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You Gotta Sin to Get Saved

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You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
Studio album by
Maria McKee
ReleasedJune 8, 1993
GenreCountry rock
Length40:46
LabelGeffen
ProducerGeorge Drakoulias
Maria McKee chronology
Maria McKee
(1989) 		You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
(1993) 		Life Is Sweet
(1996)

You Gotta Sin to Get Saved is the second album by the American singer-songwriter Maria McKee, released in 1993.[1][2] The album includes two Van Morrison covers and a take on Goffin/King's "I Can't Make It Alone".[3] The first single was "I'm Gonna Soothe You", which peaked at No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart.[4][5]

McKee, while promoting her third album, stated that she was unsatisfied with You Gotta Sin to Get Saved.[6]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Calgary HeraldC[8]
NME8/10[9]

Trouser Press wrote: "Like much of this amazing, unexpected album, McKee splits her convictions between the music and the words, sinning and saving herself in a fission explosion that blasts into the spirit of rock'n'roll."[10] The Guardian concluded that "languid backing by California session pros Jim Keltner, Benmont Tench et al, does nothing to spice up Maria's clear voice, or tumbleweed 'n' dust affairs."[11] Johnny Dee of NME described the album as "good, occasionally inspired, stuff" on which McKee "adopts a heavily rootsical approach, mixing R&B, country and Southern soul into a melancholic rock pot". He said it contained "all handsome songs", but felt it was McKee's "stunning delivery that really charms", writing, "McKee's voice torches each song with deep melancholic melody and her band mirror this beautifully, tinting everything with a richly soulful brush." He concluded, "An unreservedly retro and indulgent album, but a valuable one nonetheless. If there's a space in your record collection between the Black Crowes and the Jayhawks, [this] will plug that gap amply."[9] Ian Gittins of Melody Maker described the album as "no disgrace", but felt that it "still falls inevitably short of the sacred heights she scales live". He considered George Drakoulias' production to be "partly the problem", with the tracks "riddled with parping brass and cheesy keyboards", and added that the music is "frequently lame" and "spirited belters are few". He concluded, "The LP's "forte [being] shoulder-heaving, wrenched ballads, sepia laments, yet McKee never sounds truly wracked or at her best. The live shows may see McKee soar again, but here is a girl nowhere near her volcano."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "I'm Gonna Soothe You" (Bruce Brody, Marvin Etzioni, McKee) – 3:36
  2. "My Lonely Sad Eyes" (Van Morrison) – 2:41
  3. "My Girlhood Among the Outlaws" (McKee) – 3:44
  4. "Only Once" (McKee) – 4:03
  5. "I Forgive You" (Sam Brown, McKee) – 5:06
  6. "I Can't Make It Alone" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:38
  7. "Precious Time" (Gary Louris, Mark Olson) – 3:35
  8. "The Way Young Lovers Do" (Van Morrison) – 3:29
  9. "Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)" (Brody, Etzioni, McKee) – 5:05
  10. "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" (Brody, Sam Dogg, Etzioni, McKee) – 5:49

Personnel

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Production

[edit]
  • Producer: George Drakoulias
  • Engineers: Brendan O'Brien, Thom Panunzio, Martin Schmelze
  • Assistant engineers: Doug Boehm, Jim Champagne
  • Mixing: David Bianco, Martin Schmelze
  • Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
  • Arranger: David Campbell
  • Horn arrangements: The Memphis Horns
  • Art direction: Janet Wolshom
  • Director: Robin Sloane
  • Photography: Marvin Etzioni

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 135
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[14] 12
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 12
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[16] 11
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 26
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[18] 69

References

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  1. ^ "Maria McKee Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Life Is Bittersweet for Maria Mckee". MTV. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Boehm, Mike (May 20, 1993). "No Holding Back". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 6.
  4. ^ Buckley, Peter (December 17, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "MARIA MCKEE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  6. ^ "The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition". Canongate Books. November 1, 2007 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. You Gotta Sin to Get Saved at AllMusic
  8. ^ McEwen, Mary-Lynn (July 11, 1993). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  9. ^ a b Dee, Johnny (June 12, 1993). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 35.
  10. ^ "Maria McKee". Trouser Press. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  11. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (June 11, 1993). "Rock/pop". The Guardian Features Page. The Guardian.
  12. ^ Gittins, Ian (June 12, 1993). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 29.
  13. ^ "Maria McKee ARIA Chart History complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  14. ^ "Maria McKee Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Maria McKee – You Gotta Sin to Get Saved". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Maria McKee – You Gotta Sin to Get Saved". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  18. ^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 10, no. 26. June 26, 1993. p. 25. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
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