Prolonging the Magic

Last updated
Prolonging the Magic
Prolonging the Magic Cake album.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 6, 1998
Genre Alternative rock, experimental rock, alternative country
Length48:13
Label Capricorn
Producer John McCrea
Cake chronology
Fashion Nugget
(1996)
Prolonging the Magic
(1998)
Comfort Eagle
(2001)
Singles from Prolonging the Magic
  1. "Never There"
    Released: September 27, 1998
  2. "Let Me Go"
    Released: June 16, 1999
  3. "You Turn The Screws"
    Released: 1999
  4. "Sheep Go to Heaven"
    Released: 2000

Prolonging the Magic is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Cake. It was released on October 6, 1998, on Capricorn Records. The sole successful single was "Never There". The album was recorded after the departure of guitarist Greg Brown and features a rotating lineup of musicians to replace him. One of them, Xan McCurdy, became his full-time replacement. On its opening week, Prolonging the Magic sold about 44,000 copies, debuting at No. 33 on the Billboard 200 chart. [1] On 28 September 1999 the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies. [2]

Contents

The album was given a parental advisory sticker not because of profanity but for Satanic-themed lyrics. Some copies do not feature a sticker, with the only difference being that the song "Satan Is My Motor" has been retitled "Motor".

The song "Hem of Your Garment" was featured in the film Me, Myself & Irene .

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Rating-Christgau-neither.png [4]
Entertainment Weekly C+ [5]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Pitchfork 6.8/10 [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Spin 6/10 [9]

Allmusic wrote, "Supposedly their attempt to make a smugness- and irony-free album, Cake's third release does hold back the barbs a bit more than usual. And the strain shows. In these guys' hands, love songs without smirks and pop tunes straight up come out forced."

Track listing

All tracks are written by John McCrea, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Satan Is My Motor"McCrea, Gabriel Nelson, Tyler Pope3:12
2."Mexico" 3:26
3."Never There" 2:44
4."Guitar" 3:40
5."You Turn the Screws" 4:13
6."Walk on By" 3:48
7."Sheep Go to Heaven" 4:44
8."When You Sleep" 3:58
9."Hem of Your Garment" 3:43
10."Alpha Beta Parking Lot"Vincent DiFiore, McCrea3:30
11."Let Me Go"Jim Campilongo, McCrea3:29
12."Cool Blue Reason" 3:27
13."Where Would I Be?"McCrea, Nelson, Joe Snook3:52
Japan bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
14."Satan Is My Motor" (Karaoke Version)3:14
15."Never There" (Karaoke Version)2:46
16."Sheep Go to Heaven" (Karaoke Version)4:49
17."When You Sleep" (Karaoke Version)3:59

Personnel

Cake
Additional musicians
Additional personnel

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

YearChartPosition
1998The Billboard 20033

Singles - Billboard (United States)

YearSingleChartPosition
1998"Never There"Adult Top 4029
Modern Rock Tracks1
The Billboard Hot 10078
1999"Let Me Go"Modern Rock Tracks28
"Never There"Mainstream Rock Tracks40
"Sheep Go to Heaven"Modern Rock Tracks16

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [10] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cake (band)</span> American rock band

Cake is an American rock band from Sacramento, California, consisting of singer John McCrea, trumpeter Vince DiFiore, guitarist Xan McCurdy, bassist Daniel McCallum, and drummer Todd Roper. The band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan vocals, and their wide-ranging musical influences, including norteño, country music, mariachi, disco, rock, funk, folk music, and hip hop.

<i>The Pretender</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Jackson Browne

The Pretender is the fourth album by the American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1976. It peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's album chart. The singles from the album were "Here Come Those Tears Again", which reached No. 23, and "The Pretender", which peaked at No. 58.

<i>Comfort Eagle</i> 2001 studio album by Cake

Comfort Eagle is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Cake. It was released on July 24, 2001, on Columbia Records, their first with the company.

