''Tongues and Tails'' is the debut album by American singer-songwriter

Sophie B. Hawkins Sophie Ballantine Hawkins (born November 1, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and painter. Born in New York City, she attended the Manhattan School of Music for a year as a percussionist before leaving to pursue a music career. ...

, released in 1992 on Columbia records. It was produced by

Rick Chertoff Richard E. Chertoff (born March 29, 1950) is an American record producer and songwriter. He is credited on the singles Joan Osborne's " One of Us", Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and " Time After Time" and Sophie B. Hawkins' " Damn ...

and

Ralph Schuckett Ralph Schuckett (March 2, 1948 – April 4, 2021) was an American keyboardist, composer and songwriter known as one of the founding members of Todd Rundgren's band Utopia. He composed for film and television, including ''Pokémon'', ''Sonic X'', ...

. The album contains ten original tracks, including "

Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. Released in March 1992 as the first single from her debut album, '' Tongues and Tails'' (1992), the song achieved success in many cou ...

" and "

California Here I Come "California, Here I Come" is a song interpolated in the Broadway musical '' Bombo'', starring Al Jolson. The song was written by Bud DeSylva, Joseph Meyer, and Jolson. Jolson recorded the song on January 17, 1924, with Isham Jones' Orchestra, ...

", and a cover of

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

's "I Want You"; in ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'', Paul Evans described the style of her version as "breathy techno-MOR". The album, which sold over 850,000 units worldwide, was a commercial and critical success. It was awarded "Best Pop Album" and "Best Debut Album by a Solo Artist" at the 1992 New York Music Awards, and earned Hawkins a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nomination for Best New Artist in 1993.

Background

Hawkins recorded her debut album, ''Tongues and Tails'', after signing a contract with

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

, who had liked a demo tape she circulated to various labels. She was enthusiastic about her relationship with the label, telling ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' in 1992, "Once it sunk into my brain that I got this deal because olumbiabelieved in me and my music, I was able to dig into making this album without any inhibitions."

Singles

The lead single, "

", preceded the album and was released in the US on March 31, 1992. It achieved success in many countries worldwide; in the United States, it reached number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The second single, "

", was released in July 1992. It failed to appear on any ''Billboard'' charts, but did peak at number 79 on the US ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' Top 100 Pop Singles chart. "I Want You" was issued as the third and final single in October 1992, but was not a chart success. It did, however, reach number 49 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1993.

Critical reception

'' believed that ''Tongues and Tails'' "distinguishes itself from the femme-fronted confessional genre by contrasting sensitive lyrics with insinuating pop grooves, '70s soul stylings, and African-tribal percussion". They added that Hawkins "reveals a unique voice and charisma that's well worth the attention." Kent Zimmerman of ''

Gavin Report The ''Gavin Report'' was a San Francisco-based radio industry trade publication. The publication was founded by radio performer Bill Gavin in 1958. Its Top 40 listings were used for many years by programmers to decide content of programs. The ...

'' described the album as "one of this year's prime releases". He noted how Hawkins has "carved a personality niche right alongside her textured and keyboard-drive recordings", which "emphasizes sex and affection during dangerous times". ''

The Indianapolis Star } ''The Indianapolis Star'' (also known as ''IndyStar'') is a morning daily newspaper that began publishing on June 6, 1903, in Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It has been the only major daily paper in the city since 1999, whe ...

'' stated that "Hawkins' music ranges from churchlike keyboards to what should be instant favorites on the dance floor—sort of an early Springsteen to current Madonna."

Track listing

All tracks written by Sophie B. Hawkins, except "I Want You," written by

. #"

" – 5:23 #"

" – 4:38 #"Mysteries We Understand" – 4:40 #"Savior Child" – 4:45 #"Carry Me" – 4:36 #" I Want You" – 5:19 #"Before I Walk on Fire" – 4:58 #"We Are One Body" – 4:49 #"Listen" – 3:31 #"Live and Let Love" – 4:13 #"Don't Stop Swaying" – 5:31

Personnel

*Sophie B. Hawkins – keyboards, vocals *

Eric Bazilian Eric Michael Bazilian (born July 21, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Bazilian is a founding member of the rock band the Hooters. He wrote " One of Us", a song first recorded by Joan Osborne ...

– guitar *

Café A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café (), is an establishment that serves various types of coffee, espresso, latte, americano and cappuccino, among other hot beverages. Many coffeehouses in West Asia offer ''shisha'' (actually called ''nargi ...

– percussion *

Mino Cinelu Mino may refer to: Places in Japan * Mino, Gifu, a city in Gifu Prefecture * Mino, Kagawa, a former town in Kagawa Prefecture * Mino, Tokushima, a town in Tokushima Prefecture * Mino, an alternate spelling of Minoh, a city in Osaka Prefecture * ...

– percussion *Rick DiFonzo – guitar *

Mark Egan Mark Egan (born January 14, 1951, in Brockton, Massachusetts) is an American jazz bassist and trumpeter known for his membership in the Pat Metheny Group and the Gil Evans Orchestra. He is co-founder of the jazz fusion band, Elements. Biogra ...

– bass *Roger Greenawalt –

twelve-string guitar A twelve-string guitar (or 12-string guitar) is a steel-string guitar with 12 string (music), strings in six Course (music), courses, which produces a thicker, more ringing tone than a standard six-string guitar. Typically, the strings of the lo ...

Omar Hakim Omar Hakim (born February 12, 1959) is an American drummer, producer, arranger and composer. His session work covers jazz, jazz fusion, and pop music. He has worked with Weather Report, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Chic, Sting, Madonna, Dire S ...

– drums *

Gary Lucas Gary Lucas (born June 20, 1952) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and composer who was a member of Captain Beefheart's band. He formed the band Gods and Monsters in 1989. Lucas has released more than 50 albums to date as a solo artist or ...

– guitar *Sammy Merendino – rhythm, rhythm collage *

– keyboards *Peter Wood – synthesizer *Frederick Zlotkin – cello

Technical personnel

*Studio: Messina Music *Producers:

, Ralph Schuckett *Engineers:

John Agnello John Agnello is an American music producer and recording engineer who has worked with a multitude of recording artists. He has produced or co-produced dozens of albums. He also founded his own record label in the 2000s. Background In the 1980s, ...

Steve Churchyard Steve Churchyard is an English audio engineer and record producer who came to prominence working with the Pretenders. Career Churchyard grew up in Surbiton He attended senior school at Surbiton Grammar school in Thames ditton whilst he and his p ...

, Stewart Lerman, Martin Brass *Assistant engineers: Ted Trewhella, Michael White *Mixing: Steve Churchyard, David Leonard *Mastering: George Marino *Art direction: Christopher Austopchuk, Nicky Lindeman *Paintings: Sophie B. Hawkins

Charts

Notes

External links

Full lyrics of all tracks at official website
{{Authority control Sophie B. Hawkins albums 1992 debut albums Columbia Records albums Albums produced by Rick Chertoff