Nina Gordon
Encyclopedia
Nina Rachel Shapiro Gordon (born November 14, 1967) is an American
rock
singer, and is the co-founder of the band Veruca Salt
, having written the songs "Seether" and "Volcano Girls". Since leaving Veruca Salt in 1998, she pursued a solo career.
Gordon and her fiance, Jeff Russo
(of Tonic
), welcomed their first child, Ivy Nightingale Russo, on November 21, 2006.
was formed alongside the friendship of Gordon and Louise Post
. Introduced by Gordon's good friend, actress Lili Taylor
, Gordon and Post quickly bonded and formed what is now known as Veruca Salt. Originally, the band was an Indigo Girls
-inspired acoustic act, but the women soon realized that this wasn't their sound. They quickly enlisted bass player Steve Lack, and eventually Gordon's brother, Jim Shapiro
, joined as their drummer, even though he originally was just drumming as a favor to his sister.
. At the time, Brad was popular from having recently produced Liz Phair
's critically acclaimed Exile in Guyville
.
The band released an orange 7" single for the song "Seether
". "Seether" was a distorted alt-rocker
about an angry and misunderstood woman. Compared to the rest of Veruca Salt's material, "Seether" was very pop, so much so that Gordon said that when she wrote it, she did not think the rest of the band would like it. They sent "Seether" to radio, as it was the most radio-friendly song they had written, and the reaction was unexpectedly positive. Unfortunately, the album was not complete, and they found themselves rushing to complete it before "Seether" lost its radio momentum. It ended up peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts.
American Thighs
was released through Minty Fresh Records on September 27, 1994 and re-released November 8, 1994 by Geffen Records
after the label signed the band following an intense label bidding war. The album peaked on the Billboard Top 200 at 69 and was eventually certified Gold. The follow-up single to "Seether", "All Hail Me", failed to chart on the Modern Rock Charts, and the last single from the album, "Number One Blind", written by Gordon and Shapiro, did better than the previous single, peaking at #20 on the Modern Rock charts, but nowhere near as well as "Seether". Gordon and Post were unhappy with the song's video, and it was pulled after airing fewer than five times on MTV
's 120 Minutes
.
To support the album, Veruca Salt toured, opening for acts such as Hole
, Live
and PJ Harvey
. They also headlined a club tour.
The band released an EP in 1996 titled Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
to tide fans over until their next album. It was produced by Steve Albini
(PJ Harvey
, Nirvana
) and contains the Gordon-penned "Shimmer Like a Girl" and "New York Mining Disaster 1996".
During this time Gordon collaborated with James Iha
on the Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet With Butterfly Wings
" B-side, "...Said Sadly", and also recorded duets with Fig Dish
and Triplefastaction.
, Veruca Salt entered the studio with Bob Rock
to record their second album. The band was inspired to work with Rock after hearing Metallica
's "Enter Sandman
" over the house PA system before a Veruca Salt concert at an outdoor music festival.
Eight Arms to Hold You
, which was released February 11, 1997 on Geffen Records
, proved to be a difficult and dividing album. Some fans of American Thighs were disappointed by the polished, hard-rock and distinctively Bob Rock
production, in comparison to the laid back, indie buzz-bin vibe of American Thighs. The new album garnered mixed reviews from music critics as well. Band members have since admitted that this album was difficult for the band, and the recording process was extremely tense. However, Eight Arms to Hold You sold well due to the success of the first single, "Volcano Girls", written by Gordon. It was a catchy, power-pop tantrum that matched "Seether"'s success, peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts. The album, however, didn't have longevity, and despite peaking higher (Billboard Top 200 at 55) than American Thighs, sales dropped off drastically when the second single, "Shutterbug", failed to chart, despite a high budget video and Saturday Night Live
performance, as well as other promotion. Three more singles were sent to radio ("The Morning Sad", "Straight" and "Benjamin") but none of them did well enough to warrant a video. However, the Gordon-penned "'Benjamin" was released internationally as the third and last commercial single from the album despite having no video and no promotion. "Benjamin" also failed to chart.
