Maps of Music

To the Bone (1981)

Where the lyrics of To the Bone take you, and where it was really made.

The album was partly recorded at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, and most of its songs deal with the decline of a relationship.

Key places

Recorded at Caribou Ranch (1981)

Recording site Caribou Ranch — The album was recorded at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado, the main recording site named in the production credits. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Extra recording in Franklin (1981)

Recording site Sound Kitchen — Additional recording was done at the Bennett House in Franklin, Tennessee. The point is placed at city level, not at the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Extra recording in Nashville (1981)

Recording site Nashville — Additional recording was also done at Quadrafonic Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The point is placed at city level, not at the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• To the Bone: album by Kris Kristofferson, released 1981
• His last album for Monument Records
• First album after his divorce from Rita Coolidge
• Many songs deal with relationship decline
• "Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore" became a minor hit

Background

• The release symbolized the end of an era for Kristofferson
• Final album under his Monument contract, which was nearly bankrupt
• He divorced Rita Coolidge in December; the two had recorded three duet albums together
• Much of this period went into Heaven's Gate, an epic film
• The film opened to disastrous reviews in November 1980, devastating his movie career
• Winter 1979-1980 tour with Willie Nelson in support of Nelson's tribute LP Sings Kristofferson
• That LP made the Top 5 and produced the hit "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)"

Recording

• Norbert Putnam replaced David Anderle in the producer's chair
• Only the third producer on Kristofferson's solo albums since 1970, after Fred Foster
• Recorded at Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado
• Additional recording at the Bennett House, Franklin, Tennessee and Quadrafonic Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
• Engineered by Gene Eichelberger

Cover

• Photography by Henry Diltz
• Design by Bill Johnson

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• American musician, songwriter and actor, born June 22, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas; died September 28, 2024 in Hana, Hawaii, aged 88.
• A pioneer of the 1970s outlaw country movement, moving away from the polished Nashville sound toward a rawer, introspective style.
• Signed to Monument Records in 1969 after one single for Epic Records; recorded ten albums for Monument.
• Songs such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" became hits for other artists.
• "Why Me" and "Highwayman" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1973 and 1985.
• Member of the supergroup the Highwaymen (with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash) from 1985 to 1995.
• Acting career in films including A Star Is Born (1976, Golden Globe for Best Actor), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Heaven's Gate (1980) and the Blade trilogy.
• Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004; received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014; three Grammy wins from 13 nominations.
• Announced retirement from performing in January 2021; final performance at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29, 2023.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released 1981 as the last album under the Monument contract, when the label was nearly bankrupt
• Deeply personal album exploring disillusion and heartache after the failed marriage to Rita Coolidge
• Subject matter is downbeat, yet the album charted for several weeks
• The chart run was a better showing than his previous LP Shake Hands with the Devil
• Not a commercial success
• Biographer Stephen Miller's assessment of the album is cited in the source; the source places it alongside Bob Dylan's 1975 album Blood on the Tracks as a similarly personal record
• Kristofferson would not release another studio album for six years

Records

• Charted for several weeks
• "Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore" became a modestly successful single

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Blessing in Disguise begins and ends with verses from The Wild Side of Life, a 1952 number one hit for Hank Thompson.
• Daddy's Song was written about the pain his separation from Rita was causing their daughter Casey.
• Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore was co-written with Billy Swan.
• Heaven's Gate co-star Ronnie Hawkins recalled that Rita had lawyers suing Kristofferson while they were on the set.
• Kristofferson had been disowned by his family after he left an army career to pursue songwriting in Nashville.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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