, it's just a bit more tame. I'm a live singer who's always fed off the energy of the audience. In a studio, you're just looking at a wall—it feels very odd to me. I've been a live performer since I was six years old. The reason I recorded the album live with the band was so that I could play guitar, which I usually never do in the studio, while I sing at the same time. The band was accustomed to following singer-songwriters and feeling for me slowing down and speeding up. It has a real ebb and a flow and a naturalness that didn't inhibit my singing or performance."

In her 2015 memoir, Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story, Jewel described Pieces of You as "imperfect, full of mistakes and guitar flubs", but also "honest". [11]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Entertainment Weekly C+ [13]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Village Voice C− [15]

Upon its initial release in 1995, the album received little attention, after which Jewel was invited to tour as the opener for Bob Dylan, which helped garner more public attention. [7] Two of the album's singles were re-recorded for a 1997 re-release of the album.

David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a negative review upon its 1997 re-release, noting, "Pieces of You remains a wimpily produced batch of songs – so ineffectual that both 'Who Will Save Your Soul?' and 'You Were Meant for Me' had to be rerecorded for release as singles. It's best considered as a guided tour through three decades of female folk-pop styles," comparing it negatively to Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. [13] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice also gave the album a starkly negative review, writing: "With the possible exception of Saint Joan, who at least had some stature, this is the bad folkie joke to end all bad folkie jokes." [15]

Sara Sytsma of AllMusic gave the album a positive review, calling it "a charming collection of light alternative folk-rock from the teenage singer/songwriter. Her songs are occasionally naive, but her melodies can usually save her lyrics." [16] In his review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Pieces of You is a charming debut that is somewhat undone by its own naïveté. Jewel has a rich voice and an innocent, beguiling charm that makes 'Who Will Save Your Soul,' 'I'm Sensitive,' and 'You Were Meant for Me' – songs with slight, simple lyrics and catchy, sweet melodies – quite endearing; they sound like a high-school diary brought to life. [...] Pieces of You has enough charm to make it an ingratiating debut, even if the album doesn't quite fulfill Jewel's potential." [12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Who Will Save Your Soul" Jewel Kilcher 4:00
2."Pieces of You"Kilcher4:15
3."Little Sister"Kilcher2:29
4."Foolish Games"Kilcher5:39
5."Near You Always"Kilcher3:08
6."Painters"Kilcher6:43
7."Morning Song"Kilcher3:35
8."Adrian"
7:02
9."I'm Sensitive"Kilcher2:54
10."You Were Meant for Me"
  • Kilcher
  • Poltz
4:13
11."Don't"Kilcher3:34
12."Daddy"Kilcher3:49
13."Angel Standing By"Kilcher2:38
14."Amen"Kilcher4:32
Total length:58:31

Personnel

Musicians

Technical personnel

  • Ben Keith  production
  • Tim Mulligan production
  • John Nowland production
  • John Dixon engineering assistance
  • John Hausmann engineering assistance
  • Gene Eichelberger mixing
  • Tim Mulligan mixing
  • John Nowland mixing
  • Joe Baldrige mixing
  • Tim Mulligan mastering
  • Jenny Price A&R
  • Gena Maria Rankins production coordination
  • Tim Mulligan digital editing
  • Charlotte Caffey arrangements
  • Jewel Kilcher  arrangements

Art personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Pieces of You
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [41] 6× Platinum420,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [42] 8× Platinum800,000^
Japan60,000 [43]
Netherlands (NVPI) [44] Platinum100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [45] Platinum15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [46] Gold25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [28] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [47] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [3] 12× Platinum8,753,000 [a]
Summaries
Worldwide12,000,000 [50]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Notes

  1. As of June 2010, Pieces of You had sold 7,353,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan, [4] with an additional 1.4 million sold at BMG Music Club. [48] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s. [49]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ixnay on the Hombre</i> 1997 studio album by the Offspring

Ixnay on the Hombre is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on February 4, 1997, by Columbia Records, as the band's first album on the label. After the massive commercial success of their previous album, Smash (1994), the band entered the studio in the middle of 1996 to record a new album. The title combines Pig Latin and Spanish to convey the message "fuck The Man", as in "fuck authority".

<i>Meteora</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Linkin Park

Meteora is the second studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on March 25, 2003, through Warner Bros. Records, following Reanimation, a collaboration album which featured remixes of songs included on their 2000 debut studio album Hybrid Theory. The album was produced by the band alongside Don Gilmore. The title Meteora is taken from the Greek Orthodox monasteries originally bearing the name. Meteora has a similar sound to Hybrid Theory, as described by critics, and the album took almost a year to be recorded. It is the first Linkin Park studio album to feature bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell after he rejoined the band in 2000 following his temporary touring with other bands.

<i>Live in Texas</i> (Linkin Park album) 2003 live/video album by Linkin Park

Live in Texas is the first live album and the second DVD by American rock band Linkin Park, released on November 18, 2003 through Warner Records. The band's main setlist includes songs from their studio albums Hybrid Theory and Meteora, as well as one song from their remix album Reanimation. The live album peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200, and it has sold 1.1 million copies in the United States. The audio version of the concert includes 12 out of the 17 tracks.

