Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart

Last updated
Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart
Lucinda Williams - Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart.png
Studio album by
Lucinda Williams
ReleasedJune 30, 2023
Genre Rock, Americana
Length49:12
Label
Producer
Lucinda Williams chronology
Good Souls Better Angels
(2020)		Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart
(2023)

Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart is the 15th studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. It was released on June 30, 2023, by Highway 20 Records with distribution by Thirty Tigers.

Contents

The album was announced on April 4, 2023, simultaneously with the release of its lead single "New York Comeback", which features Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa on backing vocals. [1] The second single, "Stolen Moments", was released on April 21, 2023. [2] A third single, "Where the Song Will Find Me", was released on May 26, 2023. [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.6/10 [4]
Metacritic 79/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [7]
Exclaim! 8/10 [8]
Pitchfork 7.7/10 [9]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic from 14 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [5] AnyDecentMusic? sums up critical consensus as an 7.5 out of 10, with ten reviews. [4] Classic Rock wrote that the album "is all heart, the camaraderie is immense, and Williams assures listeners that's it's not dark yet", and Uncut remarked that there is "little on her 16th album to suggest it's anything other than business as usual". [5] Dylan Barnabe of Exclaim! called the album "all heart" and opined that "Williams not only makes her triumphant return but also showcases the true spirit of rock 'n' roll" and "her perseverance in the face of adversity is truly inspiring, and these stories are tales to live by". [8] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter stated: "These stories resonate with strength and an irrepressible spirit few other artists can summon. Williams' ability to persevere over issues that would sideline lesser talents and create music this impressive is a testament to the vitality of her rock 'n' roll heart." [7]

AllMusic's Mark Deming gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote: "Stories from a Rock 'n' Roll Heart isn't the triumphant return some might have hoped for, but for its flaws, it shows Williams hasn't lost her spark or her determination to create." He also singled out the tracks "Stolen Moments", "This Is Not My Town", and "Last Call for the Truth" as "soulful and evocative tales of bruised emotions and lives out of balance", and concluded "even when the songwriting is below Williams' average, her vocals are still a wondrous mix of toughness and fragility, and the album sounds great, with a superb studio band generating the right blend of rock 'n' roll swagger and bluesy loneliness." [6]

Track listing

Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let's Get the Band Back Together"
4:42
2."New York Comeback"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Malin
4:14
3."Last Call for the Truth"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Travis Stephens
5:24
4."Jukebox"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Malin
  • Stephens
4:35
5."Stolen Moments"
  • Williams
  • Overby
4:48
6."Rock n Roll Heart"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Stephens
3:48
7."This Is Not My Town"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Stephens
5:32
8."Hum's Liquor"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Stephens
4:07
9."Where the Song Will Find Me"
  • Williams
  • Overby
  • Stephens
6:34
10."Never Gonna Fade Away"
  • Williams
  • Overby
5:23
Total length:49:12

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [11] 57
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [12] 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] 36
Scottish Albums (OCC) [14] 9
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [15] 60
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [16] 35
UK Albums (OCC) [17] 65
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [18] 5
US Billboard 200 [19] 159

Related Research Articles

<i>The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle</i> 1973 studio album by Bruce Springsteen

The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle is the second studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was recorded by Springsteen with the E Street Band at 914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York, and released on November 5, 1973, by Columbia Records. It includes the song "Rosalita ", the band's most-used set-closing song through 1985.

<i>Car Wheels on a Gravel Road</i> 1998 studio album by Lucinda Williams

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on June 30, 1998, by Mercury Records. The album was recorded and co-produced by Williams in Nashville, Tennessee and Canoga Park, California, and features guest appearances by Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris.

<i>Human Touch</i> 1992 studio album by Bruce Springsteen

Human Touch is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The album was released on March 31, 1992, the same day as Lucky Town. It was the more popular of the two, peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200, with "Human Touch" peaking at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Human Touch" has since sold more than one million copies in the United States, and was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance at the 1993 Grammy Awards.

<i>Devils & Dust</i> 2005 studio album by Bruce Springsteen

Devils & Dust is the thirteenth studio album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen, and his third acoustic album. It was released on April 25, 2005, in Europe and the following day in the United States, where it debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.

<i>In Concert/MTV Plugged</i> 1993 live album by Bruce Springsteen

In Concert/MTV Plugged is a 1992 concert video and 1993 live album by Bruce Springsteen.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Bruce Springsteen album) 1995 greatest hits album by Bruce Springsteen

Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released February 27, 1995, on Columbia Records. It is a collection of some of Springsteen's hit singles and popular album tracks through the years along with four new songs at the end, mostly recorded with the E Street Band in 1995. The latter constituted Springsteen's first release with his backing band since the late 1980s. Some of the songs are shorter versions of the original album releases.

<i>Essence</i> (Lucinda Williams album) 2001 studio album by Lucinda Williams

Essence is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on June 5, 2001, by Lost Highway Records. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 28, selling approximately 44,500 copies in its first week. By 2008, it had sold 336,000 copies in the U.S.

