The Smithereens: Especially For You CD Track Listing

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The Smithereens Especially For You (1986)
Originally Released 1986\nCD Edition Released August 24, 1988\nExpanded Capitol CD Edition Released April 7, 1992\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: The Smithereens' superb full-length debut Especially for You marries an unapologetically nostalgic affection for the melodic crunch of the British Invasion era with an equally unapologetic helping of postmodern melancholia. In tandem with Don Dixon's moodily atmospheric production, Pat DiNizio's lovelorn lyrics and world-weary vocals reveal the dark underbelly of his otherwise crisply infectious songs, lending standout tracks like "Strangers When We Meet," "Behind the Wall of Sleep," and the minor hit "Blood and Roses," both a unique flavor and an immediate familiarity. -- Jason Ankeny\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nThe Dirtiest Word In Rock, June 30, 2000\nReviewer: dev1 (Baltimore) \nProbably on the dirtiest word to use in the presence of a rock fan is "Pop." Each generation, trying to latch on to some fresh sound, and break all ties with their parents, renames "pop." Ask a 1987 college kid (I mean young adult), who's bouncing around to Especially For You by the Smithereens, what he's listening to, and he'll say "Man, this is "alternative" rock (or some variation). Dress it up in leather, strap on some heavy guitars, and built a 15-piece drum kit. You still get Pop: Beach Boys' multi-part vocal harmonies (Hand Of Glory), the shining and delicate interwoven guitar work of the Byrds (Crazy Mixed-Up Kid), and those Searchers' "can't help myself from singing along" melodies (In A Lonely Place). Pat Dinizio may look like at beatnik (predating the British Invasion), but this guy can write some catchy hooks (check the "woke up" background vocals on `Groovy Tuesday'). In the world of Pop (see, it's not such a nasty word), Especially For You ranks right up there with Marshall Crenshaw's debut and Like This by the dB's.\nSo what's separates the Smithereens from the Beach Boys/Byrds/Searchers? How about attack and lyrics. "Behind The Wall Of Sleep" bounces around like a Go-Go girl on Shindig, but the band thrashes the song with scathing electric guitars. Byrds' jangle-guitars are all over "I Don't Want To Lose You, but here the drummer shows no mercy. The lyrics are based on the "Boy Meets Girl" Pop doctrine (Listen To Me Girl), but DiNizio gets sullen. The Searchers would never sing "I close my eyes and I see bloody roses" (Bloody and Roses). And certainly the every-mother-loves the Beach Boys would never have touched a filthy cigarette (Cigarette).\n\nI know that it's tough, but say it. Say "I love Pop." See, it wasn't that difficult. Especially For You closes the nineteen-eighties with a Pop masterpiece. I gave copies to my own kids, and told then it was "grunge hip-hop rap rock." They've never spoken to me again.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\n"These Guitars Don't Jangle...They bite!", June 15, 2000\nReviewer: C. C. Thomas "filmstar" (Empire, CO)\nSo said the promo sticker adhered to the vinyl version when this album first came out (1986). And it's true. This is some of the most ferocious guitar power-pop you'll ever hear as "Behind the Wall of Sleep" and "Blood and Roses" amply demonstrate. It's also one of the best albums of the 80s. This one's a gem from the perfect opening track, "Strangers When We Meet", to the inclusion of two bonus tracks at the end. Also true: the Smithereens were never quite able to come up with a worthy sequel to this, their masterpiece. Though you might be eyeing that "Best of..." CD to get all their hits, this is really the album of theirs to get - this is their best.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nDennis Diken, please call home., October 15, 1999\nReviewer: Scott Clarkson (Montreal, Canada) \nNot their best seller, but arguably their best album. Especially For You has the texture and depth of a classic sixties pop LP, made before the Jersey boys turned up the amps to eleven. Derivative as can be - shamelessly so. Which is why it works. No one's playin' footsies here - the Smithereens are out to win your heart. Fun, fun, fun.\n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Don Dixon, Frank Christian, Mark Johnson, Matt Balitsaris, Suzanne Vega \nProducer: Don Dixon \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Smithereens: Pat DiNizio (guitar, vocals); Jim Babjak (guitar); Mike Mesaros (bass, vocals); Dennis Diken (drums, percussion, vocals).\n\nAdditional personnel: Frank Christian (acoustic guitar); John Rokosny (electric guitar); Kenny Margolis (accordion); Joe Kernich (piano); Jerome Jerome (organ, piano); Don Dixon (piano, percussion, background vocals); Jeffrey Berman (vibraphone); Mark Johnson, Suzanne Vega (background vocals).\n\nRecorded at The Record Plant, New York. \nIncludes liner notes by Dennis Diken.\n\nNew Jersey's Smithereens popped up at the tail end of the New Wave era, but arrived just in time for the ascension of alternative rock. In fact,\nthey were neither; essentially Pat DiNizio and company were\npower-poppers with strong 1960s roots (Beatles, Beach Boys, et al).\nUltimately, they brought the style further into the mainstream than any\nof their contemporaries, with their initial full-length salvo ESPECIALLY\nFOR YOU making a big splash via the hits "Blood and Roses" and "Behind the Wall of Sleep." The Smithereens' sound was also brawnier and more working-class than most of their contemporaries (they later confessed to being influenced by Black Sabbath's guitar sound), and this may have had a great deal to do with their success. It also didn't hurt that singer/songwriter/guitarist DiNizio had a seemingly limitless knack for churning out infectious pop gems that sounded like they'd been around forever. Delivered in DiNizio's strong, deep voice, the songs on ESPECIALLY FOR YOU suggest nothing so much as an '80s Badfinger fronted by a less pretentious Jim Morrison.\n\nIndustry Reviews\nRanked #6 in CMJ's Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1986\nCMJ (01/05/2004)
This rock cd contains 13 tracks and runs 42min 23sec.
Freedb: 9409ed0d
Buy: from Amazon.com

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