Free-for-All (Michael Penn album)
Encyclopedia
Free-for-All was singer-songwriter
Michael Penn
's second full-length record, released in 1992 on RCA. There were no big hit
single
s of the strength of his only top 40 hit, 1989
's "No Myth
", but the album did feature two songs that reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock Charts; "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" (peaking at number 14), while the second single, "Seen the Doctor" reached nine spots higher, for a number 5 placing. The album led to a bitter battle between Penn and his record company, leading him to forego releasing a follow-up until 1997.
, calling "Long Way Down" a "dark and pained opening to an album that was hardly pop-star material."
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Michael Penn
Michael Penn
Michael Penn is an American singer, songwriter and composer. He is the eldest son of actor/director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan, and the brother of actors Sean Penn and the late Chris Penn.-Career:...
's second full-length record, released in 1992 on RCA. There were no big hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s of the strength of his only top 40 hit, 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
's "No Myth
No Myth
"No Myth" is a song by rock singer Michael Penn from his debut album March.Released as his debut single in 1989, the song became Penn's first and only top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #13 on the chart.-Track listing:CD single...
", but the album did feature two songs that reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock Charts; "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" (peaking at number 14), while the second single, "Seen the Doctor" reached nine spots higher, for a number 5 placing. The album led to a bitter battle between Penn and his record company, leading him to forego releasing a follow-up until 1997.
Reception
In his review for allmusic, reviewer Stewart Mason gave the recording 4 and a half stars (out of a possible five). He said that it was the record which proved to critics that Penn was no one-hit wonderOne-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
, calling "Long Way Down" a "dark and pained opening to an album that was hardly pop-star material."
Track listing
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
- Michael Penn: Vocals, Guitars
- Chris Hickey, Steven SolesSteven SolesSteven Soles is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and guitarist.Known also as J. Steven Soles, he was asked by Bob Dylan to join the band for his 1975-1976 "Rolling Thunder Revue" tour, and he also played with Dylan on Street Legal and the following tour, including the live album Bob...
, Glenn TilbrookGlenn TilbrookGlenn Martin Tilbrook is the lead singer and guitarist of the English band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid 1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally wrote the melody for Squeeze, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, wrote the lyrics...
, Keith Wilkinson: Backing vocals - Bennett Chesne: Guitars, Backing vocals
- Gurf MorlixGurf MorlixGurf Morlix is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer residing for many years in Austin, Texas. He has worked with many of the best known performers of Americana and alternative country music. His most notable works include albums by Lucinda Williams, Robert...
: Pedal SteelPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
& Steel GuitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
, Backing vocals - Tony Berg: Harmonica, Percussion
- Patrick Warren: Keyboards
- Joel Hirsch: DjembeDjembeA djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
, Udu - Wendy MelvoinWendy MelvoinWendy Melvoin is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa....
: TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate... - Ron Leonard: Cello
- John Pierce: Bass
- Kenny AronoffKenny AronoffKenny Aronoff is an American drummer. He has played drums for many musicians, including John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The BoDeans, Gregg Alexander, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Iommi, Jon Bon Jovi, Vasco Rossi, Cinderella and...
, D.J. Bonebrake, Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
, Ian McHandel Lepine, Pat MastelottoPat MastelottoPat Mastelotto is a rock drummer who has worked with Mr. Mister and King Crimson, amongst others. For King Crimson he initially formed part of the "double trio" lineup, joining Bill Bruford on drums...
: Drums, Percussion
Production
- Arranged by Michael Penn
- Produced by Michael Penn & Tony Berg
- Engineered by Greg Goldman (also assistant engineer), Chris Lord-AlgeChris Lord-AlgeChris Lord-Alge is a mixer who has worked on various albums. He is the brother of Tom Lord-Alge, another audio engineer. Chris Lord-Alge is known for his extreme use of dynamic range compression in both hardware and software plug-in versions....
& Susan Rogers, with assistance by Paul Dieter & Ken Jordan - Mixed by Bob ClearmountainBob ClearmountainBob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Bruce Springsteen , The Rolling Stones , Bryan Adams , Robbie Williams Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He...
- Mastered by Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....