Veruca Salt
toured extensively for Eight Arms to Hold You, opening for Bush
as well as a lengthy international headlining club tour.
and Michael Eisenstein from the band Letters to Cleo
. In 1998 she sang on James Iha's solo album Let It Come Down on the song "Beauty". Shortly after she began recording with Eight Arms producer Bob Rock. The album, now titled Tonight and the Rest of My Life
, was finished in early 1999 and was set to be released by Outpost Records, owned by Geffen Records
, in August 1999. However, not all went smoothy, as Outpost Records was eaten up by the Geffen Records
/Interscope Records
merger and Gordon was left without a label.
Gordon wasn't label-less for long, however, as she was signed to Warner Bros. Records
a few months later. Originally scheduled to be released in January 2000, Tonight was finally released June 27, 2000. The first single, also titled "Tonight and the Rest of My Life", did well on radio and has since been included in commercials for hit movies such as Chocolat
and The Notebook
. The second single "Now I Can Die", didn't do as well, and the third radio-only single "2003" actually performed better despite having little promotion and no video.
Gordon toured with David Gray
as an opening act, and did a headlining tour with Palo Alto.
Tonight and the Rest of My Life peaked at a disappointing 123 on the Billboard Top 200. However, it floated around the mid-100s for months, and has sold close to 300,000 copies to date in the U.S. and 50,000 in Japan.
Gordon began recording her second album with Ethan Johns
in late 2003, and via her website stated she was excited with the direction the album was going, even though it was very, very mellow and sad. Gordon finished recording with Johns in early 2004 and stated that she had named it Even the Sunbeams, but little more about the album was ever revealed. A few months later, Gordon admitted she was unhappy with the album and she wasn't going to release it. The only song that surfaced from this recording session was "Lighter on the Moon", which was available on Nina's MySpace
site. In April 2006, Gordon stated in the Chicago Reader, "It's a really sad and really slow record. I guess that’s how I was feeling at the time, but when I sorta snapped out of that, I thought, 'I don’t know that I want this to be the album I put out next.' It’s really a lovely record, but it didn't have the spirit of the records I've made in the past." Some songs were re-recorded and included in her next album. The remaining songs were eventually made available free on her web site as an EP titled "Songs from Even the Sunbeams."
During this time, Gordon was performing at Largo
in Los Angeles, for "Bring the Rock" nights, covering songs by N.W.A.
, Skid Row, Backstreet Boys
and Phil Collins
, as well as many others. Her cover of N.W.A.
's "Straight Outta Compton
" gained her popularity on Internet music blogs . She also wrote a song with Fefe Dobson
titled "Get You Off" for Dobson's album Sunday Love
(on which Gordon also sang back-up), as well as a song for Courtney Jaye
's album Traveling Light
titled "This Is the Day", which she wrote with boyfriend Jeff Russo
.
to re-record the album in 2005. In a few months, Nina re-did most of the songs and recorded new songs as well. The album, now titled Bleeding Heart Graffiti
, was released August 8, 2006 (originally scheduled to be released July 18). The first song to see the light of day from the project was the b-side "The Blue Hour", a half-French, half-English rock song that could be heard on Nina's website.
The lead single from Bleeding Heart Graffiti, "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds", was supposed to hit radio June 12, but ended up being delayed until mid-July. There was a "physical" promotional single for "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds" and it contained the Bleeding Heart Graffiti album track "Don't Let Me Down", as well as Nina's previous hit single, "Tonight and the Rest of My Life". Almost all radio stations received digital copies of the single rather than physical CD singles, however. There is no video for "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds" or plans for a video at all.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer, and is the co-founder of the band Veruca Salt
Veruca Salt (band)
Veruca Salt is an alternative rock band founded in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included vocalist-guitarist Louise Post. Guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick has been with the band since 1999 and drummer Kellii Scott has worked with the group on and off since 1999...
, having written the songs "Seether" and "Volcano Girls". Since leaving Veruca Salt in 1998, she pursued a solo career.
Gordon and her fiance, Jeff Russo
Jeff Russo
Jeff Russo is a songwriter, composer, guitarist, vocalist and producer.Founding member, lead guitarist, co-songwriter in the American rock band Tonic...
(of Tonic
Tonic (band)
Tonic is an American rock band that has earned two Grammy nominations to date. The band was formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo. Later members have included Dan Lavery, Kevin Shepard, and Dan Rothchild. Signed to a recording contract in 1995, the band released its debut album Lemon Parade...