<i>0304</i> 2003 studio album by Jewel

0304 is the fifth studio album by American singer Jewel, released on June 3, 2003, by Atlantic Records. Inspired by Jewel's sudden success topping the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in early November 2002 with a remix of "Serve the Ego", the final single from her previous album This Way, the album is a radical departure from her previous folk-oriented musical efforts and is instead more pop and dance-focused.

<i>18 til I Die</i> 1996 studio album by Bryan Adams

18 til I Die is the seventh studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Released on June 5, 1996, by A&M Records, the album became a commercial success peaking at No. 1 in the United Kingdom and No. 2 in his home country Canada. It was recorded on different locations which included Jamaica and France. 18 til I Die featured the number one song "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?", which had been released as a single and on the soundtrack to the film Don Juan DeMarco over a year prior, and 4 other singles: "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You", "Let's Make a Night to Remember", "Star", and "18 til I Die"; the album track "I'll Always Be Right There" was also released to radio in the United States. Adams traveled throughout North America and Europe to promote the album after its June release, notably playing in front of over 70,000 people at Wembley Stadium in July 1996. The album performed lower than expectations in the US but it sold 5 million copies worldwide.

<i>Silver Side Up</i> 2001 studio album by Nickelback

Silver Side Up is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, released on September 11, 2001. According to AllMusic, Silver Side Up continued Nickelback's tradition of "dark high-octane rock" from the band's first two albums. It reached number one in Canada, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The album was certified 8× Platinum in Canada, 6× Platinum in the US, and 3× Platinum in the UK.

<i>Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton</i> 1982 greatest hits album by Eric Clapton

Timepieces: The Best of Eric Clapton is a greatest hits album by British musician Eric Clapton. The album was originally released by RSO/Polydor Records in April 1982. The following year a second volume, Time Pieces Vol.II Live in the Seventies, was released by the label. The album has been reissued several times and has been awarded certifications in several regions. Billboard reported the album sold more than 13,400,000 copies worldwide.

<i>Spirit</i> (Jewel album) 1998 studio album by Jewel

Spirit is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on November 17, 1998, by Atlantic Records. Singles include "Hands", "Down So Long", and a newly recorded version of "Jupiter", followed by a remix of "What's Simple Is True" to promote Jewel's debut film Ride with the Devil. In addition, a one-track CD containing a live version of "Life Uncommon" was released to music stores in hopes to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity.

<i>This Way</i> (Jewel album) 2001 studio album by Jewel

This Way is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on November 13, 2001, by Atlantic Records. Jewel was looking for a raw, live-sounding album, leading her to be involved in the album's production. The album spawned the singles "Standing Still" and "Break Me", as well as the title track, which was also featured on the soundtrack to the film Life or Something Like It. The final single, "Serve the Ego", was remixed by Hani Num and Mike Rizzo and topped the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 140,000 units. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 17, 2001, and as of June 2010, it had sold over 1.5 million copies in the United States. This Way reached number six in Australia and has since been certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

<i>Nine Lives</i> (Aerosmith album) 1997 studio album by Aerosmith

Nine Lives is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 18, 1997. The album was produced by Aerosmith and Kevin Shirley, and was the band's first studio album released by Columbia Records since 1982's Rock in a Hard Place. In the United States, it peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over two million copies. One of the album's singles, "Pink", won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Until Music from Another Dimension!, Nine Lives was their longest album, at 63 minutes.

<i>Evolution</i> (Boyz II Men album) 1997 studio album by Boyz II Men

Evolution is the fourth studio album by American R&B quartet Boyz II Men, released on September 23, 1997. It is their final album released on Motown Records. A Spanish language version, Evolución, was also issued. The Spanish edition won the Billboard Latin Music Award for Pop Album of the Year by a New Artist.

<i>Goodbye Alice in Wonderland</i> 2006 studio album by Jewel

Goodbye Alice in Wonderland is the sixth studio album by singer-songwriter Jewel, released on May 2, 2006, through Atlantic Records. The album marks a return to her musical roots after 0304, and trying to write an autobiographical album like she did with Pieces of You. The album was written in the form of a novel with each track representing a chapter. Singles released from the album were "Again and Again", "Good Day", and "Stephenville, TX".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewel discography</span>

The discography of Jewel, an American singer-songwriter, consists of 13 studio albums, four live albums, five compilation albums, 38 singles, 35 music videos, five video albums and five spoken-word albums. She debuted in 1995 after signing with Atlantic Records.

<i>Backstreet Boys</i> (1996 album) 1996 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys is the debut studio album by American boy band Backstreet Boys, released on May 6, 1996, by Jive Records. It contains some of the band's most successful singles. The album was reissued in 1997 under the same name and released as their debut in the United States. The reissue also includes songs from the band's second international release Backstreet's Back (1997).

