100 Miles from Memphis
{{Infobox album
| name = 100 Miles from Memphis
| type = studio
| artist = Sheryl Crow
| cover = Sheryl Crow - 100 Miles from Memphis.png
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2010|7|20}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Henson Recording Studios
(Los Angeles)
Electric Lady Studios
(New York City)
| genre =
| length = 59:35
| label = A&M
| producer = Sheryl Crow, Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley
| prev_title = Home for Christmas
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Feels Like Home
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Singles
| name = 100 Miles from Memphis
| type = studio
| single1 = Summer Day
| single1date = June 21, 2010
| single2 = Sign Your Name
| single3 = Long Road Home
| single3date = 2011
}}
}}
100 Miles from Memphis is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. It is her final release for A&M Records. The album was written and produced by Crow, Doyle Bramhall II and Justin Stanley and features the musicians Tommy Sims and Chris Bruce.{{cite magazine|last=Scaggs |first=Austin |date=April 15, 2010 |title=Sheryl Crow Lets Loose With Funky, R&B-Influenced Record |magazine=Rolling Stone}} On this album she puts aside her country and pop-rock past in favor of a vintage R&B and Memphis soul-inspired record. Although proficient on such instruments as bass, piano and guitar, Crow concentrates on singing throughout the album. The album includes the covers: Citizen Cope's "Sideways",{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/958035/sheryl-crow-summer-album-preview-2010 |title=Sheryl Crow: Summer Album Preview 2010 |first=Jillian |last=Mapes |work=Billboard.com |date=May 26, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2010}} Terence Trent D'Arby's 1988 hit, "Sign Your Name", and The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back".{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/07/album-review-sheryl-crows-100-miles-from-memphis.html |title=Album review: Sheryl Crow's '100 Miles From Memphis' |first=Ann |last=Powers |work=Pop & Hiss: The LA Times Music Blog |date=July 19, 2010 |accessdate=July 31, 2010 |archive-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731020520/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/07/album-review-sheryl-crows-100-miles-from-memphis.html |url-status=live }} This is the first of Crow's albums not to be nominated for any Grammy Awards (excluding Christmas and greatest hits releases).
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| MC = 66/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/100-miles-from-memphis|title=100 Miles from Memphis Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic|website=Metacritic|accessdate=2012-05-19|archive-date=2011-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427193326/http://www.metacritic.com/music/100-miles-from-memphis|url-status=live}}
| rev1 = About.com
| rev2 = Allmusic
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1823221|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review: "100 Miles from Memphis"].
| rev3 = Austin American-Statesman
| rev4 = Billboard
| rev5 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev5Score = B{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20401473,00.html|title=100 Miles From Memphis Review|last=Collis|first=Clark|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=2010-07-23|access-date=2012-05-19|archive-date=2012-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019041518/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20401473,00.html|url-status=dead}}
| rev6 = Los Angeles Times
| rev7 = Mojo
| rev8 = Rolling Stone
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/182700|title=100 Miles From Memphis by Sheryl Crow|last=Hermes|first=Will|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=2010-07-20|accessdate=2012-05-19|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722183055/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/182700|archivedate=2010-07-22 |url-status=dead}}
| rev9 = Slant Magazine
| rev10 = USA Today
| rev10Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}Gundersen, Edna. [https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-07-20-listen20_ST_N.htm USA Today Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234048/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-07-20-listen20_ST_N.htm |date=2011-06-28 }}.