), welcomed their first child, Ivy Nightingale Russo, on November 21, 2006.
Veruca Salt
Veruca SaltVeruca Salt (band)
Veruca Salt is an alternative rock band founded in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included vocalist-guitarist Louise Post. Guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick has been with the band since 1999 and drummer Kellii Scott has worked with the group on and off since 1999...
was formed alongside the friendship of Gordon and Louise Post
Louise Post
Louise Lightner Post is the lead vocalist and guitarist for alternative rock group Veruca Salt. She is a graduate of Barnard College, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.-Musical career:...
. Introduced by Gordon's good friend, actress Lili Taylor
Lili Taylor
Lili Anne Taylor is an American actress notable for her appearances in such award-winning indie films as Mystic Pizza, Say Anything..., Short Cuts and I Shot Andy Warhol, and the acclaimed TV show Six Feet Under....
, Gordon and Post quickly bonded and formed what is now known as Veruca Salt. Originally, the band was an Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
-inspired acoustic act, but the women soon realized that this wasn't their sound. They quickly enlisted bass player Steve Lack, and eventually Gordon's brother, Jim Shapiro
Jim Shapiro (drummer)
James Gordon Shapiro, also called Jim Shapiro is an American rock musician.Shapiro is the brother of singer/guitarist Nina Gordon and the son of Robert Shapiro, former chairman of the board of Monsanto Company. He graduated from Yale University in 1987...
, joined as their drummer, even though he originally was just drumming as a favor to his sister.
American Thighs
Veruca Salt released a self-funded demo tape and shopped it to labels while playing a handful of small club shows. The buzz around the band grew furiously, and after only a few live gigs, the band was signed to Minty Fresh Records and began recording with producer Brad WoodBrad Wood
Brad Wood is a record producer from Rockford, Illinois. He served as a drummer for the band Shrimp Boat. Brad records, mixes and produces records and is based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career in earnest in 1988 with the construction of Idful Music Corporation- a recording studio in...
. At the time, Brad was popular from having recently produced Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
's critically acclaimed Exile in Guyville
Exile in Guyville
The album, which was out of print, was again available on CD, vinyl and, for the first time, in digital format. The special reissue package includes three never-before-released songs from the original recording sessions: "Ant in Alaska", "Say You", and an untitled instrumental with Phair on guitar...
.
The band released an orange 7" single for the song "Seether
Seether (song)
"Seether" is a single by the American alternative band Veruca Salt. It was backed with "All Hail Me". Both tracks appear on their 1994 debut album American Thighs. South African rock band Seether took their name from the song because it was played in the Detroit Tigers' television truck prior to a...
". "Seether" was a distorted alt-rocker
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
about an angry and misunderstood woman. Compared to the rest of Veruca Salt's material, "Seether" was very pop, so much so that Gordon said that when she wrote it, she did not think the rest of the band would like it. They sent "Seether" to radio, as it was the most radio-friendly song they had written, and the reaction was unexpectedly positive. Unfortunately, the album was not complete, and they found themselves rushing to complete it before "Seether" lost its radio momentum. It ended up peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts.
American Thighs
American Thighs
American Thighs is the first album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. It was released through Minty Fresh Records on September 27, 1994, and re-released through DGC Records on November 8, 1994 . The title is a reference to a line from the AC/DC song "You Shook Me All Night Long"...
was released through Minty Fresh Records on September 27, 1994 and re-released November 8, 1994 by Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
after the label signed the band following an intense label bidding war. The album peaked on the Billboard Top 200 at 69 and was eventually certified Gold. The follow-up single to "Seether", "All Hail Me", failed to chart on the Modern Rock Charts, and the last single from the album, "Number One Blind", written by Gordon and Shapiro, did better than the previous single, peaking at #20 on the Modern Rock charts, but nowhere near as well as "Seether". Gordon and Post were unhappy with the song's video, and it was pulled after airing fewer than five times on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 120 Minutes
120 Minutes
120 Minutes is a television show in the United States dedicated to alternative music, originally airing on MTV from 1986 to 2000, and then on MTV's sister channel MTV2 from 2001 to 2003....
