Sure As I'm Sitting Here: The John Hiatt Album by Album Thread

I'm a long time John Hiatt fan and thought i would tackle a album-by-album thread. Hiatt's been covered successfully by many different artists and while he didn't have the huge break through that critics had hoped for or predicted, Hiatt did develop a loyal, core audience who appreciated his wit, insight and "fuel injected" voice.

Hiatt was born in Indiana. His father was a sales person and owned his own business selling furniture. When he became ill, his older brother (Hiatt was one of seven children) took over the business. Later, when Hiatt was in his teens Hiatt's older brother committed suicide. This made Hiatt despondent as he was particularly close to his brother. He found an outlet in music. Although Hiatt later claimed to be a member of a variety of bands that gigged around town, it's unknown if he really played with these bands or made them up.

The band White Duck that Hiatt cofounded caught the attention of promoters although it didn't lead to a recording contract. Hiatt met a folk singer/songwriter named Bob Frank living in Nashville who made his living writing songs for others. Hiatt decided this would be the way to go and managed to be signed by the same company Frank was signed to. A 17 year old Hiatt migrated to Nashville to make a living the same way but was also quickly noticed for his distinctive singing style.

Hiatt was signed by Epic records for two albums; "Hangin' Around the Observatory" and the follow up album "Overcoats". Each one probably sold at least two copies but not much more.

What's not known by the average fan is that Hiatt recorded his first album back in 1974 BEFORE artists he was compared to later such as Elvis Costello (I tend to see more in common with Graham Parker rather than Elvis Costello then again there is that common ground between Parker and Costello).

"Hangin' Around The Observatory" (1974)
Epic Records
Produced by Glen Spreen. Recorded in Nashville

Maybe Baby
Whistles in My Ear
Sure as I'm Sittin' Here
Rose
Hangin' Around the Observatory
Full Moon
Wild Eyed Gypsies
It's Alright with Me
Little Blue Song For You
Ocean

"Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" became a hit when it was covered by Three Dog Night although that success didn't translate to Hiatt's first album. Although recorded in Nashville despite the country trappings of a couple of songs, I don't think it sounds all that country particularly considering where it was recorded.

"Hangin' Around The Observatory" didn't chart although it did catch the attention of a couple of critics at the time. Hiatt's vocals here don't capture the "fuel injected" style that would come to dominate his later albums.

Hiatt's wry observations would continue to pepper all of his albums and his ability to expose his own heart and the heart of our humanity with all of its frailty but without becoming mawkish a difficult task for any writer.

There continued to be elements of gospel, roots rock, country and many of the same influences that showed up in the work of groups like The Band and Dylan (a major influence on Hiatt early on. Dylan later covered "The Usual")but it was distinctively John Hiatt.

 

Oh come on folks I know there are more John Hiatt fans here.

 

Well, there's at least 2 of us, then.

 

i'm ashamed to admit i never heard the album!
it started for me with Slug Line

 

Bring The Family is the Mount Olympus of the Eighties!

I never really understood why they messed with the original cover though.
Was this a rights issue?
Luckily I bought this one straight away on Demon records UK
The Eighties were awful for 'roots' rock because of production values/drum sounds but this album will stand the test of time...
I mean I love Green on Red, but what about those hideous productions, even though they used Jim Dickinson and Joe Hardy (A Har-Dic production...love that one!)
Sorry about my rant..

 

I only discovered John Hiatt's music by the time of Little Village, when I was about 14. I've followed his releases closely since then and have dug into the past a little as well, but not made it around to albums older than "Bring the Family". I was lucky enough to have seen him in concert twice despite living in Germany. As a songwriter, he's definitely one of the Greats.

I'm looking forward to replying in this thread later on, once those albums start to appear that I know.

 

I just pulled out my Hiatt stash the other day to see how many albums I still am missing from the catalog (I think three). This is perfect for me. I'll make sure to listen to Hangin' Around the Observatory as soon as I can.

By all means, keep this thread going, but take your time. I realize most who are interested won't jump in until a few albums in, but give those of us who can savor the whole career a chance to take in the experience and comment.

 

love John Hiatt! Love Dylan's cover of "The Usual" as well. a very underated artist.

 

I am definitely a fan of John but I don't have this album. Looking forward to the thread though.

 

Just a correction to my initial post--Hiatt's brother committed suicide when he was 9 which along with the illness of his father helped push him towards a career in music where he could express himself.

When Hiatt comments on "selling your smart *** door to door" in the song "Your Dad Did" from "Bring the Family" he was to a certain extent speaking from experience (as a songwriter/musician as well as his dad and brother's experience that Hiatt witnessed).

If you haven't picked up "Hanging" it's well worth taking a listen to although it can't compare to Hiatt's peak as a songwriter it does give us a glimpse of the writer he would become.

