Say Something Good

Say Something Good is the debut studio album by River City People, released by EMI in Europe and Capitol in the US in 1989. Following a reissue in 1990, it reached No. 23 in the UK and remained in the charts for nine weeks.[1]

Say Something Good
Studio album by
River City People
Released1989
1990 (reissue)
LabelEMI (UK/Europe)
Capitol (US)
ProducerDon Gehman
Ronni O'Keefe
Ronnie Stone
Nick Davis
River City People
River City People chronology
Say Something Good
(1989)		 This Is the World
(1991)

River City People signed a recording contract with EMI in 1988, after Channel 4's The Chart Show commissioned a video for the band's song "(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?". The band then recorded their debut album in Los Angeles during January-March 1989 with producer Don Gehman.[2]

Six singles were released from the album,[3] the first of which, "(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?", was released in July 1989 and peaked at No. 70 in the UK. The follow-up, "Say Something Good", failed to chart and the third, "Walking On Ice", reached No. 62. The double A-side, "Carry the Blame"/"California Dreamin'", was released in June 1990 and gave the band a No. 13 hit. A remixed version of "(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?" peaked at No. 40 and the final single, "When I Was Young", peaked at No. 62.[4][5]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dayton Daily News[6]
Smash Hits[7]

Upon release, Music & Media wrote: "The band seem to have their roots in the late 60s. The songs all have a distinct 60s feel for melodies and harmonies, which makes it a pleasant, if not lovable record."[8] Billboard described the album as one which "merges London pop sensibilities with American rock vibes". They added: "Singer Siobhan Maher breathes dimension into sensitive and perceptive prose composed by bandmates/brothers Tim and Paul Speed."[9] Mark Frith of Smash Hits wrote: "Virtually all the songs are excellent and the Rivers aren't afraid to use manic guitars on straight-forward pop songs. On top of all that, Siobhan Maher's vocals are positively the chirpiest in pop."[10]

Anne Warren Murray of Dayton Daily News considered the album a "strong first effort" and added: "It's hard to say which side is better, since both are filled with alluring, melodic songs." She highlighted the "upbeat" tracks "(What's Wrong with) Dreaming?" and "Walking On Ice", and the "more mellow" "No Doubt" and "When I Was Young".[11] Steven Miller of The Daily Utah Chronicle wrote: "The [album contains] ten cuts worth of quirky pop that owes a bit to All About Eve, vintage U2 and Laurie Anderson but stands out with an identity all its own."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?"Paul Speed, Tim Speed, Siobhan Maher4:03
2."Walking On Ice"P. Speed, T. Speed4:56
3."Under the Rainbow"P. Speed, T. Speed5:02
4."Carry the Blame"T. Speed3:19
5."Say Something Good"P. Speed, T. Speed4:41
6."Thirsty"T. Speed4:11
7."When I Was Young"David Snell, T. Speed4:21
8."No Doubt"Maher, T. Speed3:47
9."I'm Still Waiting"P. Speed, T. Speed4:54
10."Home and Dry"T. Speed5:57
1989 CD additional tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Huskisson St."T. Speed, P. Speed2:47
12."Find a Reason"Maher, Snell3:35
1990 reissue
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?" 4:03
2."Walking On Ice" 4:56
3."Under the Rainbow" 5:02
4."California Dreamin'"John Phillips, Michelle Phillips2:21
5."Carry the Blame" 3:19
6."Say Something Good" 4:41
7."Thirsty" 4:11
8."When I Was Young" 4:21
9."No Doubt" 3:47
10."I'm Still Waiting" 4:54
11."Home and Dry" 5:57
1990 CD reissue
No.TitleLength
11."Find a Reason"3:35
12."Huskisson St."2:47
13."Home and Dry"5:57

Personnel

River City People

  • Siobhan Maher - vocals
  • Tim Speed - guitars, vocals
  • David Snell - bass
  • Paul Speed - drums, percussion

Additional musicians

  • Phil Shenale - keyboards, keyboard programming
  • John Helliwell - saxophone on "Home and Dry"

Production

  • Don Gehman - producer, engineer
  • John Carter, Ed Thacker - engineer
  • Dan Bosworth, Pete Magdeleno, Robin Laine - assistant engineers
  • River City People - producers of "California Dreamin'" and "Huskisson St."
  • Nick Davis - producer, engineer and mixer on "California Dreamin'"
  • Ronnie Stone - producer of "Huskisson St."
  • Ronni O'Keefe - producer of "Find a Reason"

Other

  • Abraham Pants - artwork (1989 release)
  • Paul Cox - photography (1989 release)
  • Normal Service - art direction, design (1990 release)
  • Peter Mountain - photography (1990 release)

Charts
Chart (1990) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 23
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References
  1. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25571/river-city-people/
  2. Kiley, Penny (18 July 1990). "A dream start". Liverpool Echo.
  3. https://www.45cat.com/artist/river-city-people
  4. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25571/river-city-people/
  5. "Win River City People tickets". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 15 September 1990.
  6. Warren Murray, Anne (2 November 1990). "Recordings on review". Dayton Daily News.
  7. Frith, Mark (8 August 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits.
  8. "Previews: Albums". Music & Media. 29 September 1990.
  9. "Album Reviews". Billboard. 21 April 1990.
  10. Frith, Mark (8 August 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits.
  11. Warren Murray, Anne (2 November 1990). "Recordings on review". Dayton Daily News.
  12. Miller, Steven (3 May 1990). "Liverpool's River City People deliver excellent debut effort". The Daily Utah Chronicle.
  13. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25571/river-city-people/
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