.
To support the album, Veruca Salt toured, opening for acts such as Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
, Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
and PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
. They also headlined a club tour.
The band released an EP in 1996 titled Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt
Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt is an EP by Veruca Salt released in 1996. It followed the band's hit album American Thighs . The EP contains four songs, two by Nina Gordon and two by Louise Post....
to tide fans over until their next album. It was produced by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
(PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
, Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
) and contains the Gordon-penned "Shimmer Like a Girl" and "New York Mining Disaster 1996".
During this time Gordon collaborated with James Iha
James Iha
James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...
on the Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet With Butterfly Wings
The Aeroplane Flies High
The Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the...
" B-side, "...Said Sadly", and also recorded duets with Fig Dish
Fig Dish
Fig Dish was a 1990s Rock band based in Chicago. The band signed to PolyGram Records in 1995 and released two full-length albums before becoming inactive in 1998. They were part of the mid-90s Chicago rock scene that included The Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, and Local H...
and Triplefastaction.
Eight Arms to Hold You
After touring for American ThighsAmerican Thighs
American Thighs is the first album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. It was released through Minty Fresh Records on September 27, 1994, and re-released through DGC Records on November 8, 1994 . The title is a reference to a line from the AC/DC song "You Shook Me All Night Long"...
, Veruca Salt entered the studio with Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
to record their second album. The band was inspired to work with Rock after hearing Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's "Enter Sandman
Enter Sandman
"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the first single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich...
" over the house PA system before a Veruca Salt concert at an outdoor music festival.
Eight Arms to Hold You
Eight Arms to Hold You
Eight Arms to Hold You is an album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. The album was released through Outpost/Geffen on February 11, 1997...
, which was released February 11, 1997 on Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, proved to be a difficult and dividing album. Some fans of American Thighs were disappointed by the polished, hard-rock and distinctively Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
production, in comparison to the laid back, indie buzz-bin vibe of American Thighs. The new album garnered mixed reviews from music critics as well. Band members have since admitted that this album was difficult for the band, and the recording process was extremely tense. However, Eight Arms to Hold You sold well due to the success of the first single, "Volcano Girls", written by Gordon. It was a catchy, power-pop tantrum that matched "Seether"'s success, peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts. The album, however, didn't have longevity, and despite peaking higher (Billboard Top 200 at 55) than American Thighs, sales dropped off drastically when the second single, "Shutterbug", failed to chart, despite a high budget video and Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
performance, as well as other promotion. Three more singles were sent to radio ("The Morning Sad", "Straight" and "Benjamin") but none of them did well enough to warrant a video. However, the Gordon-penned "'Benjamin" was released internationally as the third and last commercial single from the album despite having no video and no promotion. "Benjamin" also failed to chart.
Veruca Salt
Veruca Salt (band)
Veruca Salt is an alternative rock band founded in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included vocalist-guitarist Louise Post. Guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick has been with the band since 1999 and drummer Kellii Scott has worked with the group on and off since 1999...
toured extensively for Eight Arms to Hold You, opening for Bush
Bush (band)
Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
as well as a lengthy international headlining club tour.
Solo
Nina Gordon left Veruca Salt in early 1998 amid rumors of stolen boyfriends and physical altercations with bandmate Louise Post. Post kept the Veruca Salt name, despite being the only remaining original member, and eventually released Resolver in 2000, the first Gordon-less Veruca Salt album.Tonight and the Rest of My Life
Soon after leaving the band, Gordon demoed solo material in Boston with friends Kay HanleyKay Hanley
Kathleen Marie Hanley is an American alternative rock musician. She is best known as the vocalist for the band Letters to Cleo.-Life and career:...
and Michael Eisenstein from the band Letters to Cleo
Letters to Cleo
Letters to Cleo was an alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts perhaps best known for the 1993 single "Here & Now" from their full-length debut album Aurora Gory Alice...
. In 1998 she sang on James Iha's solo album Let It Come Down on the song "Beauty". Shortly after she began recording with Eight Arms producer Bob Rock. The album, now titled Tonight and the Rest of My Life
Tonight and the Rest of My Life
Tonight and the Rest of My Life is the debut album from Veruca Salt co-founder, Nina Gordon. The album was recorded with Bob Rock at his Maui recording studio.-Track listing:*All songs written By Nina Gordon, except where noted.#"Now I Can Die" – 3:07...