<i>Fashion Nugget</i> 1996 studio album by Cake

Fashion Nugget is the second studio album by alternative rock band Cake. It was released in 1996, and contains 14 songs. "The Distance" and "I Will Survive" became the most successful singles on the record, with the prior peaking at number 22 in the UK and at number 4 on the US Alternative Airplay Chart. The album was recorded at Paradise Studios in Sacramento, California.

<i>Pressure Chief</i> 2004 studio album by Cake

Pressure Chief is the fifth studio album by American band Cake. It was released on October 5, 2004, pushed back from its original August release date. It was produced by the band and recorded in a converted house in Sacramento. The lead single, "No Phone" peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The second single "Carbon Monoxide" garnered some airplay but failed to crack the Modern Rock Tracks top 40. The album was the band's second and last record under Columbia Records.

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

Faith is the third studio album by American country music 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". Other tracks on this album are mixed differently and remove some of the country elements and replacing them with a more pop sound. 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 nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. It was certified six-times Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over six million copies in the United States. Two songs off of the album, "This Kiss" and "Let Me Let Go", were both nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

<i>Beautiful Loser</i> 1975 studio album by Bob Seger

Beautiful Loser is the eighth studio album by American rock artist Bob Seger, released in 1975. This album marked Seger's return to Capitol Records after a four-year split. His previous record with Capitol was Brand New Morning in 1971.

<i>Never Gone</i> 2005 studio album by Backstreet Boys

Never Gone is the fifth studio album released by American vocal group Backstreet Boys as the follow-up to their fourth studio album Black & Blue (2000), after a short hiatus. Never Gone was originally due for release in 2004, but the release date for the album was pushed to June 14, 2005, for unknown reasons.

<i>Did I Shave My Legs for This?</i> 1995 studio album by Deana Carter

Did I Shave My Legs for This? is the debut studio album by American country music artist Deana Carter, released via Patriot Records in the United Kingdom on February 27, 1995. Two singles were released from the album in the UK, "Angel Without a Prayer" and "Are You Coming Home Today?", which charted at numbers 100 and 93 respectively on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Whats Left of Me</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Nick Lachey

What's Left of Me is the second solo album by American singer-songwriter Nick Lachey, released on May 9, 2006, by Jive Records and Zomba. The album includes the hit ballad "What's Left of Me", which to date is Lachey's most successful single as a solo artist. Other singles included are titled "I Can't Hate You Anymore" and "Resolution". On June 14, 2006, What's Left of Me was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over 500,000 copies, making it the first Lachey solo album to be certified by the RIAA. Lachey embarked on the What's Left of Me Tour in support of the album.

<i>God</i> (Rebecca St. James album) 1996 studio album by Rebecca St. James

God is the third studio album by then 18-year-old Christian pop and rock artist Rebecca St. James. It was released on 25 June 1996 by ForeFront Records, and peaked at No. 200 on the Billboard 200. The title song was featured on WOW #1s: 31 of the Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever. It was RIAA Certified Gold in 2005. This was the first of many Rebecca St. James albums produced by Tedd Tjornhom.

<i>Blue</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 1996 studio album by LeeAnn Rimes

Blue is the debut studio album by American country music singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996, by Curb Records. It peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200, and number one on the Top Country Albums chart.

<i>You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs</i> 1997 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs, or simply You Light Up My Life, is the second studio album by the American country singer LeAnn Rimes. Released in the United States by Curb Records on September 9, 1997, when Rimes was 15 years old, it followed her debut album Blue. The album was hugely successful but many critics thought that much of the material did not do Rimes' talent justice. The album has been certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA. She was the first solo artist to chart on the Billboard 200 twice, and fourth overall under the age of 18.

<i>Something Worth Leaving Behind</i> 2002 studio album by Lee Ann Womack

Something Worth Leaving Behind is the fourth studio album from American country music singer Lee Ann Womack, released in 2002. It peaked on the Billboard 200 at #16 and the Top Country Albums at #2. Two singles were released from the album; the title-track and "Forever Everyday". This was also the first album of Womack's career not to produce a Top Ten country hit, as well as the first to not feature any tracks written or co-written by her.

