Straight On till Morning (album)

Straight On till Morning is the fifth album by American jam band Blues Traveler. It was released in July 1997 (see 1997 in music). The title of the album, and the accompanying cover art, are from the directions to Neverland, as given by Peter Pan in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan (Play 1904 / Novel 1911): "Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning." It is the last of the band's albums to feature bassist Bobby Sheehan, who died of a drug overdose in 1999.

Straight On Till Morning
Studio album by
Blues Traveler
ReleasedJuly 1, 1997
GenreCountry rock
Length65:27
LabelA&M
ProducerSteve Thompson
Michael Barbiero
Blues Traveler chronology
Four
(1994)		 Straight On Till Morning
(1997)		 Decisions of the Sky
(2000)
Singles from Straight On till Morning
  1. "Carolina Blues"
    Released: 1997
  2. "Most Precarious"
    Released: 1997
  3. "Canadian Rose"
    Released: January 13, 1998

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine found some criticism in the band's loose musicianship and John Popper's vocal delivery but gave praise to the "succinct and eclectic" track listing containing multiple genres and catchy pop hooks that appeases both the band's "jam-oriented cult following" and their newly gained "hook-happy fans", concluding that "Straight on Till Morning is the first studio record that captures the essence of the band."[1] Entertainment Weekly writer Jim Farber noted the band's jam guitar riffs and percussion beats being more grounded into "appealingly long melodies", Popper's signature harmonica playing and "blithe delivery" of "cute and self-deprecating" humor remain as highlights and the "overall perkiness" throughout the album avoids the musical quirks of Phish and Dave Matthews Band, concluding that "Like the modest period pieces they recall, Blues Traveler’s boogies offer a happy little buzz."[3] Don McLeese of Rolling Stone called the album "sprawlingly ambitious", highlighting "Great Big World" for showcasing the band's trademark instrumentation to its fullest, saying "such high-powered musicianship supports the sort of melodic momentum that’ll grab the ears of those more interested in songs than jams."[4] Conversely, Pat Rooney of the Chicago Tribune said, "With complex arrangements, lush melodies and dreamy imagery, Straight On Till Morning supports the group's reputation for upbeat vibes and improvisational jams. But though the musicianship runs deep, the songcraft comes up short."[2]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Carolina Blues"John Popper, Chan Kinchla4:44
2."Felicia"Popper4:42
3."Justify the Thrill"Popper, Kinchla4:06
4."Canadian Rose"Popper4:31
5."Business as Usual"Popper, Brendan Hill, Kinchla5:17
6."Yours"Popper6:34
7."Psycho Joe"Popper, Bobby Sheehan3:55
8."Great Big World"Popper, Hill5:37
9."Battle of Someone"Popper6:03
10."Most Precarious"Popper3:27
11."The Gunfighter"Popper, Kinchla4:57
12."Last Night I Dreamed"Kinchla4:10
13."Make My Way"Popper7:24

Personnel

Adapted credits from the liner notes of Straight On till Morning.[5]

  • John Popper – harmonica, vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar on "Yours"
  • Brendan Hill – drums, percussion
  • Chan Kinchla – guitars
  • Bobby Sheehan – bass
  • Warren Hayes – pedal steel guitar
  • Michael Barbiero – engineer

Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1997 "Most Precarious" Modern Rock Tracks 25
Mainstream Rock Chart 27
"Carolina Blues" Modern Rock Tracks 30
Mainstream Rock Chart 4
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References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Straight on Till Morning - Blues Traveler". AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  2. Rooney, Pat (July 4, 1997). "Blues Traveler Straight On Till Morning (A&M)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  3. Farber, Jim (July 11, 1997). "Straight On Till Morning". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  4. McLeese, Don (July 2, 1997). "Straight On Till Morning". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  5. Straight On till Morning (booklet). Blues Traveler. A&M. 1997. 31454 0750 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
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