Scar (Joe Henry album)
| Scar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 15, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | September 7–10, 2000 | |||
| Studio | Sound Factory, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 57:59 | |||
| Label | Mammoth | |||
| Producer | Craig Street, Joe Henry | |||
| Joe Henry chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Alternative Press | 8/10[2] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
| Los Angeles Times | [4] |
| Pitchfork | 4.0/10[5] |
| Q | [6] |
| Rolling Stone |  [7] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
| Spin | 8/10[9] |
| Uncut | [10] |
Scar is the eighth studio album by Joe Henry, released in May 2001 on Mammoth Records. Co-produced by Craig Street, it marked another shift in direction for Henry's music, and a foray into the genres of jazz and soul music. The opening track is a homage to comedian Richard Pryor (whom the album is also dedicated to), and according to Henry's essay "The Ghost in the Song," he was "called by a vision" to collaborate with free jazz artist Ornette Coleman. Henry wrote:
I had a dream. A "vision," I'm tempted to say. And the vision had a voice, and the voice spoke a word: Ornette. It didn't need to speak the other word, for I knew. I needed Ornette Coleman's musical voice to complete the song with which I was at that precise moment struggling.
Henry eventually convinced Coleman to record a solo for the track "Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation," and also contributed a reprise at the very end of the album as a hidden track. Henry discusses his interactions with Coleman at length as the last part of a 2016 interview.[11]
Another track of note is "Stop", a tango written by Henry. His wife, Melanie, sent an early demo of the track to her sister Madonna, who re-used the lyrics for "Don't Tell Me". Henry often quips during live gigs that "I recorded my version as a tango, and she recorded hers as a hit".
Lizz Wright recorded a jazzy take on "Stop" which she included in her 2005 release Dreaming Wide Awake, also an album produced by Craig Street and recorded by S. Husky Höskulds.
Track listing[edit]
All songs written by Joe Henry, except where noted.
- "Richard Pryor Addresses a Tearful Nation" – 6:21
- "Stop" – 4:40
- "Mean Flower" – 4:50
- "Struck" – 5:24
- "Rough and Tumble" – 4:53
- "Lock and Key" – 4:46
- "Nico Lost One Small Buddha" – 3:23
- "Cold Enough to Cross" – 3:12
- "Edgar Bergen" – 6:03
- "Scar" / hidden track: "Richard Pryor Reprise" (Henry, Ornette Coleman) – 14:22
Personnel[edit]
- Joe Henry – vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
- Marc Ribot – guitar
- Bobby Malach – reeds
- David Piltch (as David Pilch) – bass
- Brian Blade – drums, percussion
- Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone solo
- Brad Mehldau – piano
- Meshell Ndegeocello – bass
- Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
- "Orchestra" on tracks 1, 4 and 9:
- Bobby Malach – reeds
- Sandra Park – violin, concertmaster
- Sharon Yamada – violin
- Robert Rinehart – viola
- Elizabeth Dyson, Gene Moye – cello
- Stacey Shames – harp
- Eric Charleston – vibes, percussion
- Orchestra arranged and conducted by Steven Barber
References[edit]
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Scar – Joe Henry". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "Joe Henry: Scar". Alternative Press (156): 71. July 2001.
- ^ Aizlewood, John (September 14, 2001). "Joe Henry: Scar (Mammoth/Edel)". The Guardian. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Appleford, Steve (May 13, 2001). "Joe Henry, 'Scar,' Mammoth". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Juzwiak, Richard M. (May 29, 2001). "Joe Henry: Scar". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 21, 2002. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "Joe Henry: Scar". Q (182): 122. October 2001.
- ^ Abowitz, Richard (May 24, 2001). "Joe Henry: Scar". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Sarig, Roni (2004). "Joe Henry". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 376–77. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Weisbard, Eric (June 2001). "Joe Henry: Scar / Mark Eitzel: The Invisible Man". Spin. 17 (6): 145–46. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "Joe Henry: Scar". Uncut (49): 110. November 2001.
- ^ [1], Steve Dawson, Music Makers and Soul Shakers Podcast, Episode 16 - Joe Henry (Part 2).
