99.9F° Explained

Type:	studio
Artist:	Suzanne Vega
Cover:	99.9F - Suzanne Vega.jpg
Recorded:	February–June 1992
Studio:	Dreamland, Bearsville, New York The Sound Factory, Los Angeles Magic Shop, New York City^[1]
Genre:	Alternative rock, folk rock
Label:	A&M
Producer:	Mitchell Froom
Prev Title:	Days of Open Hand
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	Nine Objects of Desire
Next Year:	1996

(pronounced Ninety-Nine Point Nine Fahrenheit Degrees) is the fourth album by American singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega.^[2] Released in 1992, the album marked a departure for Vega, as she embraced a more electronic, experimental sound.^[3] It peaked at No. 86 on Billboard magazine's album chart and was Vega's fourth Top 20 album in the UK. The single "Blood Makes Noise" reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. was the first of two of Vega's albums to be produced by Mitchell Froom, whom she later married.^[2]

The album was certified gold (500,000 copies sold) by the RIAA in October 1997. It was certified silver in the UK (60,000 copies sold) by the BPI in March 1993. Vega has referred to ° as her favorite of her albums.^[4]

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote: "By far Vega's most rewarding record, 99.9 F degrees ... is the first album in which she breaks almost completely away from the conventions of the New York folk milieu that nurtured her."^[5] Trouser Press wrote that "many of the songs display a new interest in space and sound, using both in an almost sculptural fashion, creating a compelling amalgam that industrializes folk music."^[6]

Personnel

• Suzanne Vega – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Mitchell Froom –keyboards, string arrangement on 12
• Tchad Blake – electric guitar on 3, 4, 6, 10
• David Hidalgo – electric guitar on 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11
• Bruce Thomas – bass guitar
• Jerry Marotta – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Richard Pleasance – electric guitar on 1, 3, 10
• Michael Visceglia – fretless bass guitar on 5
• Richard Thompson – guitar solo on 11
• Greg Smith – baritone saxophone on 8, 11
• Jerry Scheff – double bass on 6, 12
• Marc Shulman – bouzouki on 5
• Sid Page – 1st violin on 12
• Joel Derouin – 2nd violin on 12
• Maria Newman – viola on 12
• Larry Corbett – cello on 12
• Suzie Katayama – copyist on 12

Technical

• Ronald K. Fierstein – executive producer
• Tchad Blake – engineer, mixing
• Len Peltier, Suzanne Vega – art direction

Charts

Chart (1992)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	56
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)^[8]	70
German Albums (Media Control)^[9]	27
New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)^[10]	38
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[11]	45
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	24
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)^[13]	5
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)^[14]	33
US Cash Box Top 200 Albums^[15]	83

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Peak position
1992	""	UK Singles (Official Chart Company)^[16]	46
		US Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[17]	13
	"Blood Makes Noise"	Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[18]	63
		New Zealand (RIANZ)^[19]	42
		UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	60
		US Alternative Songs (Billboard)	1
	"In Liverpool"	UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	52
1993	"When Heroes Go Down"	UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	58

Notes and References

1. Bieger. Hannes. The Magic Shop, New York. Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. January 2014. 1 August 2022.
2. Web site: Suzanne Vega | Biography & History. AllMusic.
3. Web site: A Musical Misfit Once Again : Suzanne Vega Breaks Her Self-Defined Mold With '99.9 F'. February 10, 1993. Los Angeles Times.
4. Web site: We've Got a File on You: Suzanne Vega . Stereogum . Tedder . Michael . 10 September 2020 . 6 April 2023.
5. Web site: RECORDINGS VIEW; Suzanne Vega's Version Of the Human Comedy (Published 1992). Stephen. Holden. October 11, 1992. NYTimes.com.
6. Web site: Suzanne Vega . Trouser Press . 13 February 2021.
7. 294.
8. Web site: Suzanne Vega – 99.9 °F . nl . Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien . June 8, 2014.
9. Web site: Suzanne Vega - 99.9 °F . . June 8, 2014.
10. Web site: Suzanne Vega – 99.9 °F . charts.nz. Hung Medien . June 8, 2014.
11. Web site: Suzanne Vega – 99.9 °F . Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien . June 8, 2014.
12. Web site: Suzanne Vega – 99.9 °F . Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien . June 8, 2014.
13. https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf
14. European Hot 100 Albums. Eurotipsheet. 9. 42. 17 October 1992. 27. 29800226. World Radio History.
15. Cash Box Top 200 Pop Albums . Cash Box. October 10, 1992. 14. 3 August 2024.
16. Web site: SUZANNE VEGA - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company. 3 June 2016.
17. Web site: Suzanne Vega - Chart history - Billboard. 3 June 2016.
18. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada. RPM. 21 March 2018.
19. Web site: SUZANNE VEGA - BLOOD MAKES NOISE (SONG). 21 March 2018.