From the Choirgirl Hotel
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| From the Choirgirl Hotel | |||||
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| Studio album by Tori Amos | |||||
| Released | May 5, 1998 | ||||
| Recorded | September 8, 1997 – early 1998 | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock, electronica, pop | ||||
| Length | 57:00 | ||||
| Label | Atlantic | ||||
| Producer | Tori Amos | ||||
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| Tori Amos chronology | |||||
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| Singles from From the Choirgirl Hotel | |||||
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From the Choirgirl Hotel is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Tori Amos. A departure from her previous albums, it was much more lavishly produced and a very radio-friendly project featuring a full rock band sound (instead of Amos' usual minimalist piano sound). Upon its release in May 1998, the album debuted at US #5 and UK #6. While falling short of the # 2 debut for her previous album, Boys For Pele (1996), From the Choirgirl Hotel is Amos' strongest debut to date in sales, selling 153,000 copies in the first week.[1] Amos received two 1999 Grammy nominations: Alternative Music Performance, and Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Raspberry Swirl."
The lead single "Spark" became a hit after its release in June 1998 (becoming her last UK Top 40 hit to date, as well as her highest charting US single, reaching #49), and was followed by "Jackie's Strength" (September 1998) and "Cruel/Raspberry Swirl" (November 1998).
The accompanying tour, Amos' first with a full band (using the album's personnel of Matt Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, and long-time collaborator Steve Caton on guitar), was known as the "Plugged '98 Tour" and took Amos through most of 1998.
Contents |
[edit] Album description
The album began recording on September 8, 1997, with mastering complete by early February 1998. Following the trend set by 1996's Boys For Pele, Amos allowed several songs from the album to be remixed. Remixes of both "Raspberry Swirl" and "Jackie's Strength" were club hits. The album's theme dealt very closely with the first two in Amos' series of three miscarriages between 1996 and 1999 [2].
Thematically and conceptually, the "choirgirl hotel" of the title refers to the fictional, imaginary place where the songs "live." Amos pointed out that although the songs are recorded, they are also alive themselves - they can be re-modeled and reshaped in concert etc. Amos imagined the songs as living their own lives, all checking into the "choirgirl hotel" (i.e. the album) but living separate lives. In the artwork, Amos included a hand-drawn map detailing the stomping ground of these songs.[3]
"Pandora's Aquarium", the last song on From the Choirgirl Hotel, marked a significant change in Amos' lyrical focus. For her first three albums, Amos was widely known (both celebrated and reviled) for her uniquely confessional lyrics, exploring issues from her rape to failed relationships. "Pandora's Aquarium", with lyrics that question her relationship with her devoted fanbase, in retrospect marked a transition away from the confessional mode to an interest in exploring the world around her.[citation needed]
The album artwork was created by the UK-based photographer, Katerina Jebb. The artwork features full-body color photocopies of Amos (in various couture outfits) as scanned by a human-sized photocopier.[4]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Amos.
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Spark" | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Cruel" | 4:07 |
| 3. | "Black-Dove (January)" | 4:38 |
| 4. | "Raspberry Swirl" | 3:58 |
| 5. | "Jackie's Strength" | 4:26 |
| 6. | "Iieee" | 4:07 |
| 7. | "Liquid Diamonds" | 6:21 |
| 8. | "She's Your Cocaine" | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Northern Lad" | 4:19 |
| 10. | "Hotel" | 5:19 |
| 11. | "Playboy Mommy" | 4:08 |
| 12. | "Pandora's Aquarium" | 4:45 |
[edit] B-sides
The album, as with most of Amos' albums, is also known for its collection of original b-sides. Amos recorded a host of songs that did not make the album, but were released as b-sides to various singles or performed live in concerts. The songs "Cooling," "Never Seen Blue," and "Beulah Land" were originally written and recorded for 1996's Boys for Pele album.
| B-side title | Single |
|---|---|
| "Purple People" | "Spark" (1998) |
| "Bachelorette" | "Spark" (1998) |
| "Cooling" | "Spark" (1998) |
| "Do It Again" | "Spark" (1998) |
| "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" | "Spark" (1998) |
| "Never Seen Blue" | "Jackie's Strength" (1998) |
| "Beulah Land" | "Jackie's Strength" (1998) |
| "Siren" | "Great Expectations Soundtrack" (1998) |
| "Finn" | "Great Expectations Soundtrack" (1998) |
| "Paradiso Perduto" | "Great Expectations Soundtrack" (1998) |
| "Merman" | "No Boundaries: A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees" (1998) |
[edit] Charts
[edit] Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Billboard 200 (U.S.) | 5 |
| 1998 | Official UK Album Chart (UK) | 6 |
| 1998 | IFOP Album Chart (France) | 30 |
| 1998 | Norway Album Chart (Norway) | 9 |
| 1998 | Irish Album Chart (Ireland) | 10 |
| 1998 | Icelandic Album Chart (Iceland) | 2 |
| 1998 | Austrian Album Chart (Austria) | 11 |
| 1998 | ARIA Album Chart (Australia) | 8 |
| 1998 | Canadian Album Chart (Canada) | 10 |
| 1998 | German Album Chart (Germany) | 13 |
| 1998 | Rabo Album Top 100 (the Netherlands) | 24 |
| 1998 | NZ Album Chart (New Zealand) | 26 |
| 1998 | Swedish Album Chart (Sweden) | 26 |
| 1998 | Swiss Album Chart (Switzerland) | 31 |
[edit] Singles
| Title | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| "Spark" (1998) | Billboard Modern Rock Tracks (U.S.) | 13 |
| "Spark" (1998) | Billboard Hot 100 (U.S.) | 49 |
| "Spark" (1998) | Billboard Adult Top 40 (U.S.) | 32 |
| "Spark" (1998) | Official UK Singles Chart (UK) | 16 |
| "Jackie's Strength" (1998) | Billboard Hot 100 (U.S.) | 54 |
| "Jackie's Strength/Raspberry Swirl" (1998) | Hot Dance Music/Club Play (U.S.) | 1 |
| "Jackie's Strength/Raspberry Swirl" (1998) | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles (U.S.) | 5 |
[edit] References
- ^ Garth Boxes In Billboard 200's Top Slot. Billboard (1998-05-14). Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
- ^ Vital Tori article from She Magazine in the UK - December 2003.
- ^ "Tori, British Airways Highlife Magazine," (May 1998).
- ^ HEREINMYHEAD.COM - artistic expressions - katerina jebb profile. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
- ^ Chart positions for some countries.
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