A Boy Named Goo

A Boy Named Goo
Studio album by Goo Goo Dolls
Released	March 14, 1995
Recorded	1994 at BearTracks Studios, Suffern, NY and Trackmaster Studios, Buffalo, NY
Genre	Rock, alternative rock, heartland rock
Length	42:20
Label	Warner Bros./Metalblade
Producer	Lou Giordano
Goo Goo Dolls chronology
Superstar Car Wash (1993) A Boy Named Goo (1995) Bang! (1997)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau
Melodic.net
Rolling Stone	(favorable)

A Boy Named Goo, sometimes referred to as ABNG, is the fifth studio album by the Goo Goo Dolls, released in 1995 on Warner Bros..

History

This is the Goo Goo Dolls' last studio album with George Tutuska on drums; he was replaced by current drummer Mike Malinin just before the album was released. This album is the Goo Goo Dolls first studio album not to have fourteen tracks. The song "Stand Alone" was written by George Tutuska, and because Johnny Rzeznik didn't want to exploit George's efforts after his dismissal, the song was only included on a promo version of the album. On the wide-release version, it is replaced with "Disconnected" and "Slave Girl." On the same promo, "Ain't That Unusual" was labeled as "Someday." The two replacement songs are covers of songs by defunct Buffalo and Sydney, punk bands The Enemies and Lime Spiders.

The song "Name" is well-known as the Goo Goo Dolls' first hit. This was "quite accidentally," according to lead singer Johnny Rzeznik. It also marked the band's last album with the Metalblade Records imprint.

Track listing

All songs by Johnny Rzeznik except when noted.

1. "Long Way Down" – 3:28
2. "Burnin' Up" (Robby Takac) – 2:29
3. "Naked" – 3:43
4. "Flat Top" – 4:30
5. "Impersonality" (Takac) – 2:41
6. "Name" – 4:30
7. "Only One" – 3:17
8. "Somethin' Bad" (Takac) – 2:30
9. "Ain't That Unusual" – 3:19
10. "So Long" (Takac) – 2:33
11. "Eyes Wide Open" (Rzeznik, Takac, Tutuska) – 3:56
12. "Disconnected" (The Enemies cover) – 3:00
13. "Slave Girl" (Lime Spiders cover) – 2:17

Original track listing

The track listing for advance copies of ABNG was slightly different before George Tutuska was fired from the band.

1. "Long Way Down" – 3:39
2. "Burnin'" – 2:29
3. "Naked" – 3:44
4. "Flat Top" – 4:30
5. "Impersonality" – 2:40
6. "Your Name" – 4:31
7. "Only One" – 3:18
8. "Something Bad" – 2:31
9. "Someday" – 3:22 ("Ain't That Unusual")
10. "So Long" – 2:33
11. "Stand Alone" – 3:43
12. "Eyes Wide Open" – 3:57

Appearances

The song "Ain't That Unusual" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1995 film, Angus. A remix of the song "Long Way Down" was also featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 film, Twister.

Haste the Day, a metalcore band, covered the song "Long Way Down" for their album When Everything Falls.

Personnel

• Johnny Rzeznik – lead and rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals
• Robby Takac – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on tracks 2, 5, 8, 10, and 13
• George Tutuska – drums

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1995	U.S. Billboard 200	27
1995	Canadian RPM Albums Chart	15

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1995	"Naked"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	9
	"Name"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
		Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	1
		Billboard Hot 100	5
	"Only One"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	21
	"Long Way Down"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	25

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – U.S.	Gold	November 16, 1995
	Platinum	February 8, 1996
	Double Platinum	July 17, 1996