Useful Music

Useful Music is a studio album initially released in May 1999 under the SMG Records label by

Track listing

Original release (1999)

All songs written by Josh Joplin.

Re-release (2001)

All credits are the same as the original release except where noted.

1. "Matter"
2. "Gravity"
3. "Here I Am"
4. "Undone"
5. "Camera One" – 4:33
   • Producer: Jerry Harrison
   • Engineer: Karl Derfler
   • Mixer: Tom Lord-Alge
   • Mastering: Ted Jensen
6. "I've Changed"
7. "Trailways"
8. "Who's Afraid of Thomas Wolfe?"
9. "Phil Ochs"
10. "Superstar"
11. "Human"
12. "Dutch Wonderland"
13. "I've Changed (alternate version)" – 4:21
    • Producer: Peter Collins
    • Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
    • Mastering: Greg Calbi

Album credits

Personnel

• Kenny Aronoff – drums
• Allen Broyles –
  Wurlitzer electric piano
• Jason Buecker – percussion, drums, backing vocals
• Ani Cordero – backing vocals
• Deb Davis – electric guitar ("Trailways")
• Joe Gore – electric guitar
• Carl Herrgesell – electric guitar
• Danny Howes – electric guitar
• Clay Johnson – backing vocals
• Rhodes electric piano, harmonica, acoustic guitar
• David Kostiner – drums
• Diana Mangano – backing vocals
• Geoff Melkonian – backing vocals, electric bass, double bass, viola
• Shawn Mullins – guitar, piano, backing vocals
• Pamela Sixfin – violin
• Eric Taylor – drums ("Camera One")
• Kris Wilkinson – string arrangement

Production

• John Bentham – photography
• Chris Bilheimer –
  art direction
• Allen Broyles – producer ("Phil Ochs")
• Greg Calbi –
  mastering
  (all tracks except "Matter" and "Camera One")
• Matt Chiaravalle – mixer ("Here I Am", "Trailways", and "Superstar")
• Peter Collins – producer ("I've Changed (alternate version)")
• Karl Derfler –
  engineer
  ("Matter" and "Camera One")
• Russ Fowler – engineer (all tracks except "Matter", "Camera One", and "I've Changed (alternate version)"), mixer ("Far Away", "Phil Ochs", "Who's Afraid of Thomas Wolfe?", "Human", and "Dutch Wonderland")
• Daniel Glass – executive producer
• Jerry Harrison – producer ("Matter" and "Camera One")
• J. Reid Hunter – legal
• Ted Jensen – mastering ("Matter" and "Camera One")
• Josh Joplin – producer ("Phil Ochs")
• Matt Lively – illustration
• Tom Lord-Alge – mixer ("Matter" and "Camera One")
• Alex Lowe – engineer ("Gravity")
• Shawn Mullins – producer (all tracks except "Matter", "Phil Ochs", "Camera One", and "I've Changed (alternate version)")
• Phil Nicolo – mixer ("Gravity," "Undone," and "I've Changed")
• Charles “Chicky” Reeves – engineer ("Phil Ochs")
• Anthony J. Resta – drum and keyboard programmer
• F. Reid Shippen – engineer ("I've Changed (alternate version)")

Sources

• Jenkins, Daniel (December 16, 2000). "Josh Joplin Group Serves Up "Useful Music" on Artemis Set".
  ISSN 0006-2510
  .
• Aiese, Eric (June 23, 2001). "Reviews & Previews – Singles (Rock Tracks): 'Gravity'". Billboard. 113 (25). New York: Nielsen Company: 24.
  ISSN 0006-2510
  .
• Taylor, Chuck (December 15, 2001). "Reviews & Previews – Singles (Pop): 'I've Changed'". Billboard. 113 (50). New York: Nielsen Company: 25.
  ISSN 0006-2510
  .
• Thelen, Christopher (March 14, 2001). "Album Reviews – Useful Music". The Daily Vault. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
• Warburg, Jason (February 15, 2002). "Album Reviews – Useful Music". The Daily Vault. Retrieved July 6, 2010.