Tongues and Tails

Last updated

Tongues and Tails
Sophie B. Hawkins - Tongues and Tails.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 21, 1992
RecordedJuly 1991 – February 1992
Length52:23
Label Columbia
Producer
Sophie B. Hawkins chronology
Tongues and Tails
(1992)
Whaler
(1994)
Singles from Tongues and Tails
  1. "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover"
    Released: 31 March 1992
  2. "California Here I Come"
    Released: July 1992
  3. "I Want You"
    Released: October 1992

Tongues and Tails is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, released in 1992 on Columbia records. It was produced by Rick Chertoff and Ralph Schuckett. [1] [2]

Contents

The album contains ten original tracks, including "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "California Here I Come", and a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Want You"; in Rolling Stone , Paul Evans described the style of her version as "breathy techno-MOR". [3]

The album, which sold over 850,000 units worldwide, [4] was a commercial and critical success. [5] It was awarded "Best Pop Album" and "Best Debut Album by a Solo Artist" at the 1992 New York Music Awards, [6] and earned Hawkins a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist in 1993. [7]

Background

Hawkins recorded her debut album, Tongues and Tails, after signing a contract with Columbia Records, who had liked a demo tape she circulated to various labels. She was enthusiastic about her relationship with the label, telling Billboard in 1992, "Once it sunk into my brain that I got this deal because [Columbia] believed in me and my music, I was able to dig into making this album without any inhibitions." [8]

Singles

The lead single, "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", preceded the album and was released in the US on March 31, 1992. [8] It achieved success in many countries worldwide; in the United States, it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. [5] The second single, "California Here I Come", was released in July 1992. [9] It failed to appear on any Billboard charts, but did peak at number 79 on the US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles chart. [10] "I Want You" was issued as the third and final single in October 1992, but was not a chart success. [11] It did, however, reach number 49 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1993. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [16]
The Indianapolis Star Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Orlando Sentinel Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg (1992)
Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg (1994) [20]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [22]

Billboard believed that Tongues and Tails "distinguishes itself from the femme-fronted confessional genre by contrasting sensitive lyrics with insinuating pop grooves, '70s soul stylings, and African-tribal percussion". They added that Hawkins "reveals a unique voice and charisma that's well worth the attention." [23] Kent Zimmerman of Gavin Report described the album as "one of this year's prime releases". He noted how Hawkins has "carved a personality niche right alongside her textured and keyboard-drive recordings", which "emphasizes sex and affection during dangerous times". [24] The Indianapolis Star stated that "Hawkins' music ranges from churchlike keyboards to what should be instant favorites on the dance floor—sort of an early Springsteen to current Madonna." [17]

Track listing

All tracks written by Sophie B. Hawkins, except "I Want You," written by Bob Dylan.

  1. "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" – 5:23
  2. "California Here I Come" – 4:38
  3. "Mysteries We Understand" – 4:40
  4. "Savior Child" – 4:45
  5. "Carry Me" – 4:36
  6. "I Want You" – 5:19
  7. "Before I Walk on Fire" – 4:58
  8. "We Are One Body" – 4:49
  9. "Listen" – 3:31
  10. "Live and Let Love" – 4:13
  11. "Don't Stop Swaying" – 5:31

Personnel

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Tongues and Tails
Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [25] 38
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [26] 20
European Top 100 Albums ( Music & Media ) [27] 54
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [28] 34
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [29] 13
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [30] 38
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [31] 15
UK Albums (OCC) [32] 46
US Billboard 200 [33] 51
US Cash Box Top 200 Pop Albums [34] 32

Notes

  1. Flick, Larry (October 10, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 78. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2021 via World Radio History.
  2. Gettelman, Parry (May 22, 1992). "Sophie B. Hawkins". Orlando Sentinel . p. C8.
  3. "Rollin' & tumblin'". Rolling Stone . August 11, 1994. p. 70.
  4. "Sophie B. Hawkins - Whaler advertisement". Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 32. Billboard Publications, Inc. August 6, 1994. p. 1. ISSN   0006-2510.
  5. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Sophie B. Hawkins - Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  6. Applefeld, Catherine (October 24, 1992). "Hawkins gets her wish at N.Y. Awards". Billboard . Vol. 104, no. 43. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 19. ISSN   0006-2510.
  7. "35th Annual GRAMMY Awards". Grammy Awards . Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Flick, Larry (April 4, 1992). "Bigger & better prospects for Sophie Hawkins". Billboard . Vol. 104, no. 14. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 13. ISSN   0006-2510.
  9. Rufer, Diane; Fell, Ron (July 24, 1992). "Reviews". Gavin Report . No. 1915. p. 28. OCLC   34039542.
  10. Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993 . Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p.  152. ISBN   1563083167 . Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  11. "I Want You – Sophie B. Hawkins – The new single...". Radio & Records . No. 961. Radio & Records, Inc. October 2, 1992. p. 91. ISSN   0277-4860.
  12. "Sophie B. Hawkins - Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  13. Tongues and Tails at AllMusic
  14. "Sophie B. Hawkins". Robert Christgau. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  15. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Omnibus Press.
  16. "Protected Blog › Log in". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  17. 1 2 Wolf, Judy (May 8, 1992). "Sophie B. Hawkins Tongues and Tails". The Indianapolis Star. p. C12.
  18. "*** SOPHIE B. HAWKINS "Tongues and Tails" Columbia". Los Angeles Times. April 19, 1992. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  19. Gettelman, Parry (May 22, 1992). "Sophie B. Hawkins". Orlando Sentinel .
  20. "Sophie B Hawkins - Tongues & Tails CD Album". www.cduniverse.com.
  21. Rolling Stone review
  22. Cinquemani, Sal (October 26, 2003). "Review: Sophie B. Hawkins, Tongues & Tails". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  23. "Album Reviews". Billboard . Vol. 104, no. 15. Billboard Publications, Inc. April 11, 1992. p. 43. ISSN   0006-2510.
  24. Zimmerman, Kent (April 17, 1992). "Album: New Releases". Gavin Report . No. 1901. p. 40. OCLC   34039542.
  25. "Australiancharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  26. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2023". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  27. "European Top 100 Albums". Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 39. September 26, 1992. p. 17. OCLC   29800226.
  28. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  29. "Norwegiancharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  30. "Swedishcharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  31. "Swisscharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  32. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  33. "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  34. "Top 200 Pop Albums". Cash Box . Vol. 55, no. 47. July 18, 1992. p. 15. ISSN   0008-7289.

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