Because They Can

Because They Can is the second album from American rock group Nelson, released by Geffen Records in 1995.

Because They Can
Studio album by
Nelson
Released1995
GenrePop rock
Length55:26
LabelGeffen
Producer
Nelson chronology
After the Rain
(1990)		 Because They Can
(1995)		 Imaginator
(1996)

The album had a shaky production history as a result of creative differences between brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson and the Geffen Records executives, the latter led by John Kalodner. After the success of their debut album, After the Rain, the band recorded the heavier and darker follow-up Imaginator. When Kalodner and other Geffen executives were displeased with it, Nelson was told to record a lighter album. After more than a year of writing and recording, Nelson came up with Because They Can. The band left Geffen shortly after the release of the album.[1][2]

Background and recording
"We basically stripped away everything and tried to make the songs work for themselves. And that's basically what we were left with. I am very proud of this piece of work even though the process was very painful."

Gunnar Nelson (guitarist/singer)[1]

After the success of their first album, After the Rain, and years of touring, Nelson returned to the studio to record their second album. They came up with a darker and harder, concept album titled Imaginator. However, when they presented the album to producer John Kalodner and the executives at Geffen Records, they weren't pleased. They then gave the band the choice to either record another album, more according to what they were expecting, or they would be released from their contract. The band decided to return to the studio and began working on a more acoustic-oriented album which was, according to Gunnar, "180 degrees in the opposite direction of Imaginator".[1][2]

Because They Can was recorded at various studios such as Sound City, Studio F, Nichols Canyon Studios, Caravell Studios, Granny's House, Capitol Studios, Cactus Studios and Quarkbrain Studio. It featured original band members Brett Garsed, Paul Mirkovich, Joey Cathcart and Bobby Rock on most of the songs, and it featured guest musicians such as Mike Baird, Don Felder, Steve Porcaro and others. The album was mixed at Conway Studios.[3]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]

Because They Can was released in 1995, five years after the release of Nelson's first album. According to Gunnar Nelson, Geffen was not "going to put any money into promoting it".[1] The album went mostly unnoticed and did not appear on the Billboard charts. "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" was released to radio and video outlets, and peaked at #30 on the Radio & Records Pop chart. On another interview, Gunnar said about the album "I’m really proud of [it], but our fanbase had gone away. Everybody had changed their musical tastes, and it was really kind of a drag".[2]

Gunnar has also noted that People gave them the "best bad review in the history of rock 'n' roll" for Because They Can writing only "Maybe they shouldn’t".[2] He has argued that a lot of the negative reviews they had were just based on their legacy and not in the actual music.[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matthew & Gunnar Nelson and Marc Tanner, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."(You Got Me) All Shook Up"4:42
2."The Great Escape"5:25
3."Five O'Clock Plane"5:00
4."Cross My Broken Heart" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Danny Tate)4:47
5."Peace on Earth" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Taylor Rhodes)4:30
6."Remi"2:27
7."Won't Walk Away" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Jack Ponti)3:51
8."Only a Moment Away"4:22
9."Joshua Is With Me Now"1:30
10."Love Me Today" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson)4:19
11."Be Still" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson)4:14
12."Right Before Your Eyes" (Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, Rhodes)4:51
13."Nobody Wins in the End"5:28

Personnel

Musicians

Production

  • John Kalodner – producer
  • John Boylan – producer
  • David J. Holman – producer, mixer and engineer (7, 11, and 13)
  • Guy DeFazio – engineer
  • Paul Grupp – engineer, mixer
  • Frank Wolf – engineer
  • Jeff Sheehan – recording assistant
  • Barry Taylor – recording assistant
  • Bjorn Thorsrud – recording assistant (7 and 13)
  • Tom Gordon – recording assistant (7 and 13)
  • Pete Doell – recording assistant (10)
  • Chris Henderson – recording assistant (11)
  • Andrew Gold – recording assistant (12)
  • Mick Guzauski – mixer
  • Marnie Riley – assistant mixer
  • George Marino – mastering

Art

  • Robin Sloane – art direction
  • William Wegman – photography
  • Teri Weigel and John Boylan – additional photography
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References
  1. "Gunnar Nelson: The Nelson Interview". Melodic Rock. 2001.
  2. "The Popdose Interview: Gunnar Nelson". Popdose. February 11, 2011.
  3. [Because They Can booklet]
  4. Because They Can on AllMusic
  5. "Gunnar Nelson of Nelson". They Will Rock You. January 25, 2011.
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