<i>White Christmas</i> (Martina McBride album) 1998 studio album by Martina McBride

White Christmas is the fifth album and first Christmas album by country singer Martina McBride issued by RCA Nashville in 1998. The album was reissued in 1999 with new artwork and two new tracks. It was re-released for the second time in October 2007 with newer artwork and four new tracks added. In 2013, it was reissued for a third time as The Classic Christmas Album. The re-release added her Elvis Presley duet, "Blue Christmas", which was originally released on his posthumous album Christmas Duets, while removing the track "Jingle Bells" and revising the track listing.

<i>B-Sides and Rarities</i> (Cake album) 2007 compilation album by Cake

B-Sides and Rarities is a rarities compilation album by Cake, an alternative rock band from Sacramento, California. It features several cover songs from the 2004 bonus disc Extra Value and the 2005 Wheels EP, including Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" and Barry White's "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up."

<i>Chrome</i> (Trace Adkins album) 2001 studio album by Trace Adkins

Chrome is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Trace Adkins. It was released on October 9, 2001, on Capitol Records Nashville. The album produced three singles for Adkins on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "I'm Tryin'" at No. 6, "Help Me Understand" at No. 17, and the title track at No. 10. It has also been certified gold by the RIAA. The album was produced by Trey Bruce and Dann Huff.

<i>Showroom of Compassion</i> 2011 studio album by Cake

Showroom of Compassion is the sixth full-length studio album from the band Cake, released on January 11, 2011. Produced by the band, it was the band's first studio album to be independently released. The musical style of Showroom of Compassion is grounded in the band's unique style of alternative rock, combining droll, often esoteric lyrics rife with word play and syncopation, catchy distorted guitar riffs, complex bass patterns, Moog and prominent use of trumpet. Cake's former lead guitarist, Greg Brown, makes a guest appearance on the song "Bound Away", his first appearance on a Cake album since 1996's Fashion Nugget.

<i>Eleven</i> (Martina McBride album) 2011 studio album by Martina McBride

Eleven is the eleventh studio album by American country music singer Martina McBride, released on October 11, 2011, through Republic Nashville. The title of the album was inspired by the fact that it is McBride's eleventh album, it has eleven tracks and its release date. A deluxe edition of the album was also made available exclusively at Target stores. It featured slightly different cover art, with a blue fade at the bottom instead of white, and included four bonus tracks, as well as music videos for "Teenage Daughters" and "I'm Gonna Love You Through It". As of March 2012 the album has sold over 150,000 copies in the US. On July 3, 2012 the four Deluxe Bonus Tracks were released on iTunes as individual singles.

<i>Platinum</i> (Miranda Lambert album) 2014 studio album by Miranda Lambert

Platinum is the fifth studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Miranda Lambert. It was released on June 3, 2014, by RCA Nashville.

References

  1. Paul Grein (19 January 2011). "Week Ending Jan. 16, 2011: Albums: Even Lower". yahoo.com. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  2. "Searchable Database". riaa.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  3. Michael Gallucci. "Prolonging the Magic". Allmusic . Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  4. Christgau, Robert (2000-10-15). "Cake". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s . Macmillan Publishing. ISBN   9780312245603.
  5. Matt Diehl (9 October 1998). "Prolonging the Magic Review". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  6. Harris, Keith (2004). "Cake". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9780743201698.
  7. Mirov, Nick. "Cake: Prolonging the Magic". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  8. Tom Moon (29 October 1998). "Cake: Prolonging The Magic : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  9. Eddy, Chuck (November 1998). "Cake: Prolonging the Magic/Soul Coughing: El Oso". Spin . SPIN Media LLC. p. 18.
  10. "American album certifications – Cake – Prolonging the Magic". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 11, 2022.