Burning the Days
Encyclopedia
Burning the Days is the sixth album from the band Vertical Horizon
, released on September 22, 2009. A song from the album, "All Is Said and Done" has been on the group's MySpace
page since November 2008.
in promoting their 2003 follow up, Go
. Singer/guitarist Matt Scannell
felt the group's time with RCA was good, but also felt that the changes made within the label during the time between albums were proving to be bad for the group and asked to be released: "We had some amazing years together [with RCA] and then they were making some changes and we really didn't fit into their scheme." Go failed to gain any real support from RCA, but despite the label's lack of interest in Go Vertical Horizon had difficulty getting released from its contract. The transition was very frustrating to Scannell, "When we were going through our breakup with RCA, we kind of got lost in the shuffle... We were sent to work with Clive Davis
and it’s safe to say we were not Clive’s favorite band. [The label] then took their time in letting us go from our deal. It was a torturous time." Despite setbacks, the group and label severed their relationship when RCA merged with Sony Music
in 2004, after which Vertical Horizon signed with Hybrid Recordings
, where Go was re-released as Go 2.0 in 2005.
Shortly after the release of Go 2.0, long time drummer Ed Toth
announced he was leaving Vertical Horizon to join The Doobie Brothers
.
Scannell also worked with outside musicians while writing and recording Burning the Days, which included drummer Neil Peart
from Rush
, and singer/songwriter Richard Marx
. Peart played drums on three songs: "Even Now", "Save Me from Myself" and "Welcome to the Bottom", and wrote the lyrics to "Even Now". Scannell asked Peart if he would be interested in playing drums on the song, and Peart responded, "No one else can play drums on it — I won’t let anyone else play drums on it. I have to play the drums on it." Marx played piano on "Here" and produced Scannell's vocals on two of the album's songs.
As with Go, long time singer/guitarist Keith Kane is largely absent from Burning the Days, only being credited with performing harmony vocals on the album. Scannell has insisted that Kane's minimal involvement in the recording of the album was not due to any tension between the two, explaining that Kane's limited involvement has been a part of the changing dynamics within the group that's naturally progressed though the years starting with their first album: "[W]ith There and Back Again, the album was purposefully half Keith's songs and half my songs. And what really started happening, quickly as we started progressing as a band, is that my output of songs just started greatly increasing. Keith’s input started slowing down, and I think that is evident with Running on Ice
." Over the years Kane has always stated contentment with his role in the band, and Scannell's as frontman. Kane stopped touring with the band in 2010 to work on solo projects.
According to an interview with Matt Scannell for Songfacts, he wrote "All Is Said and Done" about control freaks.
Additional personnel
Production
Vertical Horizon
Vertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band formed at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1991. The band is best known for a string of hits in 1999 and early 2000s, including "You're a God", "Everything You Want", and "Best I Ever Had ". Their most recent album, Burning the...
, released on September 22, 2009. A song from the album, "All Is Said and Done" has been on the group's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page since November 2008.
Background
Following the multi-platinum success of their 1999 album, Everything You Want, the members of Vertical Horizon were disappointed with what they felt was a lack of support from RCARCA Music Group
RCA Music Group was an umbrella group of labels distributed by Sony Music Entertainment that existed between March 2004 and 2009 and for a short period of time between July 2011 and October 2011 until all RCA Music Group labels were merged with RCA Records....
in promoting their 2003 follow up, Go
Go (Vertical Horizon album)
Go was the fifth album by Rock Band Vertical Horizon, released in 2003 by RCA Records. It was originally scheduled to be released in 2002, but management changes at RCA led to a year delay. The first single off the album was "I'm Still Here", which had been added to the album during the delay period...
