Michelle Shocked
Encyclopedia
Michelle Shocked is the stage name
of Michelle Karen Johnston, an American
singer-songwriter
.
(1986).
Her first U.S. success came with the release of her 1988 album Short Sharp Shocked on college radio rotations around the country, which was met with strong acclaim from listeners. On the crest of this independent momentum, her 1989 album Captain Swing on Mercury Records
was released.
In 1995, she contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the film Dead Man Walking
called "Quality of Mercy". In 1996, she released a studio version of an underground release Kind Hearted Woman (black cover) on the short-lived Private Music label.
Starting in 2002 with the release of Deep Natural, Shocked established her own label, Mighty Sound. She reissued expanded versions of her entire catalog, made possible by having retained complete ownership of her work when she signed with Mercury in 1987.
An acoustic
version of her song "How You Play the Game" was featured as the opening and credits soundtrack in the DVD
of the 2004 documentary film Bush's Brain.
Shocked continues to make music as an independent artist. In June 2005 she released a trilogy of albums called Threesome (Don't Ask Don't Tell, Mexican Standoff and Got No Strings). In September 2007 she released album ToHeavenURide.
On May 12, 2009 her new album, Soul of My Soul, was released on Mighty Sound (distributed by Megaforce/MRI through RED Distribution).
. They divorced in 2004. Her half-brother is musician Max Johnston
. Shocked attends West Angeles Church of God.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Michelle Karen Johnston, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
History
Shocked received her first international exposure in Europe, particularly Britain, with her debut album The Texas Campfire TapesThe Texas Campfire Tapes
The Texas Campfire Tapes is the first album by american singer and songwriter Michelle Shocked. It was originally a bootleg recording made on a Sony Walkman of an impromptu set performed by Shocked around the eponymous campfire and was released without her permission. It was then released by...
(1986).
Her first U.S. success came with the release of her 1988 album Short Sharp Shocked on college radio rotations around the country, which was met with strong acclaim from listeners. On the crest of this independent momentum, her 1989 album Captain Swing on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
was released.
In 1995, she contributed an original song to the soundtrack for the film Dead Man Walking
Dead Man Walking (film)
Dead Man Walking is a 1995 American drama film directed by Tim Robbins, who adapted the screenplay from the non-fiction book of the same name...
called "Quality of Mercy". In 1996, she released a studio version of an underground release Kind Hearted Woman (black cover) on the short-lived Private Music label.
Starting in 2002 with the release of Deep Natural, Shocked established her own label, Mighty Sound. She reissued expanded versions of her entire catalog, made possible by having retained complete ownership of her work when she signed with Mercury in 1987.
An acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
version of her song "How You Play the Game" was featured as the opening and credits soundtrack in the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
of the 2004 documentary film Bush's Brain.
Shocked continues to make music as an independent artist. In June 2005 she released a trilogy of albums called Threesome (Don't Ask Don't Tell, Mexican Standoff and Got No Strings). In September 2007 she released album ToHeavenURide.
On May 12, 2009 her new album, Soul of My Soul, was released on Mighty Sound (distributed by Megaforce/MRI through RED Distribution).
Personal life
In 1992, Shocked married journalist Bart BullBart Bull
Bart Bull is an American writer, reporter, author, columnist, and critic.-Background:Born in Seattle, Washington, Bull grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He dropped out of high school in order to write a novel, and then returned briefly, leaving again without graduating. He was married to...
. They divorced in 2004. Her half-brother is musician Max Johnston
Max Johnston
Max Johnston is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work on fiddle, Dobro, banjo, and mandolin with the bands Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and more recently, The Gourds...
. Shocked attends West Angeles Church of God.
Albums
Selected recordings:- The Texas Campfire TapesThe Texas Campfire TapesThe Texas Campfire Tapes is the first album by american singer and songwriter Michelle Shocked. It was originally a bootleg recording made on a Sony Walkman of an impromptu set performed by Shocked around the eponymous campfire and was released without her permission. It was then released by...
(1986) - Short Sharp ShockedShort Sharp ShockedShort Sharp Shocked is an album by Michelle Shocked. It is her second album, released in 1988 . It was remastered and reissued in 2003 as a two-CD set by Shocked's own label, Mighty Sound...
(1988) #73 US, #33 UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... - Captain SwingCaptain Swing (album)Captain Swing is a mixed genre album by American folk singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked. It was first released by Mercury Records in 1989 and later reissued by Shocked's own label Mighty Sound in 2004. It was named after Captain Swing, the pseudonymous rebel leader who penned threatening letters...
(1989) #95 US, #31 UK - Arkansas TravelerArkansas Traveler (Michelle Shocked album)Arkansas Traveler is an alternative folk album released by American singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked in 1992. Her fourth album for Mercury Records, the songs focused around the roots of her music...
(1992) #46 UK - Kind Hearted Woman (1994, with label release (on Private MusicPrivate MusicPrivate Music is a United States record company founded in 1984 by experimental musician Peter Baumann, as a home for instrumental music. Initially signing such artists as Yanni, Suzanne Ciani, Patrick O'Hearn, and Baumann's former bandmates Tangerine Dream, the record label specialized in New Age...
) in 1996) - Artists Make Lousy Slaves (with Fiachna O'Braonain, 1996) sold only at performances, now issued as CDRs and MP3s at michelleshocked.com
- Good News (1998) sold only at performances, now issued as CDRs and MP3s at michelleshocked.com
- Deep Natural (2001)
- Dub Natural (2001) sold only at performances, later issued as a bonus disc with "Deep Natural"
- These three are included on a triple album packaged as "Threesome.":
- Don't Ask Don't Tell (2005)
- Mexican Standoff (2005)
- Got No Strings (2005)
- ToHeavenURideToHeavenURideToHeavenURide is an album by Michelle Shocked. This album was recorded live at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and features original songs and a selection of covers. It was released in 2007 by Shocked's own label, Mighty Sound. The title is a take on "To Hell You Ride" the nickname for the...
(2007) Live Gospel cd - Soul of My Soul (2009)
Re-releases
Mighty Sound re-released two-CD versions of her Mercury releases – The Texas Campfire Tapes (April 22, 2003), Short Sharp Shocked (September 23, 2003), Captain Swing (March 16, 2004) and Arkansas Traveler (September 14, 2004) – each with extra tracks.Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Mod Rock | US MSR | UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 1988 | "Anchorage" Anchorage (song) "Anchorage" is a song by Michelle Shocked released as a single from her 1988 album Short Sharp Shocked. The song is about the narrator taking time out to write to an old friend, who has moved from Texas to Anchorage, and her friend's reply... |
66 | 16 | – | 60 | Short Sharp Shocked |
| "If Love Was a Train" | – | 20 | 33 | 63 | ||
| "When I Grow Up" | – | – | – | 67 | ||
| 1989 | "On the Greener Side" | – | 19 | – | – | Captain Swing |