 

Surprising he goes that far back. Like a lotta people, I suspect, I didn't know him until BRING THE FAMILY.

 

I've heard of John Hiatt of course, but never listened to his music, although I love Three Dog Night's cover of the title of your thread.

He's one of the guys on the 'to check out in the future' pile.

 

A great singer/songwriter.

I have that 1972 White Duck In Season and really like it, some very nice pop/rock/roots and even a bit of psych in those grooves.

Hiatt wrote two of the tracks You Caught Me Laughin' and Sail Away, the latter being an excellent early song.

Never have come across Hanging Around The Observatory or Overcoats on vinyl yet but do have the CDs.

Find HATO a pretty decent "first" release with three or four great tracks especially the title cut and Sure As I'm Sittin' Here.

Looking forward to this thread!

 

Have it, too. Gotta love the photo of John on the back cover (at right)...

 

For me the undisputed best pre-BTF disc is Riding With The King. There's other good stuff scattered here and there, but that's essential Hiatt, IMO.

+1. Rarely indulge in the Album-by-Album threads, but I haven't listened to the early Hiatt discs in years, so I'll try. John's got a lotta leftover tracks (b-sides, soundtracks, etc), too, so if you're knowledgable about those, chime in during the appropriate eras!

 

Wow. Thanks for the info on White Duck. I was under the impression that they didn't record any material while Hiatt was a member. You learn somethin' new every day...

 

Big Hiatt fan but don't have much to say about his debut...will chime in once he hits his CD stride...

 

So we'll jump to John's second solo album which even less people bought than his first.

"Overcoats"
Label: Epic
Release Date: 1975
Produced by Glenn Spreen
Recorded in Nashville (except the string overdubs-recorded in Hollywood)

One More Time
Smiling in the Rain
I'm Tired of Your Stuff
Distance
Down Home
Overcoats
I Want Your Love Inside Me
I Killed an Ant with My Guitar
Motorboat to Heaven
The Lady of the Night

All songs written by John Hiatt
String arrangements by John Hiatt and Glenn Spreen

Credits(Courtesy of John's website)

Musicians: John Hiatt (Acoustic guitar, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Arranger, Vocals,
12 String guitar)
Tracy Nelson (Background vocals)
Samuel Boghossian (Viola)
Shane Keister (Piano, Arranger, Electric piano, Moog Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes)
Jesse Ehrlich (Cello)
Bobby Emmons (Organ)
Gene Estes (Marimbas)
Allan Harshman (Viola)
Irving Kane (Trombone)
Norman Ray (Baritone sax)
Ted Reynolds (Bass, Kabassa)
George Tidwell (Trumpet, String Arrangements)
Larrie London (Percussion, Conga, Drums, Kabassa)
Sadie (Background vocals)
Billy Puitt (Clarinet, Flute, Recorder, Soprano sax, Tenor Sax)
Anita Baugh (Background vocals)

As with the previous album former Mother Earth lead vocalist Tracy Nelson appears on backing vocals here. She would tackle of a couple of John's songs for her albums.


Hiatt's characteristic humor appears in spades on his second album with songs such as "I'm Tired of Your Stuff" and "I Killed an Ant With My Guitar". As with the first album, "Overcoats" got some critical recognition but no airplay and sold one or two copies quickly going out of print until Hiatt reappeared with "Bring the Family" where upon it promptly came back from the dead.

Although Hiatt hasn't gone on record much about his first two solo albums and how he feels about the quality of the songwriting/production, it's clear that Hiatt was still finding his way in both areas.

Look at all that hair!

 

Nice thread to start on my b-day! I love John Hiatt. Been a fan since "Warming Up to the Ice Age". I did go back and get all the previous releases. I even have the three tribute cd's and a couple of cd's of unreleased stuff and the White Duck. I've seen him many times and he always puts on a great show.
I give the first two an occassional spin, however they just don't grab me like everything else. They're not bad, but compared to the rest of his catalog, especially the A&M years, they fall a little short.

 

Slow down! I threw in Hanging Round The Observatory with my batch of cds to take to work today, but if you're gonna go one album per day, I'll just give up now!

 

Sorry. I only jumped ahead because there was very little being posted on these first two fine albums.

 

I didn't get into John Hiatt until I heard Slow Turning. I really liked it and proceeded to get Riding With The King and Bring The Family. So far I like his catalog and I'll be digging in a litter deeper in the future.

 

I'm with Dave there. I got Slow Turning as a new release, then went back for Bring The Family. After the compilation album Y'All Caught came out I went back again for Warming Up To The Ice Age and Riding With The King but I never went as far back as his first two albums. Isn't it interesting that the compilation album that I mentioned only went back as far as 1979, ignoring those first two solo releases?

 

The more recent two-CD Anthology starts in 1974 with Sure As I'm Sitting Here.