Maria McKee (album)
Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: June 1989 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=You Gotta Sin to Get Saved1993studioMaria McKeeMaria McKee - Maria McKee.jpgMaria McKeeJune 1989Country rock44:43Geffen<ref name=CL/>Mitchell Froomx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Maria McKee is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Maria McKee, released in 1989.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Production
The songwriting was inspired in part by books about the history of vaudeville, as well as by Tennessee Williams plays.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Critical reception
Template:Album ratings The Washington PostTemplate:'s Joe Brown called the album "stunning", writing that "aside from her luminous singing, the real success story of McKee's solo album is her songwriting, highly developed and ambitious, full of melodic and rhythmic variety."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Chris Willman writing for the Los Angeles Times stated the album "presents Maria McKee the person as something of an introspective, even introverted loner reeling from a romantic split."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ira Robbins considered McKee's "lyrics don't reveal any clear artistic mission and Mitchell Froom's overstylized production ... drowns and/or drains her personality out of the album, leaving characterless elegance instead of a strong statement."<ref name="TP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Oscar Wednesday of Cashbox was disappointed by this record. He wrote: "I really wanted to love this album. As far as I'm concerned Maria McKee is one of the most talented and exciting singers around today. No, honest. But after listening to the album repeatedly, I found myself anything but captivated. Lone Justice's second and final album, 1986's Shelter, was unfocused and awkward, and although this solo outing stands head-and-shoulders above that effort, it too feels a little unnatural."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Terry Staunton, writing for New Musical Express, felt that McKee's decision to work with "the elite of American sessions musicians" produced "astonishing results" and suggested the album "has to be one of the best records of the year". He praised McKee's "honey roast vocals" for "matching the frail passion of Patsy Cline, the fiery soul of Aretha Franklin and the forceful blues of Janis Joplin". Staunton added, "Maria's always been able to pen a good tune and here you'll hear nine of her best."<ref name="NME"/> NME placed the album at No. 9 on its 1989 albums of the year list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ian Gittins of Melody Maker summarised, "Maria McKee is country, is blues, is soul, is rock 'n' roll, but is always one delicious demon possessed by the spirit of her songs. I defy you to hear this and not fall in love."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Track listing
All songs written by Maria McKee, except where noted.
Personnel
- Maria McKee – acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, vocals
- Alex Acuña – percussion
- Bruce Brody – conductor, keyboard, Hammond organ
- Shane Fontayne – guitar
- Mitchell Froom – keyboard
- Heart Attack Horns – horn
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Tony Levin – bass guitar
- Jerry Marotta – drums
- Sid Page – concert master
- Philip Pickett – recorder, crumhorn
- James Ralston – guitar
- Marc Ribot – guitar
- Jerry Scheff – bass
- Greg Sutton – vocals
- Richard Thompson – guitar, mandolin
- Steve Wickham – fiddle
Production Template:Div col
- Mitchell Froom – producer
- Gary Gersh – executive producer
- Bruce Brody – associate producer
- Tchad Blake – engineer
- Ed Goodreau – assistant engineer
- Mike Kloster – assistant engineer
- Randy Staub – assistant engineer
- Randy Wine – assistant engineer
- Scott Woodman – assistant engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Bruce Brody – arranger
- Gabrielle Raumberger – art direction
- Maria DeGrassi – design
- Deborah Frankel – photography
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA history pages">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> |
117 |
| US Cash Box Top 200 Albums<ref>Template:Cite magazine
</ref> |
122 |