Suzanne Vega...Album by Album Thread.

Video for Solitude Standing, 1987.

 

Why would you buy a reissue on a spotty label? The originals are common, on good vinyl, and sound terrific.

 

Don't forget about this, the Spanish version of Luka:

 

Acoustic version of Luka and Interview, 1987.

 

What happend to Luka?
This is such a shocking song when you listen to the lyrics. Domestic violence towards women is hard to take in and cope with, but understanding that Luka is about not only a child being the victim here, but there are two offenders against this child... The melody is so beautiful, the tune is catchy, and the message is so sad...

So what happend to him, both the song's Luka, and the real one, that actually lived upstairs from Suzanne?
I was happy to find this: (about Luka starts at 2:10)

 

Live 1989.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7xrOO6A9U4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Bm1D0Mp4o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZyD9igjyNE

 

Graham, this is great! I'm enjoying every frame.


EDIT: Not to be missed. And the audience was fantastic as well. What a dream gig.

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I often thank my lucky star for finding Suzanne Vega when I did. I was 16-17, and just as confused as only such a young girl can be when wondering where to find her place in life. What to mean, what to think and basically who to be… Looking back in retrospective, I’m shocked to see how much I have actually formed my life, instead of just go with the flow and see where I would end up. Suzanne’s two first albums are very responsible for this…


SV’s lyrics opened up a whole world of opportunities. I found epic descriptions of feelings that I had, and statements that I wanted to become mine. I found moods that equaled with the ones I could recognize. Small Blue Thing spoke to me in a language I could perfectly understand. It gave me “permission” to feel small from time to time, now knowing that this feeling was not unique to me. Some Journey awakened the idea of “travelling” in a relationship, play and investigate, and suddenly relationships were shone on with a different lamp. That has been a major turn for me, to realize that you don’t have to settle, but you can try to achieve the relationship’s potential… And keeping the magic of it! “We talk and talk, we tell the truth, there are no shadows here” became for me a warning not to kill the magic by talk. And talk about everything. I can hardly believe I was only 16 when I started to realize this. Undertow taught me something about how strong forces can be, whether it is addiction, love or disease. And Straight Lines, independence, independence, independence! Crucial to learn at such a young age, especially when you are a girl. Suzanne’s first album influenced me in the way I got to act towards the world.

Solitude Standing taught me little about feelings going the other way. The sudden love and sympathy I felt towards an abused child has stayed with me since Luka, and that was 12 years before I became a parent myself. Iron Bound /Fancy Poultry says something about what you give up as a parent for the sake of your child’s wellbeing. Calypso is also about putting your own needs and longings on hold for the love you feel for another. I had never heard of Calypso and Odysseus at 18, but I had a cousin with a serious drug-addiction. I remember hoping that she would one day find a Calypso to take care of her until she was strong enough to know “the waves’ ways”, and free herself from her personal hell. Gypsy must one of the fines lovesongs ever written! The melody is so beautiful it still brings tears to my eyes. I never tire of this song. In my life there has been some ”Gyspsies”, and these brief lovestories are now among my finest memories. The love that you from the beginning knew could, for some reasons, never last, but you still lived it for that brief time. This love never tasted the grey of everyday life, tristesse and bitter quarrels, but will forever live in your mind as fire and passion… This is the love that you never get over, and the memories will till the end of time bring a smile to your face. I love this song! In The Eye made me strong. I started to use my gaze when it was needed, influenced by this song, and being equipped with a strong gaze is not at all wrong when being a young woman. Or a woman.

Today I wouldn’t take life-lessons from an album, but as a teenager I was stupid enough to think that one could. I’m so glad I did.

 

Wonderful thoughts...

 

Days Of Open Hand

Released 10th April 1990

1. "Tired of Sleeping" – 4:22
2. "Men in a War" – 4:47
3. "Rusted Pipe" (Vega, Anton Sanko) – 4:16
4. "Book of Dreams" (Vega, A. Sanko) – 3:22
5. "Institution Green" (Vega, A. Sanko) – 6:15
6. "Those Whole Girls (Run in Grace)" – 3:09
7. "Room off the Street" (Vega, A. Sanko) – 3:00
8. "Big Space" (Vega, A. Sanko) – 3:46
9. "Predictions" – 4:59
10. "Fifty-Fifty Chance"– 2:36
11. "Pilgrimage" (Vega, A. Sanko) – 5:10

 

A may be unable to post much coming up.....but I will endeavour to keep things rolling best I can.
Personal stuff has derailed me.......
By all means keep the posts coming, Suzanne's music means so much to me, and at the moment it is a crutch for me to fall on.
I will try to update as promised.

 

Probably Suzanne Vega's most underrated album. I really like what producer Anton Sanko did to the album. As a collection of songs this is a step back from the well known first 2 albums, but the arrangements and production really take the songs to another level. The mix also makes clear that the 80s are over, giving the album a warmer and much more pleasant feel. The songs rarely appear on compilations and Suzanne doesn't play the songs live a lot, but for me the album's up there with her very best.

