American Gothic (album)

This article is about the David Ackles album. For the Smashing Pumpkins EP, see American Gothic (EP).

American Gothic
Studio album by
David Ackles
ReleasedJuly 4, 1972
RecordedIBC, London
GenreSinger-songwriter, Americana
Length43:56
LabelElektra
ProducerBernie Taupin
David Ackles chronology
Subway to the Country
(1970) 		American Gothic
(1972) 		Five & Dime
(1973)

American Gothic is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter David Ackles. It was released on July 4, 1972, by record label Elektra.

Recording

American Gothic was recorded at IBC Sound Recording Studios in London, England. It was produced by Bernie Taupin and conducted by Robert Kirby.

Personnel - Technical
  • Damon Lyon-Shaw, Hugh Jones - engineer
  • Robert L. Heimall - art direction
  • Michael Ross - photography

Release

American Gothic was released on July 4, 1972. The album peaked at number 167 on the Billboard charts.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Billboardfavorable[2]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
Stylus MagazineA−[4]

Upon its release, Ramparts called the album "Vivid, lyrical – but at times maudlin and self-indulgent, American Gothic is [Ackles'] best to date".[6] Robert Christgau's review was critical, writing "'I won't get maudlin,' Ackles promises midway into the second side, locking himself in the barn as the dappled stallion gallops to join his brothers and sisters on the open range with his mane flying free in the breeze."[3]

In its retrospective review, AllMusic wrote "American Gothic remains one of those great albums that never found its audience. It waits to be rediscovered."[1]

American Gothic was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[7] Mojo called it "one of the most beautiful but rarely heard albums of his era".[8]

Track listing

All tracks composed by David Ackles.

  1. "American Gothic"
  2. "Love's Enough"
  3. "Ballad of the Ship of State"
  4. "One Night Stand"
  5. "Oh, California!"
  6. "Another Friday Night"
  7. "Family Band"
  8. "Midnight Carousel"
  9. "Waiting for the Moving Van"
  10. "Blues for Billy Whitecloud"
  11. "Montana Song"

References

  1. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "American Gothic – David Ackles | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. July 22, 1972. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: Album: David Ackles: American Gothic". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ^ McElligatt, Colin (September 1, 2003). "David Ackles – American Gothic – Review – Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
  6. ^ "[American Gothic review]". Ramparts. Noah's Ark: 60. 1972. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  7. ^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (February 7, 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-1371-5.
  8. ^ "David Ackles". The Mojo Collection (4th ed.). Canongate Books. November 1, 2007. p. 139. ISBN 9781847676436. Retrieved December 10, 2014.