Short Sharp Shocked

Short Sharp Shocked
Studio album by Michelle Shocked
Released	August 15, 1988 (1988-08-15)
Recorded	1988 (1988), Capitol Studio B, Hollywood, Larribee Sound, Los Angeles, Sound Castle, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock
Length	36:27
Label	Mercury Records Mighty Sound (2003 Reissue)
Producer	Pete Anderson
Michelle Shocked chronology
The Texas Campfire Tapes (1986) Short Sharp Shocked (1988) Captain Swing (1989)
Singles from Short Sharp Shocked
"Anchorage" Released: 1988 (1988) "If Love Was a Train" Released: December 19, 1988 (1988-12-19) "When I Grow Up" Released: 1989 (1989)
2003 Reissue Cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	A−
Rolling Stone

Short Sharp Shocked is an album by Michelle Shocked. It is her second album, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music). It was remastered and reissued in 2003 as a two-CD set by Shocked's own label, Mighty Sound. The title is a combination of her last name, and the behavioral science phrase short, sharp shock meaning "punishment that is quick and severe." The title was inspired by both "A Clockwork Orange" and by Shocked's alleged but now questioned incarceration in a psychiatric ward.^{[citation needed]}

Cover artwork

The photograph of Shocked used for this album cover was taken at a protest in San Francisco during the 1984 Democratic National Convention by Chris Hardy of the San Francisco Examiner and credited as such. The 2003 re-issue de-contextualized the original photograph by closely cropping it to Shocked's face.

Track listing

All songs written by Michelle Shocked except as noted.

1. "When I Grow Up" – 3:34
2. "Hello Hopeville" – 2:55
3. "Memories of East Texas" – 3:35
4. "(Making the Run to) Gladewater" – 3:05
5. "Graffiti Limbo" – 3:39
6. "If Love Was a Train" – 4:07
7. "Anchorage" – 3:24
8. "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" (Jean Ritchie) – 4:10
9. "V.F.D." – 2:49
10. "Black Widow" – 2:44
11. "Fogtown" – 2:25 ("hidden" track)

Personnel

• Michelle Shocked – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Pete Anderson – electric guitar, six-string bass guitar on 2
• Jeff Donavan – drums
• Domenic Genova – acoustic bass, electric bass
• Skip Edwards – piano, Hammond organ
• Mike Tempo – percussion
• Al Perkins – dobro
• Byron Berline – mandolin
• Don Reed – fiddle
• Rod Piazza – harmonica
• Kristina Olson – hammered dulcimer
• Banjo Jim Croce – banjo
• Sophia Ramos – vocals
• MDC – vocals on 11

Technical personnel

• Pete Anderson – arrangements
• Peter Doell – engineer (Capitol Studio B)
• Leslie Anne Jones – additional Engineering
• David Leonard – mixing engineer (Larribee Sound)
• Andy Batwinds – second engineer
• Bobby Lacivita – second engineer (Sound Castle)
• Eddy Schreyer - mastering engineer (Capitol Studios)
• Michael Dumds - production assistant

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Peak Position
1988	The Billboard 200	73

Singles

Year	Song	Chart	Peak Position
1988	"Anchorage"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	16
1988	"Anchorage"	Billboard Hot 100	66
1988	"If Love Was a Train"	Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	33
1988	"If Love Was a Train"	Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	20
1989	"When I Grow Up"	UK Singles Chart	67