Songs for a Blue Guitar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Songs for a Blue Guitar
Studio album by Red House Painters
Released	July 22 / 23, 1996
Recorded	1995-1996: Record Two, Mendocino Comptche, California; Hyde Street Studios and Polk Street Recording, San Francisco, California
Genre	Folk rock
Length	70:28
Label	Island Records
Producer(s)	Mark Kozelek
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Red House Painters chronology
Ocean Beach (1995)	Songs for a Blue Guitar (1996)	Old Ramon (2001)

Songs for a Blue Guitar is the fifth album released by folk rock band Red House Painters in 1996. It is pretty much a Mark Kozelek solo album, since no other members of the band are listed in the liner notes. The album introduced heavier, electric guitar driven rock to their sound in "Make Like Paper," and Kozelek's covers of Yes' "Long Distance Runaround," Paul McCartney & Wings' "Silly Love Songs" and the Cars' "All Mixed Up." Elsewhere, his regretful, nostalgic lyrics reached a new peak on "Have You Forgotten" and the title track.

The lengthy, seemingly random burst of guitar noise in the middle of "Make Like Paper" proved a contentious one. Island/Supreme Records wanted Kozelek to edit it, but he refused. It is one reason, among many others, why he had to wait until 2001 to release Red House Painters' next album, Old Ramon.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Have You Forgotten" - 6:13
2. "Song For A Blue Guitar" - 5:59
3. "Make Like Paper" - 12:03
4. "Priest Alley Song" - 4:34
5. "Trailways" - 6:41
6. "I Feel The Rain Fall" - 2:35
7. "Long Distance Runaround" - 4:41
8. "All Mixed Up" - 5:50
9. "Revelation Big Sur" - 5:48
10. "Silly Love Songs" - 11:00
11. "Another Song For A Blue Guitar" - 5:07