Maps of Music
American Tune (2003)
Where the lyrics of American Tune take you, and where it was really made.
Eva Cassidy's album of rehearsal tapes and live recordings reached UK number one seven years after her death.
View on the mapKey places
Biondo's Glenn Dale studio (2003)
Recording site Chris Biondo Studios — Several live tracks were recorded at Chris Biondo's studio in Glenn Dale, Maryland, around 1991 to 1993. The point marks the city centre only, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Overdubs in Kensington (2003)
Recording site Community Music Studio — Overdubs for one track were recorded at Community Music Studio in Kensington, Maryland, in June 2003. The point marks the city centre only. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Black Pond Studio, Rockville (2003)
Recording site Black Pond Studio — The track Yesterday was recorded at Black Pond Studio in Rockville, Maryland, in 1989. The point marks the city centre only. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Live at a tavern in Annapolis (2003)
Live show King of France Tavern — One track was recorded live in winter 1995 at the King of France Tavern in the Maryland Inn, historic downtown Annapolis. The point marks the city centre only. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- American Tune: album of rehearsal tapes and live recordings by Eva Cassidy
- Released 2003, seven years after her death in 1996
- Her second album of mainly live material and third posthumous album
- Ten tracks, eight of them recorded live
- Producer: Chris Biondo
- Licensed by Blix Street Records from Barbara and Hugh Cassidy
- All tracks previously unreleased
- Mastered by Robert Vosgien at Capitol Mastering, Hollywood
Background
- Recordings made between 1989 and 1995 for most tracks
- Most live tracks were captured at Chris Biondo's studio in Glenn Dale, Maryland
- Overdubs were added in June 2003, long after the original sessions
- Album spent five weeks on the U.S. Billboard Top 200
- Album reached number one on the UK album chart
Recording
- Drowning in the Sea of Love and True Colors recorded live at Biondo's Glenn Dale studio
- Tracks 3 and 7 recorded live at Pearl's by Brian McCulley on 10 and 24 September 1994
- Track 8 recorded live at the King of France Tavern, Maryland Inn, Annapolis, winter 1995
- Track 9, Yesterday, recorded at Black Pond Studio, Rockville, Maryland, 1989
- Overdubs recorded at Community Music Studio, Kensington, Maryland, 12 and 13 June 2003
- Overdub mix done at Entourage Studios, North Hollywood, California, 18 June 2003
- Personnel includes Eva Cassidy on guitar and vocals, Marcy Marxer on bouzouki and tin whistle, and Dan Cassidy and Bruno Nasta on violin
Cover
- Photography credited to Chris Biondo
- Drawing credited to Eva Cassidy
- Liner notes by Martin Jennings
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
Tracklist
| 1 | Drowning in the Sea of Love | 4:19 |
| 2 | True Colours | 4:51 |
| 3 | The Water Is Wide | 4:21 |
| 4 | Hallelujah, I Love Him So | 2:33 |
| 5 | God Bless the Child | 5:18 |
| 6 | Dark Eyed Molly | 3:28 |
| 7 | American Tune | 4:06 |
| 8 | It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) | 2:23 |
| 9 | Yesterday | 3:09 |
| 10 | You Take My Breath Away | 5:40 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Career
- Eva Marie Cassidy (1963–1996) was an American singer and musician known for jazz, folk and blues interpretations with a powerful, emotive soprano voice.
- Her first album, The Other Side (1992), was a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown; Live at Blues Alley (1996) followed.
- She was honored by the Washington Area Music Association and won two Wammies in 1994, but was virtually unknown outside the Washington, D.C. area when she died of melanoma at 33 in 1996.
Posthumous Success
- In 1998 the compilation Songbird was assembled; BBC Radio 2 airplay in 2000 brought her music to British audiences.
- Songbird topped the UK Albums Chart, and her posthumous recordings have sold more than ten million copies.
- Nine posthumous albums have been released, the latest I Can Only Be Me (2023) with the London Symphony Orchestra, which reached number 9 in the UK.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Jamie Anderson, writing for Sing Out! magazine, calls every song on the album a gem
- The review says each track either remains true to the original song or presents the piece in a new way
- The review credits the performances with being free of syrupy trappings
- The album is built from rehearsal tapes and live recordings, mainly live material
- Eight of the ten tracks are live recordings
Records
- Spent five weeks on the U.S. Billboard Top 200
- Reached number one on the UK album chart
- Third posthumous album by Eva Cassidy, after her death in 1996
- Released in 2003, seven years after her death
- Second album of mainly live material by Cassidy
- Licensed by Blix Street Records from Barbara and Hugh Cassidy
- Tracks recorded at several studios and venues in Maryland, with the overdub mix done in California
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- Track 8 was recorded live in winter 1995 at the King of France Tavern in the Maryland Inn, historic downtown Annapolis.
- Track 9, Yesterday, was recorded at Black Pond Studio in Rockville, Maryland, in 1989.
- The tray card states that all tracks were previously unreleased.
- Eva Cassidy is credited with the drawing on the album.
- Several live tracks were recorded at Chris Biondo's own studio in Glenn Dale, Maryland.
Sources: www.discogs.com
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