Especially for You (The Smithereens album)
Encyclopedia
Especially for You is the first full-length album
from New Jersey
-based rock band
The Smithereens
.
The album is notable for the hit "Blood and Roses", which has been featured in multiple movie and TV productions. Producer Don Dixon's co-production work on R.E.M.
's Murmur
and Reckoning
albums added attention to the record's initial release. The album today is highly regarded by most critics, and was one of Kurt Cobain
's favorite albums, as noted in his journal
.
"Blood and Roses" was used:
The title and lyrics to the song "In A Lonely Place" were inspired by and adapted from the 1950 film "In A Lonely Place," starring Humphrey Bogart and directed by Nicholas Ray.
unless otherwise indicated.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-based rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
The Smithereens
The Smithereens
The Smithereens are a rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio , Jim Babjak , Mike Mesaros , and Dennis Diken...
.
The album is notable for the hit "Blood and Roses", which has been featured in multiple movie and TV productions. Producer Don Dixon's co-production work on R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
's Murmur
Murmur (album)
Murmur is the debut album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1983 on I.R.S. Records. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its sound, defined by singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly guitar style, and bassist Mike Mills' melodic...
and Reckoning
Reckoning (R.E.M. album)
Reckoning is the second album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 1984 by I.R.S. Records. Produced by Mitch Easter and Don Dixon, the album was recorded at Reflection Sound Studio in Charlotte, North Carolina over 16 days in December 1983 and January 1984...
albums added attention to the record's initial release. The album today is highly regarded by most critics, and was one of Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
's favorite albums, as noted in his journal
Journals (Cobain)
Journals is a collection of writings and drawings by Kurt Cobain, lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana. Though the content is undated, it is arranged in an approximation of chronological order, starting with a letter Cobain wrote to Dale Crover in 1988, and ending with a rant about...
.
"Blood and Roses" was used:
- as the theme song from the 1986 movie Dangerously CloseDangerously Close-Plot:At an elite school, a group of student who call themselves "The Sentinels" begin terrorizing their socially undesirable classmates. Soon, one of their targets ends up brutally murdered....
- in "Duty and Honor", a 1987 episode of the TV series Miami ViceMiami ViceMiami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
- in the 1997 movie Romy and Michele's High School ReunionRomy and Michele's High School ReunionRomy and Michele's High School Reunion is a 1997 comedy film starring Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino, Janeane Garofalo, Camryn Manheim, and Alan Cumming directed by David Mirkin. The plot revolves around two 28-year-old women who appear to have achieved very little success in life and decide to invent...
The title and lyrics to the song "In A Lonely Place" were inspired by and adapted from the 1950 film "In A Lonely Place," starring Humphrey Bogart and directed by Nicholas Ray.
Track listing
All songs by Pat DiNizioPat DiNizio
Pat DiNizio , of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is the lead singer, songwriter, and member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey....
unless otherwise indicated.
- "Strangers When We Meet" - 3:47
- "Listen to Me Girl" - 3:01
- "Groovy Tuesday" (DiNizio, Steve ForbertSteve ForbertSteve Forbert is an American pop music singer-songwriter. He is best known for his song "Romeo's Tune", which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1980....
, Mark Johnson) - 2:40 - "Cigarette" - 2:30
- "I Don't Want to Lose You" - 3:21
- "Time and Time Again" - 3:10
- "Behind the Wall of Sleep" - 3:24
- "In a Lonely Place" - 4:11
- "Blood and Roses" - 3:36
- "Crazy Mixed-Up Kid" - 2:07
- "Hand of Glory" (Jimmy Silva) - 2:46
- "Alone at Midnight" - 3:41
CD reissue Bonus Tracks
- "White Castle Blues" (Jim BabjakJim BabjakJim Babjak , is the lead guitar player and founding member of The Smithereens. He has written and sung several songs for the band...
, Robert Banta) - 3:58 - "Mr. Eliminator" (Dick DaleDick DaleDick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
) - 2:02
Personnel
- Jim BabjakJim BabjakJim Babjak , is the lead guitar player and founding member of The Smithereens. He has written and sung several songs for the band...
- Guitar - Dennis Diken - Drums, Vocals, Percussion
- Pat DiNizioPat DiNizioPat DiNizio , of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is the lead singer, songwriter, and member of the band The Smithereens, which he formed in 1980 with Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros, from Carteret, New Jersey....
- Vocals, Guitar - Mike Mesaros - Bass, Vocals
Guest Musicians
- Jeffrey Berman - Vibraphone on "In a Lonely Place."
- Frank ChristianFrank Christian (singer-songwriter)Frank Christian is a Greenwich Village-based singer-songwriter and guitarist. His best known song, "Three Flights Up" was recorded by Nanci Griffith for her Grammy award-winning 1992 release Other Voices, Other Rooms....
- Acoustic Guitar on "In a Lonely Place." - Don Dixon - Piano, Percussion, Background Vocals
- Jerome Jerome - Hammond Organ and Piano on "Strangers When We Meet."
- Mark Johnson - Vocals on "Groovy Tuesday."
- Joe Kernich - Piano on "Behind the Wall of Sleep."
- Kenny Margolis - Accordion on "Cigarette."
- John Rokosny - Electric tremolo rhythm guitar on "Listen to Me Girl."
- Suzanne VegaSuzanne VegaSuzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
- Vocals on "In a Lonely Place."