Free-for-All (Michael Penn album)
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| Free-for-All | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 15 September 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
| Studio | Zeitgeist Studios, Los Angeles; A&M Studios, Hollywood; Groove Masters, Santa Monica | |||
| Genre | Rock, alternative rock, folk rock | |||
| Length | 38:35 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer | Tony Berg, Michael Penn | |||
| Michael Penn chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Free-for-All | ||||
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Free-for-All is the second album by the American singer-songwriter Michael Penn, released in 1992 on RCA Records.[1][2] It contains two songs that reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock charts: "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" peaked at number 14, while the second single, "Seen the Doctor", reached nine spots higher. The album led to a bitter battle between Penn and his record company, pushing a follow-up album to 1997.
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Chicago Tribune | [4] |
The Chicago Tribune stated: "Penn is again working with producer Tony Berg, but this time they provide a rich, subtle blending of instruments, harmonies and textures to create an album that doesn't so much pop out as seep in."[4]
In his review for AllMusic, Stewart Mason wrote that it was the record which proved to critics that Penn was no one-hit wonder, calling "Long Way Down" a "dark and pained opening to an album that was hardly pop-star material."[3]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks composed by Michael Penn.
- "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" – 3:52
- "Free Time" – 4:12
- "Coal" – 3:33
- "Seen the Doctor" – 3:12
- "By the Book" – 3:46
- "Drained" – 3:59
- "Slipping My Mind" – 2:36
- "Strange Season" – 3:51
- "Bunker Hill" – 4:39
- "Now We're Even" – 4:55
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
[edit]- Michael Penn – vocals, guitars
- Chris Hickey, Steven Soles, Glenn Tilbrook, Keith Wilkinson – backing vocals
- Bennett Chesne – guitars, backing vocals
- Gurf Morlix – pedal steel, steel guitar, backing vocals
- Tony Berg – harmonica, percussion
- Patrick Warren – keyboards
- Joel Hirsch – djembe, udu
- Wendy Melvoin – trombone
- Ron Leonard – cello
- John Pierce – bass
- Kenny Aronoff, D.J. Bonebrake, Jim Keltner, Ian McHandel Lepine, Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion
Production
[edit]- Arranged by Michael Penn
- Produced by Michael Penn and Tony Berg
- Engineered by Greg Goldman (also assistant engineer), Chris Lord-Alge & Susan Rogers, with assistance by Paul Dieter & Ken Jordan
- Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[5] | 160 |
References
[edit]- ^ Boehm, Mike (8 September 1992). "'March' to a Blunter Beat". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
- ^ DeLuca, Dan (24 September 1992). "BIG BROTHER PENN IS BUILDING ON SUCCESS". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D3.
- ^ a b Mason, Stewart (1 September 1992). "Free-for-All – Michael Penn". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ a b Caro, Mark (17 September 1992). "Rave recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ "Michael Penn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
