Because They Can
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Because They Can is the second album from American rock group Nelson, released by Geffen Records in 1995.
The album had a shaky production history as a result of creative differences between brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson and the Geffen Records executives, the latter led by John Kalodner. After the success of their debut album, After the Rain, the band recorded the heavier and darker follow-up Imaginator. When Kalodner and other Geffen executives were displeased with it, Nelson was told to record a lighter album. After more than a year of writing and recording, Nelson came up with Because They Can. The band left Geffen shortly after the release of the album.[1][2]
Background and recording
"We basically stripped away everything and tried to make the songs work for themselves. And that's basically what we were left with. I am very proud of this piece of work even though the process was very painful."
Gunnar Nelson (guitarist/singer)[1]
After the success of their first album, After the Rain, and years of touring, Nelson returned to the studio to record their second album. They came up with a darker and harder, concept album titled Imaginator. However, when they presented the album to producer John Kalodner and the executives at Geffen Records, they weren't pleased. They then gave the band the choice to either record another album, more according to what they were expecting, or they would be released from their contract. The band decided to return to the studio and began working on a more acoustic-oriented album which was, according to Gunnar, "180 degrees in the opposite direction of Imaginator".[1][2]
Because They Can was recorded at various studios such as Sound City, Studio F, Nichols Canyon Studios, Caravell Studios, Granny's House, Capitol Studios, Cactus Studios and Quarkbrain Studio. It featured original band members Brett Garsed, Paul Mirkovich, Joey Cathcart and Bobby Rock on most of the songs, and it featured guest musicians such as Mike Baird, Don Felder, Steve Porcaro and others. The album was mixed at Conway Studios.[3]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
Because They Can was released in 1995, five years after the release of Nelson's first album. According to Gunnar Nelson, Geffen was not "going to put any money into promoting it".[1] The album went mostly unnoticed and did not appear on the Billboard charts. "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" was released to radio and video outlets, and peaked at #30 on the Radio & Records Pop chart. On another interview, Gunnar said about the album "I’m really proud of [it], but our fanbase had gone away. Everybody had changed their musical tastes, and it was really kind of a drag".[2]
Gunnar has also noted that People gave them the "best bad review in the history of rock 'n' roll" for Because They Can writing only "Maybe they shouldn’t".[2] He has argued that a lot of the negative reviews they had were just based on their legacy and not in the actual music.[5]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Matthew & Gunnar Nelson and Marc Tanner, except where noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" | 4:42 |
| 2. | "The Great Escape" | 5:25 |
| 3. | "Five O'Clock Plane" | 5:00 |
| 4. | "Cross My Broken Heart" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Danny Tate) | 4:47 |
| 5. | "Peace on Earth" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Taylor Rhodes) | 4:30 |
| 6. | "Remi" | 2:27 |
| 7. | "Won't Walk Away" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Jack Ponti) | 3:51 |
| 8. | "Only a Moment Away" | 4:22 |
| 9. | "Joshua Is With Me Now" | 1:30 |
| 10. | "Love Me Today" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson) | 4:19 |
| 11. | "Be Still" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson) | 4:14 |
| 12. | "Right Before Your Eyes" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Rhodes) | 4:51 |
| 13. | "Nobody Wins in the End" | 5:28 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Matthew Nelson - lead and back-up vocals, bass, 12-string electric and acoustic guitars, and rhythm guitars
- Gunnar Nelson – lead and back-up vocals, 6-string guitars, rhythm guitars, gut-string acoustic guitar, tambourine and other percussion
- Brett Garsed - 12 and 6-string electric guitar, high-string acoustic guitar, rhythm and lead guitars
- Joey Cathcart - Acoustic and electric guitar, rhythm and slide guitar
- Paul Mirkovich - Hammond organ, piano, harmonium, and melodica
- Bobby Rock - drums (Tracks 5, 7, 11, 12, 13)
- Mike Baird - drums (Tracks 1, 2, 3)
- Michael Botts - drums (Track 4)
- Don Felder, Kenneth Blackwell - additional mandolins
- Steve Porcaro - keyboard (Track 3)
- Jeff Baxter - pedal steel guitar (Track 4)
- Eliott Easton - solo guitar (Tracks 7 and 13)
- Sid Sharp - concertmaster (Tracks 10 and 13)
Production
- John Kalodner - producer
- John Boylan - producer
- David J. Holman - producer, mixer and engineer (Tracks 7, 11, and 13)
- Guy DeFazio - engineer
- Paul Grupp - engineer, mixer
- Frank Wolf - engineer
- Jeff Sheehan - recording assistant
- Barry Taylor - recording assistant
- Bjorn Thorsrud - recording assistant (Track 7 and 13)
- Tom Gordon - recording assistant (Track 7 and 13)
- Pete Doell - recording assistant (Track 10)
- Chris Henderson - recording assistant (Track 11)
- Andrew Gold - recording assistant (Track 12)
- Mick Guzauski - mixer
- Marnie Riley - assistant mixer
- George Marino - mastering
Art
- Robin Sloane - art direction
- William Wegman - photography
- Teri Weigel and John Boylan - additional photography
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Gunnar Nelson: The Nelson Interview". Melodic Rock. 2001.
- ^ a b c d "The Popdose Interview: Gunnar Nelson". Popdose. February 11, 2011.
- ^ [Because They Can booklet]
- ^ Because They Can on AllMusic
- ^ "Gunnar Nelson of Nelson". They Will Rock You. January 25, 2011.