Peter Case (album)
Peter Case | ||||
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J. Henry ("T-Bone") Burnett | ||||
Peter Case chronology | ||||
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Peter Case was the debut album by American power pop singer-songwriter Peter Case, released in 1986 on Geffen Records. Omnivore Records reissued it with additional tracks in September 2016.
History
Peter Case was a member of the Los Angeles power pop group
Case was accompanied by 20 other musicians including
The liner notes included the following unusual message:
- The phone rang and stirred me from a bleary-eyed reverie. I sat down, poured myself a glass of scotch and waited for the phone to ring. It rang and rang. My bags were packed and I was out on the street. Three hours and three days later and it was the imaginary man in a snake dance. The recipe: the kid said he'd been standing on the same corner for a thousand nights. I haven't seen him for a while, guess nothing much came of it – hope he's alright. Once you get used to it – it's too bad.
- Rain soaked boots and a bad cough led to the youthful deportee. She said she knew Rants & Charlie James. So all I had was some faded flowers, an empty bottle and a broken phonograph record. Maybe some thank yous would be in order. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
- I guess there's someone somewhere in a big room with a bright light and a heat lamp and a stamp collection and a stethoscope and they're checking out their own heartbeat – checking on the heartbeat of this grand and glorious land – yep I guess so.
- My sister told me on the phone she heard someone on the radio singing about small towns in America. I said I didn't know any songs about America – these songs are about sin and salvation. Have fun.
- Love, Peter Case
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B[2] |
Music critic Steve Kurutz of AllMusic praised the album and wrote "... the primarily acoustic songs are adeptly arranged and filled with great melodies. Case has a reputation for being a bit too clever at times and on occasion the album's lyrics can be a bit obtuse, but overall songs like the Van Dyke Parks-arranged "Small Town Spree" and the harmonica-driven "Old Blue Car" rock with an immediacy that hits the listener where it should, in the gut rather than between the ears."[1] Music critic Robert Christgau rated the record as a "B" on his rating scale and wrote of the record; "Case's problem is that he's a born actor who won't cop to it... hence he's no more convincing now than he was when he led a group named after the Beatles' sneakers."[2]
Track listing
All songs written by Peter Case except where noted.
- "Echo Wars" (T-Bone Burnett) – 3:21
- "Steel Strings" – 3:49
- "Three Days Straight" (Case, Burnett) – 3:37
- "More Than Curious" (Case, Burnett) – 4:37
- "I Shook His Hand" – 3:40
- "Small Town Spree" – 4:01
- "Old Blue Car" (Case, Marvin Etzioni, Victoria Williams) – 3:52
- "Walk in the Woods" – 3:40
- "Horse and Crow" – 4:18
- "Icewater" (words by Case, music by Lightnin' Hopkins) – 2:47
- "Satellite Beach" (Case, Burnett, Rick Marotta, Williams) – 4:12
- "Pair of Brown Eyes" (Shane MacGowan) – 5:45
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Steel Strings" (Acoustic version) | Peter Case | |
2. | "I Shook His Hand" (Acoustic version) | Case | |
3. | "Trusted Friend" | Case | |
4. | "North Coast Blues" | Case | |
5. | "Toughest Gang in Town" | Case | |
6. | "Horse & Crow" (Alternate version) | Case | |
7. | "More Than Curious" (Early version) | Case, Burnett |
Note
- "Steel Strings" (Acoustic version) and "I Shook His Hand" (Acoustic version) were originally released on a Geffen Records promotional record (PRO-A-2479) in 1986.
Personnel
Adapted from the AllMusic credits.[3]
- T-Bone Burnett – acoustic guitar, record producer
- Peter Case – vocals
- Mitchell Froom – producer
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Roger McGuinn – guitar (12 string)
- David Miner – bass
- Van Dyke Parks – keyboards
References
- ^ a b Kurutz, Steve. "Peter Case > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (March 31, 1987). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ "Peter Case – Peter Case | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2016.