Breakdown (Melissa Etheridge album)

Breakdown
Studio album by
Melissa Etheridge
ReleasedOctober 5, 1999
Recorded1998–1999
StudioA&M Studios, Los Angeles, California
Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California
GenreRock
Length53:50
LabelIsland
ProducerMelissa Etheridge,
John Shanks
Melissa Etheridge chronology
Your Little Secret
(1995) 		Breakdown
(1999) 		Skin
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
Uncut[4]
USA Today[5]

Breakdown is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on October 5, 1999. A critical and commercial success, the album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, went Gold, and earned four Grammy Award nominations. A Limited-Edition version of the album was simultaneously released featuring three bonus tracks.

"Scarecrow" is dedicated to the memory of Matthew Shepard, and his family and friends. "Into the Dark" appeared in episodes of Haven and Night Visions.

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2000 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Music Artist Breakdown Nominated [6]
2000 Grammy Awards Best Rock Album Nominated [7]
Best Rock Song "Angels Would Fall" Nominated
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Nominated
2001 "Enough of Me" Nominated

Track listing

All songs by Melissa Etheridge, except where noted

  1. "Breakdown" – 3:54
  2. "Angels Would Fall" (Etheridge, Shanks) – 4:39
  3. "Stronger Than Me" – 4:08
  4. "Into the Dark" – 4:59
  5. "Enough of Me" – 4:39
  6. "Truth of the Heart" (Etheridge, Shanks) – 4:31
  7. "Mama I'm Strange" – 4:29
  8. "Scarecrow" – 5:21
  9. "How Would I Know" – 4:15
  10. "My Lover" – 5:45
  11. "Sleep" – 7:10 [standard pressing] / 4:39 [Limited Edition pressing]
  12. "Touch and Go"* – 4:36
  13. "Cherry Avenue"* – 4:29
  14. "Beloved"* – 7:54

* Limited Edition bonus tracks

Personnel

Production

  • Producers: Melissa Etheridge, John Shanks
  • Engineers: Marc DeSisto, Greg Goldman
  • Assistant engineers: John Aguto, Tom Nellen, Geoff Walcha
  • Mixing: Bob Clearmountain, Tom Lord-Alge, Chris Lord-Alge
  • Mastering: Bob Ludwig
  • studio technician: Brett Allen
  • Art direction: Scott Denton Cardew
  • Artwork: Scott Denton Cardew
  • Photography: Barbara Green, Rocky Schenck
  • Hair stylist: Bernhard Tammé

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 15
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] 45
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] 20
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 14
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 38
US Billboard 200[13] 12
Canadian Album Chart[14] 6
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[15] 73

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ^ Rolling Stone review
  4. ^ Album reviews at CD Universe
  5. ^ USA Today review
  6. ^ "Winners of the 11th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. Archived from the original on July 11, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  7. ^ "Melissa Etheridge". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown". Hung Medien.
  9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown" (in German). Hung Medien.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  12. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown". Hung Medien.
  13. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly" (PDF). Bac-lac.gc.ca. October 18, 1999. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 16, no. 45. November 6, 1999. p. 21. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "American album certifications – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 17, 2020.