The Tattooed Heart

The Tattooed Heart
Studio album by
Aaron Neville
ReleasedApril 18, 1995[1]
Studio
  • Ocean Way (Hollywood, California)
  • World Famous Flamingo Studio (Los Angeles, California)
  • Dinosaur Studios (New Orleans, California)
  • Sound Stage Studios (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenrePop, soul, country
Length54:33
LabelA&M
Producer
Aaron Neville chronology
Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas
(1993) 		The Tattooed Heart
(1995) 		To Make Me Who I Am
(1997)

The Tattooed Heart is an album by the American musician Aaron Neville, released in 1995.[2][3] The first single was "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You (The Rain Song)", which Neville sang on an episode of All My Children.[4] The album peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard 200.[5] It sold more than 500,000 copies.[6] Neville promoted the album by touring with his brothers.[7]

Production

The album was produced by Steve Lindsey,[8] with additional production by Keith Stegall on tracks 9 and 12. "Use Me" is a cover of the Bill Withers song.[9] Aaron's brothers Charles and Cyril sang on the song.[10] "For the Good Times" is a cover of the Kris Kristofferson song; it contains backing vocals by Kelly Willis.[11] "Crying in the Chapel" is a cover of the pop-gospel standard.[12] Steve Cropper played guitar on the album.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
The Indianapolis Star[15]
Los Angeles Times[16]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[17]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide[18]

The Guardian wrote that the songs "are nothing special but Neville transcends their flaws."[19] Newsday opined that "Neville's new release purports to be classic pop soul with country and gospel elements, but what it really calls to mind is the kind of mid-'70s soft rock exemplified by Art Garfunkel's Breakaway and Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees."[20] The Kingston Whig-Standard labeled The Tattooed Heart "a classic easy-listening soul album."[9] The Indianapolis Star concluded that "Neville conveys more commercial savvy than passion."[15]

The Hartford Courant called Neville's voice "a glider of an instrument, amazingly pure and angelically lilting."[21] The Hamilton Spectator deemed the album "a pleasant mixture of adult contemporary and country."[22] The Vancouver Sun determined that "Neville's airy wail sails free and clear of all snags and almost mesmerizes the listener into a restful half-sleep."[23] The Los Angeles Times considered the album to be a "seamless collection of stylishly rendered lite soul, pop and country."[16]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You (The Rain Song)"Diane Warren4:17
2."Show Some Emotion"Andrew Gold, Brock Walsh, Greg Prestopino4:35
3."Everyday of My Life"Sharon Robinson5:04
4."Down into Muddy Water"Dennis Linde3:39
5."Some Days Are Made for Rain"Jon Lind, Phil Galdston5:06
6."Try (A Little Harder)"Holly Knight, Mike Chapman4:10
7."Beautiful Night"Greg Prestopino, Matthew Wilder4:21
8."My Precious Star"Bruce Roberts, Franne Golde3:33
9."Why Should I Fall In Love"Brock Walsh, Phil Galdston4:05
10."Use Me"Bill Withers4:58
11."For the Good Times"Kris Kristofferson4:34
12."In Your Eyes"Aaron Neville, Pamela Hayes3:09
13."Crying in the Chapel"Artie Glenn3:02

Personnel

Production

  • David Anderle – executive producer
  • Steve Lindsey – producer
  • Keith Stegall – producer (11, 12)
  • Gabe Veltri – recording (1-10, 13, 14)
  • John Kelton – recording (11, 12)
  • Koji Egawa – assistant engineer (1-10, 13, 14)
  • John Hendrickson – assistant engineer (1-10, 13, 14)
  • Richard Huredia – assistant engineer (1-10, 13, 14)
  • Mark Ralston – assistant engineer (11, 12)
  • Bill Schnee – mixing at Schnee Studios (North Hollywood, California)
  • Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
  • Julie Larson – project coordinator
  • Roxane Stueve – production coordinator (11, 12)
  • Chuck Beeson – art direction, design
  • Rebecca Chamlee – design
  • Victoria Pearson – photography

References

  1. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ Gundersen, Edna (25 Apr 1995). "Neville crowning moment: 'All My Children' cameo". USA Today. p. 3D.
  3. ^ Lasswell, Mark (May 1, 1995). "The Tattooed Heart by Aaron Neville". People. Vol. 43, no. 17. p. 21.
  4. ^ Vancheri, Barbara (6 Apr 1995). "Cameo Casting". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. C10.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 563.
  6. ^ "Gold Albums". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 15. Apr 13, 1996. p. 12.
  7. ^ DeLuca, Dan (26 May 1995). "10th Jambalaya Jam Will Have the Landing Jumping". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 16.
  8. ^ Dafoe, Chris (13 May 1995). "The Tattooed Heart Aaron Neville". The Globe and Mail. p. C9.
  9. ^ a b Burliuk, Greg (6 May 1995). "Keep your ears open for these potential best-sellers". Companion. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 5.
  10. ^ Gettelman, Parry (12 May 1995). "Aaron Neville". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
  11. ^ Galvin, Peter (Jun 1, 1995). "The Tattooed Heart by Aaron Neville". Rolling Stone. No. 709. p. 61.
  12. ^ Nash, Alanna (Aug 1995). "The Tattooed Heart by Aaron Neville". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 8. p. 75.
  13. ^ Larsen, Dave (2 June 1995). "Pop". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 19.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 160.
  15. ^ a b Hall, Steve (4 June 1995). "Aaron Neville's disc is easy on the ears". The Indianapolis Star. p. I3.
  16. ^ a b Rosenbluth, Jean (7 May 1995). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 66.
  17. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 806.
  18. ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 577.
  19. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (21 Apr 1995). "Pop". The Guardian. p. T12.
  20. ^ Herndon, David (23 Apr 1995). "Slowing Down South". Fanfare. Newsday. p. 23.
  21. ^ Morago, Greg (4 May 1995). "Neville's 'Heart' Beats". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  22. ^ Krewen, Nick (4 May 1995). "Aaron Neville The Tattooed Heart". The Hamilton Spectator. p. E4.
  23. ^ Monk, Katherine (4 May 1995). "Recordings". Vancouver Sun. p. D8.