Blue Earth (album)

Blue Earth
Studio album by The Jayhawks
Released	1989
Recorded	Minneapolis, MN
Genre	Alt-Country, Country Rock, Roots Rock, Americana
Label	Twin/Tone
Producer	Jim Rondinelli, Tom Herbers, and the Jayhawks
The Jayhawks chronology
The Jayhawks (1986) Blue Earth (1989) Hollywood Town Hall (1992)

Blue Earth is an album by the American alt-country and alt-rock band The Jayhawks, released in 1989.

History

After the local release of their debut album The Jayhawks, the band recorded a set of demos in order to attract a major label deal. Singer/guitarist Gary Louris was injured in a car accident and left the band. Their manager was able to interest Twin/Tone Records in releasing the demos. Louris went to the studio to overdub his guitar parts and ended up re-joining the band. The re-mixed demos were released as Blue Earth.^[1][2]

"Martin's Song" and "Two Angels" were later re-recorded on Hollywood Town Hall.

Blue Earth was re-issued on CD on the Rykodisc label in 2003 with three bonus tracks.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Robert Christgau	A− [3]

In his review for Allmusic, critic Jason Ankeny wrote that due to the songs originally being demos, they lack punch, and noted "the songs are simply too primitive to come to life in this setting. Nonetheless, the growth of the band's songwriting skills over their debut is substantial..."^[2] Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A- rating, noting "Gram Parsons comparisons get you nowhere, but I'm not kidding—this is the obliquely songful followup the Burritos never made."^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Mark Olson except as noted.

1. "Two Angels" – 4:07
2. "She's Not Alone Anymore" – 3:23
3. "Will I Be Married" – 3:53
4. "Dead End Angel" – 3:40
5. "Commonplace Streets" – 5:21
6. "Ain't No End" (Olson, Greg Louris, Marc Perlman) – 3:45
7. "Five Cups of Coffee" (Olson, Louris) – 3:52
8. "The Baltimore Sun" (Olson, Louris) – 3:10
9. "Red Firecracker" (Louris, Olson) – 3:08
10. "Sioux City" – 3:11
11. "I'm Still Dreaming, Now I'm Yours" – 3:45
12. "Martin's Song" – 3:31

Bonus tracks on 2003 re-issue:

1. "Fingernail Moon"
2. "Two Minute Pop Song"
3. "Nightshade"

Personnel

• Mark Olson – vocals, guitar, harmonica
• Gary Louris – vocals, guitar
• Marc Perlman – electric and acoustic bass
• Thad Spencer – drums

Additional musicians:

• Dan Gaarder – lead guitar (on "Ain't No End", "Five Cups of Coffee", "Dead End Angel")
• Charlie Pine – organ (on "Sioux City")
• Norm Rogers – vocals (on "Sioux City")
• Jim Rondinelli – vocals (on "Red Firecracker")

Production notes

• Produced by Jim Rondinelli, Tom Herbers and the Jayhawks

References

1. Jayhawks history.
2. Ankeny, Jason. "Blue Earth > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
3. Christgau, Robert. "Blue Earth > Review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 15, 2011.

External links

• Jayhawks fan site discography.