Downtown
Studio album by Marshall Crenshaw
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Catalog#: 25319-1
Released: 1985
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Soft Rock
Album Review
http://beatpatrol.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/marshall-crenshaw-downtown-1985/
Downtown is the third album by American rocker and guitarist Marshall Crenshaw, release in 1985.
Downtown is a gem of an album. This being his third album after the peppy and youthful Field Day and self-titled albums, you might expect something of the same. Marshall has taken a very different direction in his songwriting and mood here. But that is not bad, just different. It is introspective and sometimes sad, but there always is a beautiful melody to be found.
Sadly, Crenshaw's momentum had been derailed by the thunderous noise of his underrated "Field Day" and the loss of his original trio-mates Robert Crenshaw and Chris Donato. (Well known session men Mitchell Froom, G.E. Smith, Mickey Curry, Tony Levin and Jerry Marotta provided Crenshaw and T, Bone Burnett with solid support throughout the disc.) So while the album was firm, it really didn't get the attention it deserved. But if you're a fan of 60's and 50's swinging rock, don't miss the trip to "Downtown."
From the very beginning the album takes off with "Little Wild One (No. 5)" and never stops. The second track "Yvonne" is a mix of Beatles and Buddy Holly and is followed up by "Blues is King" and the phenomenal "Terrifying Love". My other personal favorite is "I'm Sorry (But So is Brenda Lee)" which has a steady beat and woe-fully sung lyrics.
Crenshaw has a great ability to write compelling 'hooks' in songs. The chorus that sticks in your mind and leaves you singing it over and over again. This is exceptionally true of this album.
I'm a fan of a lot of different types of music and I consider this as a 'Must have' album. There really isn't a bad song on the disc.
If you don't know Crenshaw, "Downtown" is a great introduction to his music.
Track Listing
All songs written by Marshall Crenshaw, except tracks B3 & B4
A1 - Little Wild One (No. 5)
Programmed By [Linn] - T-Bone Burnett
A2 - Yvonne
Bass - Joey Spampinato
Drums - Tom Ardolino
Guitar [1st Solo] - G.E. Smith
A3 - Blues Is King
Bass - Faye Hunter
Drums - Robert Crenshaw
Piano - Mitch Easter
Producer - Mitch Easter
A4 - Terrifying Love
Percussion, Bongos - Jerry Marotta
Programmed By [Linn], Sitar [Electric] - T-Bone Burnett
A5 - Like A Vague Memory
Guitar [Steel] - Steve Fischel
B1 - The Distance Between
B2 - (We're Gonna) Shake Up Their Minds
Drums - Jerry Marotta
Other [Cannon Plug] - David Miner
B3 - I'm Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee) (Ben Vaughn)
Drums - Jerry Marotta
Tambourine - Warren Klein
Vocals - T-Bone Burnett
B4 - Right Now (Sylvester Bradford/Al Lewis)
B5 - Lesson Number One
Bass [Stand-up] - Tony Garnier
Drums - Robert Crenshaw
Credits
Bass - David Miner (tracks: A4, A5, B1, B4) , Tony Levin (tracks: A1, B2, B3)
Drums - Mickey Curry (tracks: A1, A4, A4, B1, B4)
Guitar, Vocals, Bass [Six String], Percussion - Marshall Crenshaw
Keyboards - Mitchell Froom (tracks: A1, A4, A5, B1, B3)
Mixed By - Larry Kalman Hirsch*
Producer - Larry Kalman Hirsch* (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1 to B5) , Marshall Crenshaw , T-Bone Burnett (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1 to B5)