<i>World Without Tears</i> 2003 studio album by Lucinda Williams

World Without Tears is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on April 8, 2003, by Lost Highway Records. The album debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. By 2008, it had sold 415,000 copies in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E Street Band</span> Bruce Springsteens backing band

The E Street Band is an American rock band, and has been musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. For the bulk of Springsteen's recording and performing career, the band consisted of: guitarists Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, and Patti Scialfa, keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, and saxophonist Clarence Clemons.

<i>We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions</i> 2006 studio album by Bruce Springsteen

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions is the fourteenth studio album by Bruce Springsteen. Released in 2006, it peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 49th Grammy Awards.

<i>West</i> (Lucinda Williams album) 2007 studio album by Lucinda Williams

West is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on February 13, 2007, by Lost Highway Records. The album debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200, selling about 57,000 copies that week. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album had sold 250,000 copies in the United States by October 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunnel of Love (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1987 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Tunnel of Love" is the title song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as the second single from the album, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Like the first single from the album, "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" reached number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached the top twenty in Canada peaking at number seventeen. The music video received five MTV Video Music Awards nominations, including Video of the Year and Best Male Video.

<i>Little Honey</i> 2008 studio album by Lucinda Williams

Little Honey is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on October 14, 2008, by Lost Highway Records. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies that week, thereby becoming her first Top 10 album.

<i>The Promise</i> (Bruce Springsteen album) 2010 compilation album by Bruce Springsteen

The Promise is a compilation album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released November 16, 2010, on Columbia Records. The album is a collection of previously unreleased songs which were recorded during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions in 1977–1978, with some vocals and additional instrumentation overdubs recorded in 2010. It was released in 2CD and 3LP formats. The album is also available as part of the box set The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story. The two-CD version of the release entered the UK Albums Chart at number 7. It had been in production for many years and was originally scheduled to be released for the 30th anniversary in 2008. The Promise debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200, while the box set, The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story, debuted at number 27.

<i>Blessed</i> (Lucinda Williams album) 2011 studio album by Lucinda Williams

Blessed is the 10th studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, released on March 1, 2011, by Lost Highway Records. The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone</i> 2014 studio album by Lucinda Williams

Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. The double album was released on September 30, 2014. It is the first album on Williams' own Highway 20 Records label. The song "Compassion", from which the album title is derived, is based on a poem by her father, Miller Williams.

<i>The Ghosts of Highway 20</i> 2016 studio album by Lucinda Williams

The Ghosts of Highway 20 is the 12th studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. The double album was released on February 5, 2016, by Highway 20 Records. It was nominated for the Americana Music Award for Album of the Year.

<i>Chapter and Verse</i> (Bruce Springsteen album) 2016 compilation album by Bruce Springsteen

Chapter and Verse is a compilation album by Bruce Springsteen that was released on September 23, 2016. The album is a companion piece to Springsteen's 500-plus-page autobiography, Born to Run, which was released four days later. The career-spanning album features eighteen songs handpicked by Springsteen, five of which have never been released. The album contains Springsteen's earliest recording from 1966 and late '60s/early '70s songs from his tenure in The Castiles, Steel Mill and the Bruce Springsteen Band along with his first 1972 demos for Columbia Records and songs from his studio albums from 1973 until 2012.

<i>Western Stars</i> 2019 studio album by Bruce Springsteen

Western Stars is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on June 14, 2019, by Columbia Records. It was produced by Ron Aniello, who worked with Springsteen on his two previous albums: Wrecking Ball (2012) and High Hopes (2014).

<i>Just Like That...</i> 2022 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Just Like That... is the eighteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bonnie Raitt. Released on April 22, 2022, it is her first studio album since 2016's Dig In Deep. The album was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Americana Album in 2023. Its title track won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best American Roots Song and lead single "Made Up Mind" won Best Americana Performance.

References

  1. ↑ Hussey, Allison (April 4, 2023). "Lucinda Williams Announces Album, Shares New Song With Bruce Springsteen". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ Kahn, Andy (April 21, 2023). "Lucinda Williams Shares Tom Petty Tribute 'Stolen Moments'". JamBase. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ Breihan, Tom (May 26, 2023). "Lucinda Williams Shares New Single "Where The Song Will Find Me": Listen". Stereogum . Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Stories From a Rock 'n' Roll Heart by Lucinda Williams". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Stories From a Rock 'n' Roll Heart by Lucinda Williams Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Stories from a Rock 'n' Roll Heart". AllMusic . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Horowitz, Hal (June 28, 2023). "Review: Lucinda Williams: 'Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart'". American Songwriter . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Barnabe, Dylan (June 28, 2023). "Lucinda Williams's Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart Are Tales to Live By". Exclaim! . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Greene, Jayson (July 7, 2023). "Lucinda Williams: Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  10. ↑ Williams, Tom (June 26, 2023). "Lucinda Williams 'Songs from a Rock n Roll Heart' Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Lucinda Williams – Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lucinda Williams – Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lucinda Williams – Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae . Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Lucinda Williams – Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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.