Book & a Cover
| "Book & a Cover" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Suzanne Vega | ||||
| from the album Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega | ||||
| Released | November 3, 1998[1] | |||
| Length | 3:49 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Suzanne Vega | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Suzanne Vega singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Book & a Cover" on YouTube | ||||
"Book & a Cover" is a song by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, which was released in 1998 as a single from her compilation album Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega. The song was written by Vega, and produced by Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake.
Background
[edit]"Book & a Cover" was one of two new songs to be recorded in 1998 and included on Vega's Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega compilation album.[2] The song was recorded and mixed at the Magic Shop in New York City.[3] "Book & Cover" was released as the first single from Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega in November 1998,[1] followed by the other new song, "Rosemary (Remember Me)", in 1999.
For the 40th week in 1998 (September 28 to October 4), "Book & a Cover" was one of eleven tracks identified by Music & Media as being the "most added" to radio playlists across Europe.[4] In the UK, BBC Radio 2 added the song to their B-List.[5] The song reached No. 5 on the Music & Media "Major Market Airplay" chart for Poland in October 1998.[6]
Speaking of the song's message in 1998, Vega described it as "fairly obvious" and "about not judging people by their appearance".[7] The song's music video was directed by Geoff Moore and produced by Frank Linkoff for Black Dog Films.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]Paul Sexton of Music & Media described "Book & a Cover" as "accessible".[2] In a review of Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega, Ted Mills of AllMusic praised the song as a "quality entry in Vega's songbook".[9] Mike Devlin of the Times Colonist noted, "By including 15 of her best songs along with two new tracks, 'Book & a Cover' and 'Rosemary', this fine songstress shines strictly for the masses this time out."[10] Diego Perugini of the Italian newspaper l'Unità described "Book & a Cover" and "Rosemary" as "two fresh, essential, melodic pieces".[11]
Track listing
[edit]- CD single
- "Book & a Cover" – 3:49
- "Tom's Diner" – 2:09
- "As Girls Go" – 3:26
- "Cracking" – 2:47
- CD single (German release)
- "Book & a Cover" – 3:49
- "Tom's Diner" – 2:09
- CD single (UK promo)
- "Book & a Cover" – 3:49
Personnel
[edit]Book & a Cover
- Suzanne Vega – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Pete Thomas – drums
- Ron Sexsmith – electric guitar
- Mitchell Froom – keyboards
Production
- Mitchell Froom – producer on "Book & a Cover" and "As Girls Go"
- Tchad Blake – producer on "Book & a Cover", recording and mixing on "Book & a Cover" and "As Girls Go"
- Lenny Kaye – producer of "Tom's Diner" and "Cracking"
- Steve Addabbo – producer and engineer on "Tom's Diner" and "Cracking"
- Rod O'Brien – engineer on "Tom's Diner"
- Shelly Yakus – mixing on "Tom's Diner"
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Book & A Cover - Suzanne Vega". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Sexton, Paul (September 19, 1998). "Album spotlight". Music & Media. p. 15.
- ^ The Best of Suzanne Vega: Tried and True (CD). A&M Records. 1998. 540 945-2.
- ^ "Airplay: Most added". Music & Media. October 3, 1998. p. 17.
- ^ "Radio Two Playlists". Music Week. October 3, 1998. p. 18.
- ^ "Airplay: Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. October 24, 1998. p. 29.
- ^ "Articles and Interviews: 1998". The Official Suzanne Vega Website. Archived from the original on November 11, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ Retrospective - The Videos of Suzanne Vega [Book & a Cover] (DVD). A&M Records. 2005. B0004369-09.
- ^ Mills, Ted. "The Best of Suzanne Vega: Tried and True - Suzanne Vega". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ Devlin, Mike (November 10, 1998). "Christmas is time for CDs". Times Colonist. p. B5.
- ^ Perugini, Diego (October 30, 1998). "Suzanne Vega: Ricomincio da me". l'Unità. p. 23.