Steady On (Shawn Colvin album)

Steady On
Studio album by Shawn Colvin
Released	October 17, 1989
Studio	Shelter Island (Shelter Island, New York)[1]
Genre	Folk
Length	44:09
Label	Columbia
Producer	John Leventhal Steve Addabbo Bob Riley
Shawn Colvin chronology
Steady On (1989) Fat City (1992)

Steady On is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, released on October 17, 1989, by Columbia Records. In addition to launching Colvin's career the album was positively received by critics and had moderate commercial success.

Recording and release

The album was recorded in Steve Addabbo's Shelter Island Sound recording studio in Shelter Island, New York.[1] Colvin has explained that the themes on the album include healing from personal life trauma and drug and alcohol addiction.[2]

Colvin recorded acoustic versions of these songs for 2019's Steady On: 30th Anniversary Acoustic Edition.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Q	[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]

Steady On won the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 33rd Grammy Awards in February 1991. AllMusic calls the album "a must have for anyone who loves acoustic music created in the grand tradition of Joni Mitchell and James Taylor."[3] Notable guest appearances include Suzanne Vega and Bruce Hornsby.

The album reached 111 on the Billboard 200 in 1989. The title track was released as a single and in 1990 reached 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Shawn Colvin, except where noted otherwise

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Steady On"	Colvin John Leventhal	4:59
2.	"Diamond in the Rough"	Colvin Leventhal	5:02
3.	"Shotgun Down the Avalanche"	Colvin Leventhal	5:02
4.	"Stranded"	Colvin	4:03
5.	"Another Long One"	Colvin	3:46
6.	"Cry Like an Angel"	Colvin Leventhal	4:52
7.	"Something to Believe In"	Colvin Leventhal	4:12
8.	"The Story"	Colvin Leventhal	3:59
9.	"Ricochet in Time"	Colvin	3:11
10.	"The Dead of the Night"	Colvin	5:03

Arrangement ideas were contributed by T-Bone Wolk and Phil Galdston on "Diamond in the Rough" and David Sanborn on "Another Long One".

Personnel

Musicians Steve Addabbo – tambourine Michael Blair – drums, percussion Shawn Colvin – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, background vocals Charles Curtis – cello Steve Gaboury – keyboards, drum programming Bruce Hornsby – piano Lucy Kaplansky – background vocals John Leventhal – guitar, bass, mandolin, keyboards, tambourine, background vocals, drum programming Hugh McCracken – guitar, dobro, high-strung guitar Dennis McDermott – drums Rick Marotta – drums Bob Riley – guitar, keyboards, drum programming Bob Telson – organ Soozie Tyrell – fiddle, background vocals Suzanne Vega – background vocals on "Diamond in the Rough" T-Bone Wolk – guitar, bass, accordion

Production Steve Addabbo – co-producer, engineer Paul Angelli – assistant engineer Kris Brauninger – assistant engineer Carol Chen – art direction Ronald K. Fierstein – executive producer Phil Galdston – assistant arranger Kevin Halpin – engineer Geoff Keehn – engineer Kevin Killen – mixing Phil Klum – assistant engineer John Leventhal – co-producer Bob Ludwig – mastering Marcus Miller – assistant engineer UE Nastasi – assistant engineer Frank Ockenfels – photography Mark Partis – engineer Malcolm Pollack – engineer David Sanborn – assistant arranger, arrangement collaboration Ted Spencer – engineer Dary Sulich – assistant engineer

Charts

Year	Chart	Position
1989	Billboard 200[6]	111

Release history

date	format	label	catalog #
	CD	Columbia	CK-45209
		Columbia	FC 45209
	CD	Columbia	CO45209
1989	CS	Columbia	FCT-45209
1995	CD	Columbia	45209
2001	CD	Sony	4661422
2008	CD	Sbme Special MKTS.	725020

References

1. Barone, Richard (September–October 2017). "Steve Addabbo: Still Tracking in New York City". Tape Op. No. 121. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
2. Betts, Stephen L. (June 27, 2016). "Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin Talk Joint Album, Rehab Shorthand and Trump". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
3. McCartney, Kelly. "Steady On – Shawn Colvin". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
4. Kane, Peter (July 1990). "Shawn Colvin: Steady On". Q. No. 46.
5. Evans, Paul (1992). "Shawn Colvin". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. p. 156. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
6. "Shawn Colvin". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2024.

External links

• "Rock on the Net: Shawn Colvin", a timeline of Colvin's releases, awards