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Lemon Parade

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Lemon Parade is Tonic's first album, released in 1996. The album has sold 1,300,000 copies to date, and reached platinum status in the United States. Tonic released a live EP with enhanced material called Live and Enhanced based on the success of this album. "If You Could Only See" was a hit single on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks charts reaching #1, and also reached #11 on the Billboard Airplay Hot 100, where it spent 63 weeks on the chart.

The song "If You Could Only See" is part of the video games Karaoke Revolution Party and Band Hero.[1]

In 2016, Tonic released an all-acoustic version of Lemon Parade titled Lemon Parade Revisited in celebration of that album's 20th anniversary and which utilized direct funding from fans.

Production

After Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo founded the band in 1993, the additions of bass guitar player Dan Rothchild and drummer Kevin Shepard solidified the band prior to signing their record deal in 1995. Producer Jack Joseph Puig worked with Tonic to produce the resulting album, Lemon Parade. While members of the band have traditionally been hesitant to discuss the meaning behind their songs, Hart did elaborate on some of the songs from this album. For instance, on the title track Lemon Parade, Hart explained the song came from a dream he had.[2] "I had a dream about this girl. I was riding this big Schwinn Sting Ray, and I rode by her working in a lemonade stand. She looked ugly and sad because kids were throwing lemons at her. Then later on, I saw her after high school and was crazy about her. They couldn't see how beautiful she really was."[2]

Promotion and release

Four unique music videos were produced as part of the album's promotion, including two different versions of "Open Up Your Eyes," one of which was directed by Tonic and Niels Alpert that featured the band on roller skates and a cameo appearance by Mick Fleetwood.[3] In terms of singles from the record, "If You Could Only See" reached #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, and also reached #11 on the Billboard Airplay Hot 100, where it spent 63 weeks on the chart. Lemon Parade as an album reached #28 on the United States charts,[4] #12 in Australia,[5] and #34 in Canada.[6] In the ensuing years the popularity of "If You Could Only See" continued with its part in the video games Karaoke Revolution Party and Band Hero.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
Melodic[8]

The record as a whole is full of the heavy, distortion-laden Tonic sound, and guitars that make them who they are. Although the recordings are murky at times, like shoes splashing through muddy puddles of water, the record's highlights -- such as the uplifting acoustic track "Mountain" and the rawness of "Wicked Soldier" -- are still full of rich musical creativity.

Music critic Shawn M. Haney reviews Lemon Parade[9]

Critical response to the album has shown variances. Music critic Shawn M. Haney rated the album two and a half out of five stars, saying, "The record as a whole is full of the heavy, distortion-laden Tonic sound, and guitars that make them who they are. Although the recordings are murky at times, like shoes splashing through muddy puddles of water, the record's highlights -- such as the uplifting acoustic track "Mountain" and the rawness of "Wicked Soldier"—are still full of rich musical creativity."[9]

Chart history

Main article: Tonic discography

Album

Year Title Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US AUS AUT[10] CAN NZ[11] UK[12]
1996

Lemon Parade

  • Released: July 15, 1996[9]
  • Label: A&M[9]
 28[4] 12[5] — 34[6] — — 1,300,000[13] US:Platinum[14]

Singles

Track listing

All songs by Emerson Hart except where noted.

  1. "Open up Your Eyes" − 3:40
  2. "Casual Affair" (Tonic) − 3:43
  3. "If You Could Only See" − 4:21
  4. "Soldier's Daughter" − 5:03
  5. "Lemon Parade" (Hart, Jeff Russo) − 3:42
  6. "Mountain" − 4:38
  7. "Thick" − 4:21
  8. "Wicked Soldier" (Tonic) − 4:31
  9. "Mr. Golden Deal" − 4:55
  10. "Bigot Sunshine" − 2:53
  11. "Celtic Aggression" (Hart, Dan Rothchild, Russo) − 3:26
  12. "My Old Man" − 5:52

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b Magrino, Tom (2009-10-19). "Band Hero full setlist revealed". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  2. ^ a b Hosbond, Kevin (1998-04-20). "Tonic explains songwriting and 'trying to get chicks'". Iowa State Daily Publication Board, Inc. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  3. ^ "Open Up Your Eyes - Tonic". Vevo. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  4. ^ a b "Lemon Parade - Tonic". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  5. ^ a b "Tonic - Lemon Parade (Album)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  6. ^ a b "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 65, No. 26, September 01 1997". RPM. 2004-10-01. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  7. ^ Allmusic review
  8. ^ Melodic Net review
  9. ^ a b c d Haney, Shawn M. "Lemon Parade Overview". Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  10. ^ "Austrian Album Chart". Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  11. ^ "New Zealand Album Chart". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  12. ^ "British Album Chart". UK Top 40. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  13. ^ Ault, Susanne (2003-02-22). Tonic Opts for Acoustic Jams. Billboard. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  14. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
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