The Book of Your Regrets

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The Book of Your Regrets
Studio album by
the Rave-Ups
Released1988
Genre Pop rock, country rock
Label Epic
Producer David Leonard
The Rave-Ups chronology
Town + Country
(1985)		The Book of Your Regrets
(1988)		Chance
(1990)

The Book of Your Regrets is the second album by the American band the Rave-Ups, released in 1988. [1] [2] They supported it by opening for the Church and then the Mighty Lemon Drops on North American tours. [3] [4]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by David Leonard. [5] Its songs were written or cowritten by frontman Jimmer Podrasky, who was influenced by Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Hank Williams, among others. [6] He considered the songs to be pop music and conceded that the band tried to record a "safe" album. [7] "Mickey of Alphabet City" is about a drug addict in Alphabet City. [8] "Sue & Sonny" is a narrative about a man who commits suicide because of marital problems. [9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Birmingham News Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
Robert Christgau B+ [11]
Houston Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [12]
LA Weekly 6/10 [13]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]

The St. Petersburg Times called the album "curiously mannered" and concluded, "Next time around, Podrasky should sneak a peek at the meaning of rave before he hits the studio. If that doesn't work, he could always write songs for the BoDeans". [15] The Chicago Tribune said it was "an energetic and uplifting triumph reminiscent at times of a revved-up Tom Petty or his influences [of] the Byrds and other country-rock-meets-British-Invasion groups." [16] Robert Christgau praised Terry Wilson's "indubitable guitar-banjo-lapsteel-keybs-etc." [11]

The Washington Post opined that "the first side ... often achieves an ingratiating balance between the quartet's pop-rock and country influences". [4] The Los Angeles Times concluded, "This is what John Cougar Mellencamp's Americana might sound like if his records were as smart as they are earnest." [14] The Pittsburgh Press panned the "too loud" mix and "isn't-life-gritty" lyrics. [17] The Houston Chronicle considered The Book of Your Regrets to be one of the best "pop or contemporary rock" albums of 1988. [12] The Capital Times listed it among the ten best albums of the year. [18]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Freedom Bound" 
2."Sue & Sonny" 
3."Please Take Her (She's Mine)" 
4."Mickey of Alphabet City" 
5."If Fun Was Not" 
6."Knockin' at Your Door" 
7."When the End Comes Before" 
8."A Girl for Me" 
9."Catching Moonbeams" 
10."This House" 
11."These Wishes" 
12."Blue Carrot" 

References

  1. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2008). Lights, Camera, Sound Tracks: The Ultimate Guide to Popular Music in the Movies. Canongate. p. 273.
  2. ↑ Brown, Mark (July 1, 1988). "Despite ecstatic reviews, Rave-Ups are late success". Star Tribune. p. 8E.
  3. ↑ "News 'n' Notes". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. May 15, 1988. p. 96.
  4. 1 2 Jenkins, Mark (June 17, 1988). "When young L.A. bands...". Weekend. The Washington Post. p. 25.
  5. ↑ The Trouser Press Record Guide (4th ed.). Collier Books. 1991. p. 536.
  6. ↑ Brass, Kevin (May 18, 1988). "Rave-Ups scheduling dates around founder's first baby". San Diego Evening Tribune. p. D8.
  7. ↑ Darling, Cary (January 6, 1989). "LA favorites the Rave-Ups put the hype on hold". Orange County Register. p. P33.
  8. ↑ Gnerre, Sam. "L.A.'s Rave-Ups make most of first shot on major label". The News-Pilot. p. E10.
  9. 1 2 Ryan, Shawn (June 24, 1988). "Album Reviews". The Birmingham News. p. 7B.
  10. ↑ "Book of Your Regrets Review by James Chrispell". AllMusic. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "The Rave-Ups". Robert Christgau. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Racine, Marty (May 29, 1988). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  13. ↑ Lim, Gerrie (July 7, 1988). "Vinyl Verdict". LA Weekly. p. 53.
  14. 1 2 Willman, Chris (July 31, 1988). "Exciting Emigres". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 58.
  15. ↑ Couture, Pete (May 22, 1988). "The Rave-Ups: The Book of Your Regrets". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  16. ↑ Heim, Chris (June 3, 1988). "The Rave-Ups, The Book of Your Regrets". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 70.
  17. ↑ King, Peter B. (June 5, 1988). "Pop/Rock". The Pittsburgh Press. p. F8.
  18. ↑ Rasmussen, Eric (December 24, 1988). "Just Rock". The Capital Times. p. 30.
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