, was finished in early 1999 and was set to be released by Outpost Records, owned by Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, in August 1999. However, not all went smoothy, as Outpost Records was eaten up by the Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
/Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
merger and Gordon was left without a label.
Gordon wasn't label-less for long, however, as she was signed to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
a few months later. Originally scheduled to be released in January 2000, Tonight was finally released June 27, 2000. The first single, also titled "Tonight and the Rest of My Life", did well on radio and has since been included in commercials for hit movies such as Chocolat
Chocolat
Chocolat is a 1999 novel by Joanne Harris. It tells the story of Vianne Rocher, a young mother, who arrives at a fictional insular French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes with her six-year-old daughter, Anouk...
and The Notebook
The Notebook
The Notebook is a 1996 romantic novel by American novelist Nicholas Sparks, based on a true story. The novel was later adapted into a popular romance film by the same name in 2004.-Background:...
. The second single "Now I Can Die", didn't do as well, and the third radio-only single "2003" actually performed better despite having little promotion and no video.
Gordon toured with David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
as an opening act, and did a headlining tour with Palo Alto.
Tonight and the Rest of My Life peaked at a disappointing 123 on the Billboard Top 200. However, it floated around the mid-100s for months, and has sold close to 300,000 copies to date in the U.S. and 50,000 in Japan.
Even the Sunbeams
After Nina Gordon finished promoting Tonight and the Rest of My Life in late 2001, she took a break and began writing material for her second solo album. However, she didn't get into the studio again until late 2003. Reasons for this two year delay are uncertain, but Gordon says it was because she wanted to write a lot of great material . To tide fans over, Gordon released B-side material from Tonight on her website and a demo for a song called "The Time Comes", which was featured in the independent movie, Stealing Innocence.Gordon began recording her second album with Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns is a record producer, engineer, mixer, musician, and songwriter who has worked with such artists such as Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne, Kevin Prosch, Rufus Wainwright, Howard Eliott Payne, Emmylou Harris, Crowded House, Laura Marling, Luthea Salom, and Crosby, Stills and...
in late 2003, and via her website stated she was excited with the direction the album was going, even though it was very, very mellow and sad. Gordon finished recording with Johns in early 2004 and stated that she had named it Even the Sunbeams, but little more about the album was ever revealed. A few months later, Gordon admitted she was unhappy with the album and she wasn't going to release it. The only song that surfaced from this recording session was "Lighter on the Moon", which was available on Nina's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
site. In April 2006, Gordon stated in the Chicago Reader, "It's a really sad and really slow record. I guess that’s how I was feeling at the time, but when I sorta snapped out of that, I thought, 'I don’t know that I want this to be the album I put out next.' It’s really a lovely record, but it didn't have the spirit of the records I've made in the past." Some songs were re-recorded and included in her next album. The remaining songs were eventually made available free on her web site as an EP titled "Songs from Even the Sunbeams."
During this time, Gordon was performing at Largo
Largo (nightclub)
Largo is a nightclub and cabaret in Los Angeles, CA, known informally as Café Largo or Club Largo, known for its retinue of musical and comedic performers and for the Friday night "residency" of singer-songwriter Jon Brion, which has made the club a must-visit for fans and professional...
in Los Angeles, for "Bring the Rock" nights, covering songs by N.W.A.
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
, Skid Row, Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
and Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, as well as many others. Her cover of N.W.A.
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
's "Straight Outta Compton
Straight Outta Compton (song)
"Straight Outta Compton" is the lead single from N.W.A's second album with the same name. It was released in 1988. It also appears on N.W.A's Greatest Hits with an extended mix and The Best of N.W.A. It was voted number 19 on About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs, and is ranked number 6 on VH1's 100...
" gained her popularity on Internet music blogs . She also wrote a song with Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson
Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
titled "Get You Off" for Dobson's album Sunday Love
Sunday Love
Sunday Love is the unreleased second studio album by pop-rock singer Fefe Dobson. The release date was pushed back a number of times by Island Records before its eventual cancellation. The album had earned good reviews, including the highest rating given on any of the albums reviewed in the July...