. Singer/guitarist Matt Scannell
Matt Scannell
Matthew "Matt" Scannell is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and musician. Scannell is the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, primary songwriter, and founding member of the alternative rock band, Vertical Horizon....
felt the group's time with RCA was good, but also felt that the changes made within the label during the time between albums were proving to be bad for the group and asked to be released: "We had some amazing years together [with RCA] and then they were making some changes and we really didn't fit into their scheme." Go failed to gain any real support from RCA, but despite the label's lack of interest in Go Vertical Horizon had difficulty getting released from its contract. The transition was very frustrating to Scannell, "When we were going through our breakup with RCA, we kind of got lost in the shuffle... We were sent to work with Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
and it’s safe to say we were not Clive’s favorite band. [The label] then took their time in letting us go from our deal. It was a torturous time." Despite setbacks, the group and label severed their relationship when RCA merged with Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
in 2004, after which Vertical Horizon signed with Hybrid Recordings
Hybrid Recordings
Hybrid Recordings LLC is a record label that is a division of Metropolitan Talent, Inc., which is led by John Scher and Al Cafaro.Hybrid Recordings recently announced a new worldwide distribution agreement with SonyBMG's RED Distribution. Hybrid Recordings kicked off 2007 with Recollection, the...
, where Go was re-released as Go 2.0 in 2005.
Shortly after the release of Go 2.0, long time drummer Ed Toth
Ed Toth
Ed Toth is currently one of the two drummers for The Doobie Brothers.Always interested in music, Ed says he's been drumming most of his life. He made good use of his father's record collection and was active in all music programs in East Lyme, Connecticut, playing in his high school band at East...
announced he was leaving Vertical Horizon to join The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
.
Recording
After an extended hiatus, work began on Burning the Days in 2007. Scannell took a different approach to the record by working at his home studio, and created his own label, Outfall Records, to release Burning the Days on. Though free of any external pressures, Scannell felt the need to be cautious with the recording: "You have the freedom to be a little creative when you're not working against the clock, but at the same time you can be a little too lenient, and spending an awful lot of time."Scannell also worked with outside musicians while writing and recording Burning the Days, which included drummer Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
from Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, and singer/songwriter Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
. Peart played drums on three songs: "Even Now", "Save Me from Myself" and "Welcome to the Bottom", and wrote the lyrics to "Even Now". Scannell asked Peart if he would be interested in playing drums on the song, and Peart responded, "No one else can play drums on it — I won’t let anyone else play drums on it. I have to play the drums on it." Marx played piano on "Here" and produced Scannell's vocals on two of the album's songs.
As with Go, long time singer/guitarist Keith Kane is largely absent from Burning the Days, only being credited with performing harmony vocals on the album. Scannell has insisted that Kane's minimal involvement in the recording of the album was not due to any tension between the two, explaining that Kane's limited involvement has been a part of the changing dynamics within the group that's naturally progressed though the years starting with their first album: "[W]ith There and Back Again, the album was purposefully half Keith's songs and half my songs. And what really started happening, quickly as we started progressing as a band, is that my output of songs just started greatly increasing. Keith’s input started slowing down, and I think that is evident with Running on Ice
Running on Ice
Running on Ice was the second album by Vertical Horizon, released independently in 1995, and later re-released by RCA. It was produced by John Alagia , Doug Derryberry and Matt Scannell...
." Over the years Kane has always stated contentment with his role in the band, and Scannell's as frontman. Kane stopped touring with the band in 2010 to work on solo projects.
According to an interview with Matt Scannell for Songfacts, he wrote "All Is Said and Done" about control freaks.
Track listing
All songs written by Matt Scannell, except where noted.- "All Is Said and Done" - 4:23
- "The Lucky One" - 3:54
- "The Middle Ground" - 4:24
- "I Believe In You" - 3:23
- "Save Me from Myself" - 4:17
- "Carrying On" - 3:36
- "Back to You" - 3:33
- "Can You Help Me" - 3:59
- "Afterglow" - 3:58
- "Here" - 3:41
- "Welcome to the Bottom" - 5:47
- "Even Now" (Scannell, Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
) - 6:43
Personnel
Vertical Horizon- Matt Scannell: lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards and programming
- Keith Kane: harmony vocals
- Sean Hurley: bass guitar
- Jason Sutter: drums
Additional personnel
- Neil PeartNeil PeartNeil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
: drums on "Save Me from Myself", "Even Now" and
"Welcome to the Bottom" - Richard MarxRichard MarxRichard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
: piano on "Here" - Blair Sinta: drums on "Here"
Production
- Steve Hardy: Engineering, Mixing
- Joel Numa: Engineering
- Mark Valentine: Engineering
- Ted Jensen: Mastering
- Anik McGrory: Artwork