Play Me Backwards is an album by the American musician Joan Baez, released in 1992. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. Baez supported it with an international tour.
In 2011, Play Me Backwards was reissued on CD with a bonus disc of 10 previously unreleased tracks, including "The Trouble with the Truth", "Medicine Wheel" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Seven Curses".
Production Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Wally Wilson and Kenny Greenberg. Baez sought out material after being dismayed with the songs pitched to her; she spent 14 months trying to find the right songs. The album's first single, "Stones in the Road", for which Baez shot a video, was written by Mary Chapin Carpenter. "Through Your Hands" was written by John Hiatt. "I'm with You" is about Baez's son, Gabriel.
Critical reception
The Boston Globe called Play Me Backwards "mostly an album of mature, surprisingly percussive folk-pop love songs that marks her finest work since her Diamonds and Rust album of 1975." The Sun-Sentinel wrote that "Baez's erstwhile hyper-quivering soprano thankfully does not flutter so much, and has deepened marvelously with age."
The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "a surprisingly relaxed, rhythmic and modern set that sounds like it could have been recorded by any one of a number of today's folk-and country-flavored pop female singer-songwriters." The Indianapolis Star noted that "Baez's voice sounds as pure as ever."
Track listing All tracks composed by Joan Baez, Wally Wilson and Kenny Greenberg, except where indicated.
"Play Me Backwards" "Amsterdam" (Janis Ian, Buddy Mondlock) "Isaac and Abraham" "Stones in the Road" (Mary Chapin Carpenter) "Steal Across the Border" (Ron Davies) "I'm with You" (Baez) "I'm with You" (Reprise) (Baez) "Strange Rivers" (John Stewart) "Through Your Hands" (John Hiatt) "The Dream Song" "The Edge of Glory"
Personnel
Musicians Joan Baez – guitar, vocals Greg Barnhill – backing vocals Richard Bennett – electric guitar Ashley Cleveland – backing vocals Chad Cromwell – drums Jerry Douglas – Dobro, guitar, lap steel guitar, Weissenborn Carl Gorodetzky – violin Kenny Greenberg – acoustic and electric guitar Vicki Hampton – backing vocals Mike Lawler – organ, synthesizer Bob Mason – cello Edgar Meyer – upright bass Jonell Mosser – backing vocals Steve Nathan – organ, Wurlitzer Cyndi Richardson – backing vocals Jerry Roady – percussion Tom Roady – percussion Chris Rodriguez – backing vocals Pamela Sixfin – violin James Stroud – drums Marcos Suzano – percussion, berimbau Willie Weeks – bass guitar Kristin Wilkinson – viola Wally Wilson – synthesizer, piano, producer Glenn Worf – bass guitar
Others James A. Ball – engineer Peter Coleman – engineer Tom Dolan – design Roy Gamble – engineer, second engineer Aaron D. Jacoves – A&R/executive producer Eric Gorodetzky – engineer, second engineer Kenny Greenberg – producer Mick Haggerty – art direction Bob Ludwig – mastering Melanie Nissen – photography Greg Parker – engineer, second engineer Ed Simonton – engineer, second engineer Kevin Smith – mixing Taylor York – engineer
References