''This Magnificent Distance'' is Chris Robinson's second solo album, released on June 29, 2004. The album draws on a vast panorama of

Americana music Americana (also known as American roots music) is an amalgam of Music of the United States, American music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the musical ethos of the United States of America, with particul ...

—rock, blues, folk, country, soul and elements of jazz.

Reception

The album generated some praise from a variety of outlets. It earned a four-star review in the June/July issue of Blender, in which Clark Collis cited “the singer’s heartfelt howling and dynamite harmonica playing.” Harp magazine's Jaan Uhelszki praised Robinson's “rebel-hearted romanticism, tales of ruined innocence, and the quest for personal liberation” (August 2004), while Tracks’ Holly George-Warren noted how “Prominent keyboards and eloquent guitar work (by former Black Crowes guitarist Audley Freed, Robinson and co-producer Paul Stacey) make the bucolic ‘Girl On The Mountain,’ the majestic ‘When the Cold Wind Blows…’ and the nostalgic ‘(Last of the Old Time) Train Robbers’ sound like Fillmore East jam sessions...A grittier mood envelops the harmonica-driven ‘Piece of Wind,’ in which Robinson's political convictions surface.”

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Robinson, except where noted. # "40 Days" – 4:37 # "Girl on the Mountain" (Robinson,

Paul Stacey Paul Stacey (born 27 September 1963) is a British guitarist and producer, best known for his work with Oasis, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Steven Wilson, and the Black Crowes. Biography Stacey's early work included the 1990s band, the ...

) – 7:05 # "Mother of Stone" (Robinson,

Audley Freed Audley Freed is a guitarist from Burgaw, North Carolina. Early life, family and education Freed's father was in the US Army, so the family relocated often during his early years. Eventually the family settled in Burgaw, North Carolina in the ...

) – 3:45 # "(Last of the Old Time) Train Robbers" – 6:42 # "Like a Tumbleweed in Eden" – 5:08 # "When the Cold Wind Blows at the Dark End of Night" (Robinson, Stacey) – 7:59 # "...If You See California" – 4:44 # "The Never Empty Table" (Robinson, Stacey) – 5:06 # "Eagles on the Highway" (Robinson, Stacey) – 4:38 # "Surgical Glove" – 6:01 # "Piece of Wind" (Robinson, Stacey) – 5:08 # "Sea of Love" (Robinson, Stacey) – 5:22 # "Like a Tumbleweed in Eden (Original Version)" (Japanese Bonus Track) – 5:08 # "Prayer For The Gravity Man" (Japanese Bonus Track) – 2:30
Several early pressings incorrectly list "Sea of Love" as track 11 and "Piece of Wind" as track 12, but they are in the correct running order when played.

Personnel

Chris Robinson: vocals, guitar, harmonica
Paul Stacey: guitar

Jeremy Stacey Jeremy Stacey (born 27 September 1963) is a British drummer and keyboard player. His early works included the 1990s band The Lemon Trees (with twin brother Paul Stacey on guitars, Guy Chambers and others) and Denzil (band), Denzil. He has also ...

: drums, percussion
George Laks: keyboards

: guitars (tracks 1, 3 & 5)

Ethan Johns Ethan Thomas Robert Johns (born 1969 in Merton, London) is an English record producer, engineer, mixer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Johns has worked with artists including Robert Vincent, Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Paul McCartney, ...

: drums (tracks 3 & 5)
Richard Causon: keyboards (tracks 3 & 5)
George Reiff : bass guitar

Credits

Paul Stacey: co-producer, engineer, mixing
Chris Robinson: co-producer
Ian Cooper: Mastering

References

2004 albums Chris Robinson (singer) albums Vector Recordings albums {{2004-rock-album-stub