Maps of Music

San Francisco Days (1993)

Where the lyrics of San Francisco Days take you, and where it was really made.

The sound was brighter than the predecessor and sold less, yet one of its songs later appeared in the film True Romance.

Key places

Recorded at Fantasy Studios (1993)

Recording site Zellerbach Auditorium (Berkeley) — The album was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, alongside Dave Wellhausen Recording. The point is set at city center, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• San Francisco Days: fourth studio album by Chris Isaak
• Released 13 April 1993 on Reprise
• Sound more upbeat than darker predecessor Heart Shaped World
• 12 tracks, all composed by Isaak except where noted
• "Can't Do a Thing (To Stop Me)" co-written with Brian Elliot; "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond

Background

• Predecessor Heart Shaped World had a darker sound
• Breakthrough hit "Wicked Game" came before this album
• Album was Isaak's last to feature guitarist James Calvin Wilsey
• Wilsey had been in the band since its formation
• Left the band due to personal conflicts and drug problems
• Wilsey played on only a handful of tracks, including the lead single
• Isaak told Rolling Stone in 1993 he was always looking to learn new tricks

Recording

• Recorded at Dave Wellhausen and Fantasy Studios
• Engineer: Mark Needham; sound consultant: Louie Beeson
• Lee Herschberg credited for mixing assistance; mixed at Andora Studios
• Mastered at Masterdisk
• Hammond B3 organ by Jimmy Pugh on "I Want Your Love"
• Pedal steel guitar by Tom Brumley
• Album dedicated to the memory of Louie Beeson

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Christopher Joseph Isaak, born June 26, 1956, in Stockton, California.
• After college he formed his first band, Silvertone, a rockabilly group; the name came from the Silvertone guitar brand popular in the 1950s.
• The group remained his permanent backing band.

Members

• Original Silvertone members included James Calvin Wilsey (guitar), Jamie Ayres (bass), and John Silvers (drums).
• Ayres and Silvers were later replaced by Rowland Salley (bass) and Kenney Dale Johnson (drums).

Career

• Signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1985 and released the debut album Silvertone to critical acclaim.
• Known for a reverb-heavy rockabilly revivalist style and a wide vocal range; often compared to Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, and Duane Eddy.
• His breakthrough and signature song is "Wicked Game" (1989 album Heart Shaped World), which became a national top 10 hit in 1991.
• Other international hits include "Blue Hotel", "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing", and "Somebody's Crying".
• Has released 13 studio albums over four decades.
• Worked closely with director David Lynch, who used his music in several films; Isaak acted in Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
• Starred in the sitcom The Chris Isaak Show (2001-2004) and hosted the talk show The Chris Isaak Hour (2009).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Did not perform as well as predecessor Heart Shaped World
• Sound more upbeat than the darker Heart Shaped World
• Followed the breakthrough hit "Wicked Game" and Heart Shaped World
• Lead single "Can't Do a Thing (To Stop Me)" had Wilsey on guitar
• Wilsey played on only a handful of tracks before leaving

Reappraisal

• Several tracks became longtime staples of Isaak's live set
• "Two Hearts" featured in the film True Romance in 1993
• "Two Hearts" also included on the True Romance soundtrack
• Commercial results lower than Heart Shaped World, but live staples remained

Records

• Certified gold by the RIAA
• Lead single: "Can't Do a Thing (To Stop Me)"
• 12 tracks, released 1993

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Album dedicated to the memory of sound consultant Louie Beeson.
• "Two Hearts" was featured in the film True Romance and on its soundtrack in 1993.
• Several tracks became longtime staples of Isaak's live set.
• "Solitary Man" is a Neil Diamond song covered on the album.
• Isaak told Rolling Stone in 1993 he was always looking to learn new tricks.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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