<i>Minutes to Midnight</i> (Linkin Park album) 2007 studio album by Linkin Park

Minutes to Midnight is the third studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on May 14, 2007, through Warner Bros. Records. The album was produced by Mike Shinoda and Rick Rubin; it is Linkin Park's first studio album produced without Don Gilmore, who had produced the band's two previous albums. Minutes to Midnight is the band's follow-up album to Meteora (2003), and features a shift in the group's musical direction. For the band, the album marked a beginning of deviation from their signature nu metal sound. Minutes to Midnight takes its title from the Doomsday Clock symbol. It is also the band's first full-length album to carry a Parental Advisory label.

<i>Sleep Through the Static</i> Album by Jack Johnson

Sleep Through the Static is the fourth studio album by singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, released in the United States on February 5, 2008. The album was announced on Johnson's website as renovation began for the release of the album. It was recorded at the Los Angeles Solar Powered Plastic Plant, which makes it Johnson's first album made outside of Hawaii. It was produced by JP Plunier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith No More discography</span>

The discography of Faith No More, an American rock group, consists of seven studio albums, nineteen singles, one live album, five compilations, four video albums.

<i>Men in Black: The Album</i> 1997 soundtrack album

Men in Black: The Album is a soundtrack album to the film Men in Black, released on 1 July 1997. Distributed by Columbia Records, the album featured production from producers such as Poke & Tone, Jermaine Dupri and The Ummah.

<i>Reload</i> (Metallica album) 1997 studio album by Metallica

Reload is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on November 18, 1997, via Elektra Records. The album is a follow-up to Load, released the previous year, and Metallica's last studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted. Reload debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies in its first week. It was certified 3× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping three million copies in the United States.

<i>Over It</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Summer Walker

Over It is the debut studio album by American singer Summer Walker. It was released on October 4, 2019, by LVRN and Interscope. It spawned the singles "Playing Games", "Stretch You Out", and "Come Thru". It also features the remix of Walker's "Girls Need Love" featuring Drake, and collaborations with Bryson Tiller, Usher, 6lack, PartyNextDoor, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Jhené Aiko. Most of the album was produced by Walker's then-boyfriend, London on da Track. Walker's First and Last Tour supported the album, starting late October 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 Berger, Arion; Walters, Barry (2004). "Jewel". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  431–432. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  2. "The 200 Definitive Albums of All Time". EIL.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  3. 1 2 "American album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". Recording Industry Association of America. January 30, 2006.
  4. 1 2 Trust, Gary (June 18, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Jewel, Ciara, Ricky Martin". Billboard . Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jewel – Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  6. "Pieces Of You 25th Anniversary". JewelJK.com. September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kilcher, Jewel (March 31, 2017). "22 Minutes with Jewel" (Interview). Interviewed by Brigitte Quinn. CBS New York. Video on YouTube.
  8. Gaar 2002, p. 415.
  9. Dodd 2004, p. 164.
  10. Berman, Eliza (September 11, 2015). "Jewel on Coping With Heartache: 'I Peel Off Every Scab and Stick My Finger in Them". Time .
  11. Gibson, Caitlin (January 18, 2018). "'90s folk superstar Jewel is happy — finally. Now she wants to know: Are you?". The Washington Post . Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  12. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pieces of You – Jewel". AllMusic . Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Browne, David (August 15, 1997). "Pieces of You". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  14. Aizlewood, John (June 1996). "Jewel: Pieces of You". Q . No. 117.
  15. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (July 23, 1996). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  16. Sytsma, Sara. "Pieces of You – Jewel". AllMusic . Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  17. "Australiancharts.com – Jewel – Pieces of You". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – Jewel – Pieces of You" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Jewel – Pieces of You" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  20. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3367". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  21. "Jewel Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jewel – Pieces of You" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  23. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 47. November 22, 1997. p. 19. OCLC   29800226 via World Radio History.
  24. "Lescharts.com – Jewel – Pieces of You". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jewel – Pieces of You" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  26. "Charts.nz – Jewel – Pieces of You". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  27. "Norwegiancharts.com – Jewel – Pieces of You". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  28. 1 2 Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  29. "Swedishcharts.com – Jewel – Pieces of You". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  30. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  31. "Jewel Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  32. "Jewel Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  33. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  34. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  35. "Top Selling Albums of 1997". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  36. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  37. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  39. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  40. Mayfield, Geoff (December 25, 1999). "Top Pop Albums of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. p. YE-20. ISSN   0006-2510 via Google Books.
  41. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  42. "Canadian album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". Music Canada.
  43. Pride, Dominic; Verna, Paul (December 27, 1997). "Global Market Remains Tough for U.S. Music: Jewel's Fortunes Abroad". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. p. 86. ISSN   0006-2510 via Google Books.
  44. "Dutch album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Enter Pieces of You in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  45. "New Zealand album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  46. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  47. "British album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". British Phonographic Industry. July 22, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  48. David, Barry (February 18, 2003). "Shania, Backstreet, Britney, Eminem And Janet Top All Time Sellers". Music Industry News Network. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  49. Caulfield, Keith (January 25, 2008). "Ask Billboard: One More for 'One More Time'?". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  50. Vega, George (November 8, 2020). "Jewel reflects on her 1995 debut album, which sold 12 million copies and changed her life" . Retrieved April 17, 2022.

Bibliography