(on which Gordon also sang back-up), as well as a song for Courtney Jaye
Courtney Jaye
- Biography :Courtney Jaye was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, when she was a freshman in high school. It was at this time she discovered The Grateful Dead and Neil Young, and also began to play the guitar. After becoming immersed in the bohemian culture, she...
's album Traveling Light
Traveling Light (album)
Traveling Light is the debut album by Courtney Jaye, and was released by Island Records on June 7, 2005. The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers on June 25, 2005.The song "Can't Behave" was featured in the 2006 film Aquamarine....
titled "This Is the Day", which she wrote with boyfriend Jeff Russo
Jeff Russo
Jeff Russo is a songwriter, composer, guitarist, vocalist and producer.Founding member, lead guitarist, co-songwriter in the American rock band Tonic...
.
Bleeding Heart Graffiti
Nina, still seeing promise in the material from Even the Sunbeams, booked producer and long-time friend Bob RockBob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
to re-record the album in 2005. In a few months, Nina re-did most of the songs and recorded new songs as well. The album, now titled Bleeding Heart Graffiti
Bleeding Heart Graffiti
Bleeding Heart Graffiti is the second album from Nina Gordon and marks her third album produced by Bob Rock. It peaked at #30 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers Album chart. Nine of the songs on the album are re-recorded tracks from Nina's self-shelved Even the Sunbeams album...
, was released August 8, 2006 (originally scheduled to be released July 18). The first song to see the light of day from the project was the b-side "The Blue Hour", a half-French, half-English rock song that could be heard on Nina's website.
The lead single from Bleeding Heart Graffiti, "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds", was supposed to hit radio June 12, but ended up being delayed until mid-July. There was a "physical" promotional single for "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds" and it contained the Bleeding Heart Graffiti album track "Don't Let Me Down", as well as Nina's previous hit single, "Tonight and the Rest of My Life". Almost all radio stations received digital copies of the single rather than physical CD singles, however. There is no video for "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds" or plans for a video at all.
Solo
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Tonight and the Rest of My Life Tonight and the Rest of My Life Tonight and the Rest of My Life is the debut album from Veruca Salt co-founder, Nina Gordon. The album was recorded with Bob Rock at his Maui recording studio.-Track listing:*All songs written By Nina Gordon, except where noted.#"Now I Can Die" – 3:07... |
| 2004 | Even the Sunbeams (Unreleased) |
| 2006 | Bleeding Heart Graffiti Bleeding Heart Graffiti Bleeding Heart Graffiti is the second album from Nina Gordon and marks her third album produced by Bob Rock. It peaked at #30 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers Album chart. Nine of the songs on the album are re-recorded tracks from Nina's self-shelved Even the Sunbeams album... |
Veruca Salt
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1994 | American Thighs American Thighs American Thighs is the first album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. It was released through Minty Fresh Records on September 27, 1994, and re-released through DGC Records on November 8, 1994 . The title is a reference to a line from the AC/DC song "You Shook Me All Night Long"... |
| 1996 | Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt is an EP by Veruca Salt released in 1996. It followed the band's hit album American Thighs . The EP contains four songs, two by Nina Gordon and two by Louise Post.... |
| 1997 | Eight Arms to Hold You Eight Arms to Hold You Eight Arms to Hold You is an album by alternative rock band Veruca Salt. The album was released through Outpost/Geffen on February 11, 1997... |
Solo
| Year | Single |
|---|---|
| 2000 | "Tonight and the Rest of My Life" |
| 2001 | "Now I Can Die" |
| 2001 | 2003 (Promo Only) |
| 2006 | "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds" |
Veruca Salt
| Year | Single |
|---|---|
| 1994 | "Seether" |
| 1995 | "Number One Blind" |
| 1997 | "Volcano Girls" |
| 1997 | "Benjamin" |
| 1997 | "The Morning Sad" (Promo Only) |
Sources
- Harry, Deborah; Raphael, Amy. Never Mind the Bollocks. Women Rewrite Rock, Virago Press, 1995.
External links
- [ Allmusic entry for Nina Gordon]
- Nina Gordon's MySpace
- Nina Gordon's record label
- Nina Gordon Chords, Lyrics & Tab