Caroline (Concrete Blonde song)

"Caroline"
Single by Concrete Blonde
from the album Bloodletting
ReleasedSeptember 9, 1990
Length
  • 5:30 (album version)
  • 4:03 (edit)
LabelI.R.S.
Songwriter(s)Johnette Napolitano
Producer(s)
Concrete Blonde singles chronology
"Everybody Knows"
(1990) 		"Caroline"
(1990) 		"Tomorrow, Wendy"
(1991)
Music video
"Caroline" on YouTube

"Caroline" is a song from American alternative rock band Concrete Blonde, which was released in 1990 as the third single from their third studio album Bloodletting. The song was written by Johnette Napolitano, and produced by Concrete Blonde and Chris Tsangarides. The song reached number 23 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[1]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Rupert Nadeau and produced by Liz Wartenberg.[2] It achieved medium rotation on MTV.[3]

Critical reception

Mike Boehm, writing for the Los Angeles Times, described "Caroline" as "a mysterious, gorgeously evocative song that recalls Fleetwood Mac's 'Rhiannon'."[4] In a review of Bloodletting', Marc D. Allan of The Indianapolis Star wrote, "'Caroline' is a good example of the band's strengths. Napolitano's lush vocals, combined with Mankey's eerie guitar, create a subtle but powerful piece of pop."[5] In a retrospective review, Ned Raggett of AllMusic described the song's lyrics as "addressing a departed friend".[6]

Track listings

7-inch single (Australia and Europe)[7][8]
No.TitleNotesLength
1."Caroline"Edit4:03
2."Days and Days" 3:12
Cassette single (Australia and Canada)[9][10]
No.TitleNotesLength
1."Caroline"Edit4:03
2."Days and Days" 3:12
12-inch and CD single (Europe)[11][12]
No.TitleNotesLength
1."Caroline"Edit4:03
2."Days and Days" 3:12
3."Roses Grow"Live3:05
CD single (US)[13]
No.TitleNotesLength
1."Caroline"Edit4:03
2."Roses Grow"Live3:05
3."Tomorrow, Wendy"Live4:26
4."The Sky Is a Poisonous Garden"Live4:15
5."Little Wing" 4:15

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the US and European CD single liner notes and the Bloodletting CD album booklet.[13][12][14]

Caroline

Production

  • Concrete Blonde – producers ("Caroline", "Days and Days", "Little Wing")
  • Chris Tsangarides – producer ("Caroline", "Days and Days")
  • Earle Mankey, James Mankey – additional recording and mixing ("Caroline", "Days and Days")
  • Chris Marshall – production assistance ("Caroline", "Days and Days")
  • Rob Bingston – recording and mixing (live tracks only)
  • John Golden – mastering

Charts

Chart (1990–1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 39
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 57
Netherlands (Tipparade)[18] 18
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[19] 23
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[20] 84

References

  1. ^ "Concrete Blonde - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "Video Track" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 42. October 20, 1990. p. 35. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  3. ^ "The Clip List" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 3. January 19, 1991. p. 50. Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  4. ^ Boehm, Mike (June 18, 1990). "Concrete Blonde rises out of darkness for playful performance". The Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  5. ^ Allan, Marc D. (June 18, 1990). "New cuts - Trite heavy metal group plays its own caricature". The Indianapolis Star. p. A-9.
  6. ^ Ned Raggett. "Bloodletting - Concrete Blonde | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Caroline (Australian 7-inch single sleeve notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. K10217.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Caroline (European 7-inch single sleeve notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1991. 1C 006 20 4131 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Caroline (Australian cassette single liner notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. C10217.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Caroline (Canadian cassette single liner notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. 4JM 13811.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Caroline (European 12-inch single sleeve notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. 1C 060-20 4131 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ a b Caroline (European CD single liner notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. IRS 2041312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ a b Caroline (US CD single liner notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. X25G-13811.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Bloodletting (US CD album liner notes). Concrete Blonde. I.R.S. Records. 1990. X2-13037.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Concrete Blonde – Caroline". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9156." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Concrete Blonde – Caroline" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Concrete Blonde - Caroline" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. November 24, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 73. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved January 2, 2022.