Tired Of Sleeping (9/10): Beautiful ballad with a great melody, I love the lyrics
Men In A War (8/10): I really like the drums and guitars on this one, they add a lot of power to a song that's a bit monotonous otherwise
Rusted Pipe (9/10): Beautiful marimba, lovely chorus melody and some nice harmonies from Suzanne and Shawn Colvin towards the end
Book Of Dreams (7/10): The album's obvious single, nice song but it lacks the catchy hooks of her previous hits
Institution Green (10/10): My favourite song on the album. Great hypnotic melody and Anton Sanko creates a wonderful mood with his keyboards and string arrangement
Those Whole Girls (5/10): Bit of a let down after a stunning first side, what works so well on "Institution Green" and "Predictions" does not work here
Room Off The Street (9/10): I love how the acoustic guitar and hand claps provide the rhythm on this one. Great melody as well
Big Space (8/10): The dated synths sound horribly out of place on an album full of acoustic guitars, Hammond organ and marimba. The melody and lyrics are Suzanne at her best though.
Predictions (9/10): Another beautiful hypnotic melody and once again Anton Sanko's production creates a wonderful mood
Fifty-Fifty Chance (7/10): Mostly Philip Glass' song, without his strings this would be a pretty boring song.
Pilgrimage (8/10): Took a while to grow on me, but now I really like it. The keyboard loop reminds me of Peter Gabriel's "San Jacinto".

 

Alternate holographic album cover (US promo CD).

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Days Of Open Hand (1990)

I think Suzanne has named this her least liked album. She never liked how it turned out.
I would agree with what was said about how wonderful sounding this album is. A album to prove just how badly modern CD's are mastered
For me, the album is a little hit and miss.
When it's good it is sublime, but there are songs for the first time that just pass me by.

Tired Of Sleeping
Interesting as the lyric is the moudling almost dreary melody have never captured my interest.
6/10

Men In A War
Thought provoking lyrics that jolt the listener and much more like it for me.
9/10

Rusted Pipe
One of my 2 fav songs on the album. The play on words is just wonderful. Beautifully crafted song, with vocals that are wonderful.
10/10

Book Of Dreams
A very good song but pales slightly....nice background vocals.
8/10

Institution Green
I struggled with this for years before it revealed itself. Creates a great atmosphere.
9/10

Those Whole Girls (Run In Grace)
Simple and to the point....again a grower for me...took me years to fully get this.
9/10

Room Of The Street
Along with Rusted Pipe, this is so good it's jawdropping in it's arrangement and pacing.
Evocative lyrics and you can just place yourself in the scenes painted here.
A wonderful song.
10/10

Big Space
Again, welcome to the party late. Another grower for me. Brilliant song.
9/10

Predictions
This again never stood out for me, but like many songs here, suddenly like a fine wine (Red !!) it gets better with age.
8/10

Fifty Fifty Chance.
Strangely, I am the other way with this. The string arrangement coupled with the morose tale jump out on you at first listen, and at first you think it's one of the better songs.
I favour it less these days......I don't know why.
7/10

Pilgrimage
Typical of the album, this song has a spacy unclutted feel to it. Not a favourite but Iwould never skip it.
7/10

I think over the years this album has gained more kudos. It's just that what comes after it and before are just so good this feels slightly less.
If that makes sense at all.
Underrated certainly but not one of her 'great' albums....perhaps.

8/10

 

http://silvermichaels.weebly.com/2/post/2014/01/flashback-suzanne-vega-september-1990.html

http://www.brianrose.com/music/language.htm

http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=6417

http://archive.today/xn1hn#selection-709.0-713.412

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Louis
Great stuff as usual.

Hopefully I can keep things going...
But the world has collapsed around me at the moment.

 

Gotta love those late 80's hair styles (SV looks great though)

 

I hope it is things you can work out...

 

Hang in there! It will get better. And no timetable here... we'll move on when you're ready.

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'99.9F'

Released September 8, 1992
Recorded 1992 at Dreamland (Bearsville, NY), Sunset Sound Factory (LA) and The Magic Shop (NYC)
Genre Rock
Length 37:20
Label A&M
Producer Mitchell Froom

1. "Rock in This Pocket (Song of David)" 3:20
2. "Blood Makes Noise" 2:28
3. "In Liverpool" 4:40
4. "99.9F°" 3:16
5. "Blood Sings" 3:17
6. "Fat Man and Dancing Girl" (Vega, Mitchell Froom) 2:19
7. "(If You Were) In My Movie" 3:05
8. "As a Child" 2:55
9. "Bad Wisdom" 3:23
10. "When Heroes Go Down" 1:54
11. "As Girls Go" 3:27
12. "Song of Sand" 3:28
13. "Private Goes Public" (European and Japanese bonus track) 1:57
Personnel[edit]
Suzanne Vega – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jerry Marotta – drums, percussion
Bruce Thomas – bass
David Hidalgo – electric guitar on 1 2 3 4 7 8 11
Mitchell Froom – keyboards, string arrangement on 12

99.9F° (Ninety-Nine Point Nine Fahrenheit Degrees) is the fourth album by the American singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega. Released in 1992, the album marked a significant departure for Vega, as she embraced a more electronic-influenced, experimental sound. It peaked at #86 on Billboard Magazine album charts, as well as two songs to their Modern Rock charts, including "Blood Makes Noise," written with Kevin 'Doc' Sullivan of Skinny Puppy and Nine Inch Nails, which reached #1. The album was also Vega's fourth Top 20 album in the UK. Despite its low chart position in the US, the album was certified gold by RIAA in October 1997, which marks 500,000 copies sold. It also reached silver status in the UK by the BPI in March 1993. The LP remains out of print in US.

It was the first of two of Vega's albums to be produced by Mitchell Froom, whom she later married.

 

Sorry for the dalay....
I will post thoughts 2moro all being well.....but I will say this is a all time fav album for me....just love it.

 

It certainly isn't as drastic as I thought it would be. For me, I just happen to think that some of the 'metal' songs are weaker efforts, lyrically and musically. Blood Makes Noise is the best of them. The rest of the lp is very good, I'd rate it better than Open Hand by a hair. In Liverpool is a fantastic song and will always be in my top 10 favorite SV songs. I think As Girls Go and If You Were in my Movie are also good tracks, and Public Goes Private should not be overlooked.