Sassafrass!
{{short description|2018 album by Tami Neilson}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Sassafrass!
| type = studio
| artist = Tami Neilson
| cover = Tami Neilson - Sassafrass!.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2018|06|01|df=yes}}
| genre = {{hlist|Country|rockabilly{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/tami-neilson-sassafrass-2573105627.html|title=Tami Neilson Is Woke on 'Sassafrass!' |first=Elisabeth |last=Woronzoff|date=31 May 2018 |website=Pop Matters|access-date=11 January 2023}}}}
| length =
| label = {{hlist|Neilson Records|Outside Music}}
| producer = Ben Edwards, Tami Neilson
| recorded =
| prev_title = Songs of Sinners Live
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Chickaboom!
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Sassafrass!
| type = studio
| single1 = Stay Outta My Business
| single1date = 23 March 2018
| single2 = Manitoba Sunrise at Motel 6
| single2date = 18 May 2018
| single3 = Devil in a Dress
| single3date = 4 July 2018
}}
}}
Sassafrass! is the sixth studio album by Canadian-New Zealand country singer Tami Neilson, released in June 2018.
Production
The album was inspired by Neilson's experiences of becoming a mother, losing her father and turning 40. She felt that the album expressed her "coming into confidence as a woman" and is a celebration of her newly-found freedom. Because of this, many of the songs on the album focused on gender equality.{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/14441/Interview-Tami-Neilson-Speaks-Out-About-Her-New-Album-Sassafrass!.utr|title=Tami Neilson on Learning From Kitty Wells, Empowering Women and New Album 'Chickaboom!' |first=Lydia |last=Jenkin |date=13 June 2018 |website=Under the Radar|access-date=11 January 2023}} Sonically, Neilson was inspired by musicians including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Big Mama Thornton and Mavis Staples. The song "Miss Jones" was written as a tribute to Sharon Jones.{{cite web|url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/tami-neilson-chickaboom/|title=Tami Neilson on Learning From Kitty Wells, Empowering Women and New Album 'Chickaboom!' |first=Bobbie Jean |last=Sawyer |date=13 February 2020 |website=Wide Open Country|access-date=11 January 2023}}
The album's title, Sassafrass!, is a slang term referring to a self-assured person.
Release and promotion
Three singles were released from the album: "Stay Outta My Business" in March 2018,{{cite web|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/23-03-2018/tami-neilson-on-her-new-album-and-taking-motherhood-on-the-road |title=Tami Neilson on her new album and being a mother on the road|first=Bridie |last=Chetwin-Kelly|website=The Spinoff|date=23 March 2018 |access-date=11 January 2023}} "Manitoba Sunrise at Motel 6" in May{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/14340/Tami-Neilson-Shares-Dreamy-Single-Manitoba-Sunrise-At-Motel-6--Video.utr |title=Tami Neilson Shares Dreamy Single 'Manitoba Sunrise At Motel 6' + Video|website=Under the Radar|date=22 May 2018 |access-date=11 January 2023}} and "Devil in a Dress" in July, a month after the album's release.{{cite web|url=https://nzmusic.org.nz/news/artist/tami-neilson-releases-video-for-devil-in-a-dress/ |title=Tami Neilson Releases Video for 'Devil in a Dress'|publisher=New Zealand Music Commission|date=4 July 2018 |access-date=11 January 2023}}
Reception
At the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards, Sassafrass! was nominated for the Album of the Year award, and led to Neilson being nominated for the Best Solo Artist award.{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/15184/Vodafone-New-Zealand-Music-Awards-2018-Winners-Announced.utr|title=Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2018 Winners Announced|work=Under the Radar|date=16 November 2018|accessdate=21 January 2020|first=Charl|last=Louw}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Sassafrass! track listing
| title1 = Stay Outta My Business
| writer1 = {{hlist|J. Neilson|T. Neilson}}
| length1 = 2:56
| title2 = Bananas
| writer2 = {{hlist|J. Neilson|T. Neilson}}
| length2 = 2:32
| title3 = Diamond Ring
| writer3 = T. Neilson
| length3 = 3:12
| title4 = A Woman's Pain
| writer4 = T. Neilson
| length4 = 2:57
| title5 = Devil in a Dress
| writer5 = {{hlist|J. Neilson|T. Neilson}}
| length5 = 3:07
| title6 = One Thought of You
| writer6 = {{hlist|R. Neilson|T. Neilson}}
| length6 = 2:16
| title7 = Miss Jones
| writer7 = T. Neilson
| length7 = 2:30
| title8 = Smoking Gun
| writer8 = {{hlist|J. Neilson|T. Neilson}}
| length8 = 3:42
| title9 = Kitty Cat
| writer9 = T. Neilson
| length9 = 2:03
| title10 = Manitoba Sunrise at Motel
| writer10 = T. Neilson
| length10 = 4:21
| title11 = Good Man
| writer11 = T. Neilson
| length11 = 5:23
| total_length = 24:59
}}
Credits and personnel
{{Div col}}
- Brett Adams – guitar
- Chris Chetland – mastering
- Ashley Church – photography
- Anita Clark – strings
- Georgie Clifford – backing vocals
- Sarena Close – backing vocals
- Reuben Derrick – horns
- Ben Edwards – co-producer, mixing engineer
- Natalee Fisher – hair, make-up
- Mike Hall – bass
- Nyree Huyser – backing vocals
- Dave Khan – strings
- Jules Koblun – artwork design
- Joe McCallum – drums, percussion
- Tami Neilson – acoustic guitar, co-producer, vocals
- Cameron Pearce – horns
- Josh Petrie – assistant engineer
- Gwyn Reynolds – horns
- Scott Taitoko – horns
- Neil Watson – guitar, pedal steel guitar
{{Div col end}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Sassafrass! ! scope="col" | Chart (2018) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|6|artist=Tami Neilson|album=Sassafrass!|rowheader=true|accessdate=11 January 2023}} |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Year-end chart performance for Sassafrass! |
| Chart (2018)
!Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| New Zealand Artist Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-aotearoa-albums/2018-12-31|title=Official Top 20 NZ Albums: End of Year Charts 2018|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=16 April 2022}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 |
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for Sassafrass! ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| New Zealand
| 1 June 2018 | {{hlist|CD|vinyl|digital download|streaming}} | Neilson Records, Southbound |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sassafrass}}