Blue Days Black Nights is the fifth album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. It was released in 1999 on Elektra Records.
Reception
Rolling Stones Rob Sheffield called Johnston "[a] complete singer-songwriter" who "[u]nlike your typical solo guitar guy… can actually sing." He concluded that "Blue Days Black Nights is his finest bag of tunes since the 1992 cult classic Can You Fly, on which his emotional folk rock really came together."
AllMusic's Jason Ankeny called the album Johnston's "darkest, most understated to date" and "the singer's most intimate effort, largely rejecting the quirky character studies of prior outings in favor of more plainly personal narratives, and revealing new shades of depth and honesty in the process." Concluding that "Blue Days Black Nights possesses a hushed gravity which insinuates itself only over repeated listens."
Track listing All songs written by Freedy Johnston. "Underwater Life" – 5:11 "The Farthest Lights" – 3:55 "While I Wait for You" – 3:33 "Pretend It's Summer" – 5:27 "Changed Your Mind" – 4:00 "Caught as You Look Away" – 3:26 "Moving on a Holiday" – 2:56 "Until the Sun Comes Back Again" – 3:02 "Depending on the Night" – 4:15 "Emily" – 4:27
Personnel Freedy Johnston – vocals, guitar, piano Cameron Greider – guitar, background vocals, tack piano Andy Hess – bass Jim Keltner – drums Roger Moutenot – piano Rich Pagano – drums Mark Spencer – lap steel Roy Nathanson – saxophone Curtis Fowlkes – trombone Rob Thomas – violin Doug Petty – keyboards Rufus Capodoccia – cello Robin Lorentz – violin Stephanie Fife – cello Suzzy Roche – background vocals
References