Steady On (Shawn Colvin album)
Encyclopedia
Steady On is the 1989 debut album by singer-songwriter
Shawn Colvin
. In addition to launching Colvin's career the album won the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album
at the 33rd Grammy Awards
in February 1991. Allmusic calls the album, "a must have for anyone who loves acoustic music created in the grand tradition of Joni Mitchell
and James Taylor
." Notable guest appearances include Suzanne Vega
and Bruce Hornsby
.
The album reached 111 on the Billboard 200
in 1989. The title track was released as a single and in 1990 reached 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Production notes:
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...
Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Childhood and early career:Colvin was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. Her formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age...
. In addition to launching Colvin's career the album won the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album
The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album was awarded from 1987 to 2011. Until 1993 the award was known as the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. In 2007, this category was renamed Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album...
at the 33rd Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards of 1991
The 33rd Grammy Awards were held on February 20, 1991. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Quincy Jones was the night's big winner winning a total of six awards including Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
in February 1991. Allmusic calls the album, "a must have for anyone who loves acoustic music created in the grand tradition of Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
and James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
." Notable guest appearances include Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne 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"...
and Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
.
The album reached 111 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in 1989. The title track was released as a single and in 1990 reached 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Track listing
- "Steady On" (Colvin, Leventhal) – 4:59
- "Diamond in the Rough" (Colvin, Leventhal) – 5:02
- "Shotgun Down the Avalanche" (Colvin, Leventhal) – 5:02
- "Stranded" (Colvin) – 4:03
- "Another Long One" (Colvin) – 3:46
- "Cry Like an Angel" (Colvin, Leventhal) – 4:52
- "Something to Believe In" (Colvin, Leventhal) – 4:12
- "The Story" (Colvin, Leventhal) – 3:59
- "Ricochet in Time" (Colvin) – 3:11
- "The Dead of the Night" (Colvin) – 5:03
Personnel
- Shawn ColvinShawn ColvinShawn Colvin is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Childhood and early career:Colvin was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. Her formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age...
– vocals, guitar, keyboards, background vocals - Bruce HornsbyBruce HornsbyBruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
– piano - John LeventhalJohn LeventhalJohn Leventhal is a Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, songwriter, and recording engineer who has produced albums for Michelle Branch, Rosanne Cash, Marc Cohn, Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, Jim Lauderdale, Joan Osborne, Loudon Wainwright, The Wreckers and many others...
– guitar, bass, mandolin, keyboards, tambourine, background vocals, drum programming - Michael Blair – drums, percussion
- Steve Gaboury – keyboards, drum programming
- Rick MarottaRick MarottaRick Marotta is a US-based drummer and percussionist who appears on many recordings by leading artists such as Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Stevie Nicks, Wynonna, Roy Orbison, Todd Rundgren, Roberta Flack, Peter Frampton, Quincy...
– drums - Dennis McDermott – drums
- Hugh McCrackenHugh McCrackenHugh McCracken is a rhythm guitar player and session musician, arranger and producer based in New York.Especially in demand in the 60s, 70s and 80s, he appears on many recordings by Steely Dan, as well as albums by Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B...
– guitar, dobro, high-strung guitar - Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
– background vocals - Bob Riley – guitar, keyboards, drum programming
- Bob Telson – organ
- Soozie TyrellSoozie TyrellSoozie Tyrell, , formerly known as Soozie Kirschner, is an American violinist and vocalist, most known for her work with Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band.-Biography:...
– fiddle, background vocals - 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"...
– background vocals - T-Bone Wolk – guitar, bass, accordion
- Charles Curtis – cello
Production notes:
- Ronald K. Fierstein – executive producer
- Steve Addabbo – producer, engineer
- Kevin Halpin – engineer
- Mark Partis – engineer
- Geoff Keehn – engineer
- Malcolm Pollack – engineer
- Ted Spencer – engineer
- Paul Angelli – assistant engineer
- Kris Brauninger – assistant engineer
- Phil Klum – assistant engineer
- Marcus Miller – assistant engineer
- Dary Sulich – assistant engineer
- UE Nastasi – assistant engineer
- Kevin Killen – mixing
- Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– mastering - Frank Ockenfels – photography
- Carol Chen – art direction
- Phil Galdston – assistant arranger
- David Sanborn – assistant arranger, arrangement collaboration
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Billboard The Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
111 |
Release history
| date | format | label | catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD | Columbia | CK-45209 | |
| Columbia | FC 45209 | ||
| CD | Columbia | CO45209 | |
| 1989 | CS | Columbia | FCT-45209 |
| 1995 | CD | Columbia | 45209 |
| 2001 | CD | Sony | 4661422 |
| 2008 | CD | Sbme Special MKTS. | 725020 |
External links
- "Rock on the Net: Shawn Colvin", a timeline of Colvin's releases, awards