''Sugar'' is the second studio album by American band Tonic. Released on November 9, 1999 and produced by the band itself, the album's title shared the same name as the fifth track on the recording. The creative and collaborative process spanned several geographic locations including

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

, and a mansion in

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, where actual recording for the album was performed. "Knock Down Walls" and "

You Wanted More "You Wanted More" is a song by Los Angeles band Tonic that originally appeared in the 1999 film '' American Pie''. It was released on June 7, 1999, and was also featured on Tonic's second album, ''Sugar'', released later in the year. The single ...

" were charting singles released off the record, with the latter having first appeared on the

soundtrack A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television show, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of m ...

to the movie '' American Pie''. With Kevin Shepard no longer part of the band, touring drummer Peter Maloney (of

Dishwalla Dishwalla is an American alternative rock band from Santa Barbara, California. Formed by vocalist J.R. Richards, guitarist Rodney Browning, and keyboardist Greg Kolanek, they were initially known as Life Talking and then Dish upon adding bassist ...

) played drums on the album. Music videos for the songs "You Wanted More" and "Mean to Me" were created as part of the album's promotion. Tonic appeared on the television shows ''

Late Night with Conan O'Brien ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the second installment of the ''Late Night (franchise), Late Night'' franchise originally established by David Letterman. Hosted by Conan O'Brie ...

'' and ''

The Martin Short Show ''The Martin Short Show'' is a syndicated talk show, based on the late night model, hosted by Martin Short with announcer/sidekick Michael McGrath. The talk show aired for one season from 1999 to 2000. It was produced by King World Productio ...

'' in late 1999 as part of additional promotion. ''Sugar'' spent eight total weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, reaching a peak of number 81 in its first week of release.

Track listing

All songs by

Emerson Hart Emerson Hart (born July 21, 1969) is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and producer. He is the lead singer and songwriter of the alternative rock band Tonic. Biography Hart was born in Washington, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Atlantic Highlan ...

except where noted. # "Future Says Run" – 3:46 # "

" (Hart,

Jeff Russo Jeff Russo (born August 31) is an American composer, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and music producer, and one of the two founding members of the rock band Tonic. He is also a founding member of the Americana band Low Stars. Russo is also k ...

Dan Lavery Dan Lavery (born June 11, 1966) is an American professional musician, who has been nominated for two Grammy Awards as part of the band Tonic. Lavery joined Tonic after the band had recorded '' Lemon Parade'', and has been a part of Tonic ever s ...

) – 3:50 # "Knock Down Walls" (Hart, Russo) – 3:43 # "Mean to Me" – 4:11 # "Sugar" (Hart, Lavery, Russo) – 3:29 # "Jump Jimmy (Stronger Than Mine)" (Hart, Lavery) – 3:39 # "Queen" – 4:34 # "Waiting for the Light to Change" – 4:32 # "Waltz with Me" – 3:45 # "Sunflower" (Hart, Lavery) – 3:20 # "Drag Me Down" (Hart, Lavery, Russo) – 2:46 # "Top Falls Down" (Hart, Kevin Shepard, Russo) – 4:17 # "Love a Diamond" (Hart, Lavery, Russo) – 3:52

Personnel

Tonic *

– lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, electric rhythm guitar,

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...

– Mellotron strings, acoustic lead guitar, electric lead guitar, acoustic rhythm guitar, electric rhythm guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals *

–

Rhodes electric piano The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, th ...

, Moog bass pedals, bass guitar, backing vocals Additional musicians * John Ewing – programming * Pete Maloney – drums (1, 3-13) *

Joey Waronker Jon Joseph Waronker (born May 20, 1969) is an American drummer and music producer. He has performed with acts including Beck, R.E.M., Oasis and Roger Waters, and is a member of the experimental rock bands Atoms for Peace and Ultraísta. Back ...

– drums (2) *

Lenny Castro Lenny Castro (born September 19, 1956) is an American percussionist from the Los Angeles area. He is one of the most prolific percussionists of all time, appearing on hundreds of albums, including those by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele, Maroon ...

– percussion * David Campbell – string arrangements (8) *

Joel Derouin Joel Derouin is a Canadian violinist, concert master, composer and music director. In addition to having worked with many popular musicians, he is also known for his work in film, television and theatre. Biography Born in Cornwall, Ontario, Can ...

– string conductor (8) * Larry Corbett – cello (8) * Suzie Katayama – cello (8) * Matt Funes – viola (8) * David Sternke – viola (8) * Eve Butler – violin (8) * Gerardo Hilera – violin (8) * Peter Kent – violin (8) * Michele Richards – violin (8) Production *

Nick Gatfield Nick Gatfield is a British music industry executive, entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder of Twin Music Inc, providing angel investment for music and entrepreneurial talent and is co-founder and/or investor in a number of businesses inclu ...

– executive producer * Tonic – producers * Mark Endert – producer (2), engineer (2) * Jeff Powell – engineer (1, 3-13) * John Ewing – additional engineer (1, 3-13) * David Bryant – assistant engineer (1, 3-13) * Rich Eldridge – assistant engineer (1, 3-13) * Mike Terry – assistant engineer (1, 3-13) * Doug Boehm – assistant engineer (2) * Andy Wallace – mixing at Soundtrack Studios (New York, NY) * Steve Sisco – mix assistant *

Greg Calbi Gregory Calbi (born April 3, 1949) is an American mastering engineer at Sterling Sound, New Jersey. Biography Greg Calbi was born on April 3, 1949, in Yonkers, New York, and raised in Bayside, Queens, New York. He graduated in 1966 from Bishop ...

– mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY) * Jack Knobber – live sound engineer * Jocelyn Cooper – A&R * Greg Hammer – A&R * Valerie Peck – production coordinator * Jeri Heiden – art direction, design * Elvis Swft – illustrations, lettering * Marvin J. Heade – illustration ("Magnolias on a Blue Velvet Cloth") * Malcolm Tarlofsky – artwork ("Bicycle Man") *

Danny Clinch Danny Clinch (born 1964) is an American photographer and film director. Early life and education Born in Toms River, New Jersey, Clinch graduated from Toms River High School East in 1982. After attending Ocean County College, he attended the New ...

– photography * Gene Pierce – photography * Sheila Scott – management

Charts

References

1999 albums Tonic (band) albums {{1990s-alt-rock-album-stub