}}
100 Miles from Memphis has received "generally favorable reviews" from 14 music critics, as Metacritic gave it 66 out of 100. Knoxville.com calls the album "sonically impressive" and Crow's "most ambitious release so far", although not impressed with her voice, noticing a disconnection with the sound; they gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5.{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxville.com/news/2010/jul/13/campbell-tuned-sheryl-crow-kelis-kira/ |title=Tuned In: Sheryl Crow, Kelis, Kira |first=Chuck |last=Campbell |work=Knoxville.com |date=July 13, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2010 |archive-date=July 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726030942/http://www.knoxville.com/news/2010/jul/13/campbell-tuned-sheryl-crow-kelis-kira/ |url-status=live }}
BBC also gave 100 Miles a positive review, calling it a "mix of white soul, rock, and reggae" and praising the partnership between Crow and producer Doyle Bramhall II. The album is considered to be a nostalgic move for Crow, for a time when soul had an upbeat message. Crow's excitement is noticed throughout the record.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/b8gw |title=Review of Sheryl Crow – 100 Miles from Memphis |work=BBC Music |first=Paul |last=Lester |date=July 8, 2010 |accessdate=July 15, 2010 |archive-date=July 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716235440/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/b8gw |url-status=live }}
Billboard magazine says "100 Miles is a path Crow was certainly wise to tread", praising her celebratory mind frame and the joyous mood of lead single "Summer Day", as well as "Peaceful Feeling" and first track "Our Love is Fading". Keith Richards' swagger is also noticed on the reggae field "Eye to Eye".{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Billboard Magazine |issue=July 2010}}
Mojo Magazine finds Crow in a peaceful state of mind, after adopting her two sons, Wyatt Steve and newborn Levi James. At 48, she finally "returns to her roots". Mojo praises producers Doyle Bramhall II and Justin Stanley (Amy Winehouse) in their pursuit of "shimmering Memphis sound" and calls ballads "Stop" and Crow's cover of "Sideways" two of her most "vulnerable and classy performances". The album is rated 4 out of 5 stars.{{cite journal|title=none|journal=Mojo |issue=July 2010}}
The album was made BBC Radio 2's "Album of the Week" for the week commencing July 10, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/music/playlist/ |title=BBC – Radio 2 – Playlist |work=BBC Music |accessdate=July 15, 2010 |archive-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310102057/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/music/playlist/ |url-status=live }}
Commercial performance
In the United States, 100 Miles From Memphis entered the Billboard 200 at number #3 with first week sales of 55,000 copies. It is Crow's eighth top 10 album.[http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3i0cbf0f1b5c08147a59514171bc2fed1e Eminem's 'Recovery' Reaches Fifth Week at No.1, while Sheryl Crow debut at #3 with 100 Miles From Memphis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805061702/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3i0cbf0f1b5c08147a59514171bc2fed1e |date=2010-08-05 }} Billboard Biz. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
In Canada, the album debuted at #2 on the Canadian Albums Chart,{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} behind Eminem's Recovery. The album was less successful in the UK, once one of Crow's major markets, where it peaked at #34.
Promotion
Crow promoted her new album through media appearances. In the United States, she performed the lead single, "Summer Day", on The Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America and Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She also appeared on Lopez Tonight and The View, where she performed "Sign Your Name" and "Long Road Home", respectively.
In the UK, she made appearances on The 5 O'clock Show, Alan Titchmarsh Show and Later...with Jools Holland.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| total_length =
| all_writing = Sheryl Crow, Doyle Bramhall II, and Justin Stanley, except where noted
| title1 = Our Love Is Fading
| length1 = 6:23
| title2 = Eye to Eye
| note2 = featuring Keith Richards
| length2 = 5:35
| title3 = Sign Your Name
| note3 = featuring Justin Timberlake; written by Terence Trent D'Arby
| length3 = 5:38
| title4 = Summer Day
| length4 = 4:29
| title5 = Long Road Home
| length5 = 4:14
| title6 = Say What You Want
| length6 = 4:50
| title7 = Peaceful Feeling
| length7 = 4:03
| title8 = Stop
| note8 = written by Sheryl Crow
| length8 = 4:40
| title9 = Sideways
| note9 = featuring Citizen Cope; written by Clarence Greenwood
| length9 = 5:11
| title10 = 100 Miles from Memphis
| length10 = 5:01
| title11 = Roses and Moonlight
| length11 = 6:30
| title12 = I Want You Back
| note12 = bonus track – For Michael With Love) (featuring Gary Clark Jr; written by Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards
| length12 = 3:05
}}
{{Track listing
| title13 = Long Road Home
| note13 = Acoustic version
| length13 = 4:34
}}
{{Track listing
| title13 = Summer Day
| note13 = Acoustic version
| length13 = 4:28
| title14 = Say What You Want
| note14 = Acoustic version
| length14 = 5:22
}}
{{Track listing
| title1 = All I Wanna Do
| length1 = 4:34
| title2 = Strong Enough
| length2 = 3:12
| title3 = Everyday Is a Winding Road
| length3 = 4:17
| title4 = If It Makes You Happy
| length4 = 5:25
| title5 = Soak Up the Sun
| length5 = 4:52
| title6 = The First Cut Is the Deepest
| length6 = 3:42
}}
Charts
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Metacritic album}}
{{Sheryl Crow}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios
Category:Soul albums by American artists