Play Me Backwards
Play Me Backwards | ||||
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Nashville, 1992 | ||||
Genre | Folk-pop, country pop | |||
Length | 36:19 | |||
Label | Virgin[1] | |||
Producer | Wally Wilson, Kenny Greenberg | |||
Joan Baez chronology | ||||
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Play Me Backwards is an album by the American musician
In 2012, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the album's original release, Play Me Backwards was reissued, digitally remastered, and including new liner notes; three bonus tracks—recorded during the original sessions, but not included on the original release—were included: "
Production
Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Wally Wilson and Kenny Greenberg.[5][6] Baez sought out material after being dismayed with the songs pitched to her; she spent 14 months trying to find the right songs.[7][8] The album's first single, "Stones in the Road", for which Baez shot a video, was written by Mary Chapin Carpenter.[9][10][11] "Through Your Hands" was written by John Hiatt.[12] "I'm with You" is about Baez's son, Gabriel.[13]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [14] |
The Indianapolis Star | [15] |
Rolling Stone | [16] |
The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "a surprisingly relaxed, rhythmic and modern set that sounds like it could have been recorded by any one of a number of today's folk-and country-flavored pop female singer-songwriters."[18] The Indianapolis Star noted that "Baez's voice sounds as pure as ever."[15]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Joan Baez, Wally Wilson and Kenny Greenberg, except where indicated.
- "Play Me Backwards"
- "Amsterdam" (Janis Ian, Buddy Mondlock)
- "Isaac and Abraham"
- "Stones in the Road" (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
- "Steal Across the Border" (Ron Davies)
- "I'm with You" (Baez)
- "I'm with You" (Reprise) (Baez)
- "Strange Rivers" (John Stewart)
- "Through Your Hands" (John Hiatt)
- "The Dream Song"
- "The Edge of Glory"
Personnel
Musicians
- Joan Baez - guitar, vocals
- Greg Barnhill - backing vocals
- Richard Bennett - electric guitar
- Ashley Cleveland - backing vocals
- Chad Cromwell - drums
- Carl Gorodetzky - violin
- Kenny Greenberg - acoustic and electric guitar
- Vicki Hampton - backing vocals
- Mike Lawler - organ, synthesizer
- Bob Mason - cello
- Edgar Meyer - upright bass
- Jonell Mosser - backing vocals
- Wurlitzer
- Cyndi Richardson - backing vocals
- Jerry Roady - percussion
- Tom Roady - percussion
- Chris Rodriguez - backing vocals
- Pamela Sixfin - violin
- James Stroud - drums
- Marcos Suzano - percussion, berimbau
- Willie Weeks - bass guitar
- Kristin Wilkinson - viola
- Wally Wilson - synthesizer, piano, producer
- Glenn Worf - bass guitar
Others
- James A. Ball - engineer
- Peter Coleman - engineer
- Tom Dolan - design
- Roy Gamble - engineer, second engineer
- Aaron D. Jacoves - A&R/executive producer
- Eric Gorodetzky - engineer, second engineer
- Kenny Greenberg - producer
- Mick Haggerty - art direction
- Bob Ludwig - mastering
- Melanie Nissen - photography
- Greg Parker - engineer, second engineer
- Ed Simonton - engineer, second engineer
- Kevin Smith - mixing
- Taylor York - engineer
References
- ^ Brozan, Nadine (14 Oct 1992). "Chronicle". The New York Times. p. B8.
- ^ Galvin, Peter (Nov 1992). "Play Me Backwards by Joan Baez". Interview. 22 (11): 44.
- ^ "Joan Baez". Recording Academy. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Joan Baez Getting Active in Music Business Again". Orlando Sentinel. Reuters. 6 Nov 1992. p. A2.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (24 Oct 1992). "Joan Baez Goes Back To Her Folk-Club Roots". The New York Times. p. 1:17.
- ^ a b Lannert, John (19 Nov 1992). "Baez Is Back". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3E.
- ^ Catlin, Roger (20 Nov 1992). "With new album out, Joan Baez has plenty to play in Springfield". Hartford Courant. p. B4.
- ^ Plotnikoff, David (17 Jan 1993). "Joan Baez: a folk singer not a fossil". Toronto Star. p. D6.
- ^ Flick, Larry (27 Nov 1992). "New Baez album melds folk with rock". St. Petersburg Times. p. 11B.
- ^ Barnes, Harper (21 Mar 1993). "Protest Still Hooks Baez". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 3F.
- ^ Willman, Chris (22 Oct 1992). "Joan Baez Blends Old, New". Los Angeles Times. p. F7.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (15 Nov 1992). "Joan Baez: 'Play Me Backwards'". The Washington Post. p. G9.
- ^ Hentoff, Nat (13 Jan 1993). "On Disc: Baez is back". The Wall Street Journal. p. A2.
- ^ "Play Me Backwards Review by Kelly McCartney". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ a b Schoch, Eric B. (27 Nov 1992). "Joan Baez: 'Play Me Backwards'". The Indianapolis Star. p. B9.
- ^ "Joan Baez Play Me Backwards". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ Morse, Steve (6 Nov 1992). "Joan Baez and Judy Collins are back on the move in the '90s". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 43.
- ^ Heim, Chris (27 Nov 1992). "Joan Baez and James McMurtry". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. M.