You know I have at least 4 of Suzies discs. Of course the most well known is Solitude Standing. Which was by all rights a very good album across the board. But the rest of her music is dark,intropsective, with well thought out adn crafted lyrics. Music is pretty good, but not breathtakingly special. But I ownder why she has slipped into obscurity. It's my opinioon that her albums are definetly above average. And worth listeing to. So I wonder why she was never well recieved. Actually about the only comments you hear about her....is someone making a joke about Tom's Diner. I am interested to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Regards
Mister Pig

I do understand she released a new album a year or two ago. Never heard it though.

She achieved considerable notoriety for the song "Luka" and was pretty darn successful for a while there, Mr. P. The second coming of the "confesional [girl] songwriters" was fairly brief, and largely subsided a year or two after somebody's "Jagged Little Pill" :-) This is too bad, IMO, as I really liked some of them (e.g., Heather Nova, Patty Larkin, Lisa Loeb, etc.). I like "little girl with guitar" music!

As an aside, one rather visible (one might say) vocal casualty of Alannis' runaway success was a very interesting, Boston-area singer/songwriter named Jen Trynin. Her "hit", "Better than Nothing" is a terrific song, but she didn't quite make it. She has recently published a memoir of her brush with fame that was positively reviewed by the Boston Globe. See www.jentrynin.com for info if you're interested.

Vega kept being pretty successful over here but for her last album which really didn't make it, neither artistically or sales-wise - a real dog with indecision written all over it and bits and pieces of older songs one could spot in almost all around. Seemed like a return to the less produced times of her earlier work, without the excellent and touching songwriting...
But both 99.9F and the 1996 album were very well received and got a lot of airplay.

I discovered Suzanne Vega in late '84 before her 1st album came out ("Marlene On the Wall" was the hook) and was attached ever since, with 99.9F being one of my all-time favorites (music, lyrics and production-wise). The one and only song of hers I never could stand, even then, was... Luka :D

I think she could have done better if she had picked one style of music & tried to stay w/it-"Luka" was a VASTLY different song than "Tom's Diner". I never heard anybody make fun of "Luka", but "Tom's Diner"....Well, uhhh...

I have 99 degree Feirenheight
Solitude Standing
Suzanne Vega -self titled
Nine Objects of Desire
Days Of Open Hand

I should read her discography to see where these all fall in her career.

I love her self titled album, Solitude standing, and 99 degrees. I find her vocal style, and voice characteristics absolutely mesmorizing. But I like little girl with guitar music too.

Yes she did flirt with a couple of different styles, and I liked both of them. Although the pop/dance style found on 99 degrees really contrasted her lyric content. Still quite interesting. Personally I hope she sees a renissance in her career.

Regards
Mister Pig

I kinda thought the whoompa-whoompa drums on Tom's Diner overwhelmed her...or at least, sounded jarring.

The reprise ending the album ahd the drums from what I recall.

Regards
Mister Pig

Wasn't the remix of "Tom's Diner" (by DNA) a project that didn't involve Suzanne Vega? The original version of the song didn't have drum machines and it was a mostly acoustic number. The remix was a big hit and thrusted SV back into the spotlight....at least for a little while.

The funny thing about Tom's Diner is this: THe versio I remember hearing on the radio was very low key. The album (which, coincidentally, I recently acquired from Mr. P... thanks again!) has two versions: the first is a capella and IIRC the second is kind of dance-y. The version I "know" is absent. I infer from this that there was a single?

BTW, 99.9 Fahrenheit Degrees (or whatever it's called) was a cool song.

BTW^2 There is a very cool solo acoustic version of "Stockings" on the first "Live from the River" (WXRV-FM in Haverhill MA -- which may be UNDER the river this week) CD collection.

BTW^3 Have you ever heard her covers of "China Doll" and "Cassidy" on the Grateful Dead tribute album Deadicated? They're excellent.

Did anyone catch her hosting the radio show "American Mavericks?" Sadly it's no longer being broadcast, but can still be heard online......Colin

http://www.suzannevega.com/Features/AmericanMavericks.htm

Wasn't the remix of "Tom's Diner" (by DNA) a project that didn't involve Suzanne Vega? The original version of the song didn't have drum machines and it was a mostly acoustic number. The remix was a big hit and thrusted SV back into the spotlight....at least for a little while.


I believe it was just her voice and a mic. I like the DNA version, actually I like a lot of her stuff.

She has a voice that is very recognizeable. That quality helps me when auditioning new equipment. I use her and Tori Amos albums for this purpose.

I know that she opened for Sting a longtime ago...............
Mike

I have an acoustic version of "Marlene on the Wall" on CD from the 10th anniversary of the Prince's Trust Concert. The song's quite refreshing since the concert featured rocking performances from Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Big Country, etc.....then all of a sudden, acoustic performance from Suzanne Vega in front of a packed arena (Princess Di and Prince Charles in attendence).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/soundboy/pt1.jpg

I feel the same way about Alannah Myles (Black Velvet fame), & Maria McKee (Lone Justice, etc.). Way beyond one hit wonderhood.

Sorry for the hijack.

PS - Anyone ever hear of Rachel Sweet?

Ron.

Yep. She did a cover of "Everlasting Love" w/some guy named Rex Smith back in about '81. She looked about 14, he looked like a very pretty girl.