Some Devil is the debut solo album by musician Dave Matthews

Dave Matthews

David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...

. It was released on September 23, 2003 on RCA Records

RCA Records

RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...

. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA

Recording Industry Association of America

The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...

, signifying over a million copies sold. The album features several guest musicians, including long-time Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...

 collaborator guitarist Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds is a Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist known as both a solo artist and as the lead guitarist for Dave Matthews Band...

 and Phish

Phish

Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...

 frontman and guitarist Trey Anastasio

Trey Anastasio

Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...

. The album's first single, "Gravedigger

Gravedigger (song)

"Gravedigger" is a song by Dave Matthews from his debut solo album, Some Devil. This was the first solo single released by Matthews away from the Dave Matthews Band, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 46th Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004...

", won a Grammy Award

Grammy Award

A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...

 in 2004. Some Devil was recorded at Studio Litho in Seattle, Washington and produced by Stephen Harris

Stephen Harris (producer)

Stephen Harris is an English music producer and mixer. He has worked with artists including Dave Matthews Band, Ben Kweller, Blue Merle, Kula Shaker, and with B-Unique bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, The Automatic and Pull Tiger Tail...

, who had previously worked with Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...

 on their 2002 album Busted Stuff

Busted Stuff

Busted Stuff is the fifth album by Dave Matthews Band, released by RCA Records on July 16, 2002.Nine of the eleven tracks on this album are re-recorded versions of songs that first appeared on 2000's abandoned project now known as The Lillywhite Sessions. "Where Are You Going" and "You Never Know"...

.

Of the album, Matthews said:

"I hadn't really been thinking about doing a solo album until I had a handful of songs that didn't really fit with the band, so I started with those and it just grew into a full record," Matthews said. "I kind of thought it'd be fun to put it out."

Critics have said that the album is darker than Matthews' past albums with his band. Many fans, while at first skeptical of Matthews' desire to release a solo album, quickly praised his efforts. The album is noted for its moodier tone and the fresh direction shown in Matthews' songwriting.

Since 2003, Matthews has performed Some Devil material in concert with a group coined Dave Matthews & Friends

Dave Matthews & Friends

Dave Matthews & Friends is an American jam band that was put together for a tour to support Dave Matthews' solo debut, Some Devil. Most of the musicians participated in the album's production...

, which consisted mainly of musicians that appear on the album. He has also played album material solo and with long-time acoustic duo partner Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds is a Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist known as both a solo artist and as the lead guitarist for Dave Matthews Band...

. During the 2008 summer tour, Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...

 played "Gravedigger

Gravedigger (song)

"Gravedigger" is a song by Dave Matthews from his debut solo album, Some Devil. This was the first solo single released by Matthews away from the Dave Matthews Band, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 46th Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004...

" and "So Damn Lucky" regularly, with "Stay or Leave" following suit during the 2009 summer tour.

The song "Some Devil" featured in the film "21 Grams

21 Grams

21 Grams is a 2003 American drama film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. It stars Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Danny Huston, and Benicio del Toro....

" (2003), and the House MD. episode "Love Hurts"

Track listing

All songs by Dave J. Matthews unless noted.

1. "Dodo" – 4:57
2. "So Damn Lucky" (Matthews/Harris) – 4:34
3. "Gravedigger
   Gravedigger (song)
   "Gravedigger" is a song by Dave Matthews from his debut solo album, Some Devil. This was the first solo single released by Matthews away from the Dave Matthews Band, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 46th Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004...
   
   " – 3:53
4. "Some Devil" – 4:04
5. "Trouble" (Matthews/Harris) – 5:44
6. "Grey Blue Eyes" (Matthews/Anastasio) – 3:01
7. "Save Me" – 4:33
8. "Stay or Leave" – 4:02
9. "An' Another Thing" – 5:30
10. "Oh" – 2:48
11. "Baby" – 2:19
12. "Up and Away" – 4:19
13. "Too High" – 5:38
14. "Gravedigger (acoustic)" – 3:52

Also recorded but cut from the album is "Cigarette Lit".

Personnel

• Dave Matthews
  Dave Matthews
  David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
  
   — Guitar, vocals
  with:
• Tim Reynolds
  Tim Reynolds
  Tim Reynolds is a Grammy nominated multi-instrumentalist known as both a solo artist and as the lead guitarist for Dave Matthews Band...
  
   — Guitar
• Trey Anastasio
  Trey Anastasio
  Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
  
   — Guitar, piano
• Tony Hall — Bass
• Brady Blade, Jr.
  Brady Blade
  Brady L Blade Jr. is an American rock, pop and country drummer, record producer and composer, who currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden....
  
   — Percussion, drums
• Stephen Harris — Producer, keyboards
• Dirty Dozen Brass Band
  Dirty Dozen Brass Band
  The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
  
   — Horns
• Alex Veley
  Alex Veley
  Alex Veley is an American rock musician, soul keyboardist and singer known for using classic keyboards like the Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, and Hohner Clavinet....
  
  — Hammond Organ