Don't Tell a Soul
Don't Tell a Soul | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 7, 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988–1989 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 38:37 | |||
Label | Sire | |||
Producer | Matt Wallace, The Replacements | |||
The Replacements chronology | ||||
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Don't Tell a Soul is the sixth studio album by the American rock band The Replacements, released on February 1, 1989 by Sire Records.[1]
Recording and release
Don't Tell a Soul was the first Replacements album featuring Bob "Slim" Dunlap, who replaced founding guitarist Bob Stinson in early 1987.[2] The album was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles and produced by Matt Wallace and the band. It was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, who decided to give the record "a three-dimensional, radio-ready sound".[3] However, singer and guitarist Paul Westerberg was not satisfied with the new direction, commenting: "I thought the little things I'd cut in my basement were closer to what I wanted."[3]
Don't Tell a Soul was released on February 1, 1989 by Sire Records. The song "I'll Be You" was released as a single.[4] This proved to be the band's only appearance on the Billboard Hot 100: the song peaked at #51 on the May 13, 1989 chart, just ahead of "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty.[5]
In 2008, the album was remastered and reissued by Rhino Entertainment with 7 additional tracks.[6] In September 2019, Rhino released Dead Man's Pop, a box set featuring the original mix of Don't Tell a Soul by the album's producer, Matt Wallace, rarities, unreleased tracks and a 1989 live concert.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Austin Chronicle | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Sun-Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[9] |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[10] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[6] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 4/10[14] |
Don't Tell a Soul received generally favorable reviews, with critics noting the music's more mature themes and increasing disillusionment, along with a more private outlook.[15] Ira Robbins of Rolling Stone praised Westerberg's writing, stating that Don't Tell a Soul "is full of his sharp-tongued wordplay and idiosyncratic musical structures."[12] In February 1990, the album was ranked at number 16 in The Village Voice's 1989 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[16]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Paul Westerberg, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Talent Show" | 3:32 | |
2. | "Back to Back" | 3:22 | |
3. | "We'll Inherit the Earth" | 4:22 | |
4. | "Achin' to Be" | 3:42 | |
5. | "They're Blind" | 4:37 | |
6. | "Anywhere's Better Than Here" | 2:49 | |
7. | "Asking Me Lies" | 3:40 | |
8. | "I'll Be You" | 3:27 | |
9. | "I Won't" | 2:43 | |
10. | "Rock 'N' Roll Ghost" | 3:23 | |
11. | "Darlin' One" | Paul Westerberg, Slim Dunlap, Chris Mars, Tommy Stinson | 3:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Portland" | 4:28 | |
13. | "Wake Up" | 2:13 | |
14. | "Talent Show" (Demo Version) | 2:54 | |
15. | "We'll Inherit the Earth" (Mix 1) | 4:02 | |
16. | "Date to Church" (with Tom Waits) | 3:49 | |
17. | "We Know the Night" (Outtake) | 3:28 | |
18. | "Gudbuy t'Jane" (Outtake) | Noddy Holder, Jim Lea | 4:09 |
Personnel
- Paul Westerberg – vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Tommy Stinson – bass, background vocals
- Chris Mars – drums, percussion
- Slim Dunlap – guitar, mellotron, keyboards, background vocals
- Matt Wallace - producer, engineer, cheerleader
- Chris Lord-Alge – mix engineer
References
- ^ "The Replacements official". The Replacements official. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Don't Tell a Soul – The Replacements". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- ^ a b Mehr, Bob (2016). Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements, the Last Rock 'n' Roll Band. Da Capo Press. p. 315. ISBN 0306818795.
- ^ "I'll Be You – The Replacements". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/the-replacements/chart-history/alternative-songs/song/322621
- ^ a b Richardson, Mark (September 26, 2008). "The Replacements: Tim / Pleased to Meet Me / Don't Tell a Soul / All Shook Down". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ Caligiuri, Jim (October 10, 2008). "Tim, Pleased to Meet Me, Don't Tell a Soul, All Shook Down". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ McLeese, Don (February 6, 1989). "The Replacements, 'Don't Tell a Soul' (Sire)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "The Replacements: Don't Tell a Soul". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. p. 50. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ Willman, Chris (October 3, 2008). "The Replacements' reissues". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ Willman, Chris (January 29, 1989). "The Replacements 'Don't Tell a Soul.' Sire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
- ^ a b Robbins, Ira (February 9, 1989). "Don't Tell A Soul". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "The Replacements". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 688–89. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Weisband, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ Philips, Elizabeth; Robbins, Ira; Thomas, Evan. "Replacements". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ "The 1989 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. February 27, 1990. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
External links
- Don't Tell a Soul at Discogs (list of releases)