Brave and Crazy explained

Brave and Crazy
Type:	Album
Artist:	Melissa Etheridge
Cover:	Melissa Etheridge - Brave and Crazy.jpg
Released:	September 11, 1989
Recorded:	January 24–26, March 1 and May 24–26, 1989
Studio:	A&M Studios (Hollywood, CA) Devonshire Sound Studios (North Hollywood, CA)
Genre:	Rock
Length:	44:13
Label:	Island
Prev Title:	Melissa Etheridge
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Never Enough
Next Year:	1992

Brave and Crazy is the second album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music). As of 2010, the album has sold 632,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.^[1]

Reception

Billboard commented that "though more polished, rocker's sophomore outing never sacrifices passion, emotion, and guts for style. Etheridge remains a one-trick artist - most of her songs are in a similar midtempo rocker guitar style - but her lyrics, delivered with startling conviction, lead her to the head of the class." ^[2]

In their review, Cashbox stated that "Brave and Crazy documents an artist still stoking the furnace of desire...Alternating between somewhat balladic songs and fierce rockers, the album does not suffer the dreaded sophomore slump, but it does convey the suffering born of the blues...While much is said of Etheridge’s vocal instrument, her prowess as a 12-string ace is a large part of why her compositions succeed as well as they do."^[3]

Allmusic noted that "the throaty singer/guitarist/composer is slightly more reflective than on her first release, but no less confident. Nor is she is any less rootsy. Etheridge's earthiness is a large part of her appeal, and she uses it most advantageously...As introspective as things get on this CD, Etheridge never becomes wimpy or self-pitying. For all its vulnerability, Brave and Crazy is the work of someone who comes across as a survivor" ^[4]

Track listing

All tracks written by Melissa Etheridge, except where noted.

1. "No Souvenirs" – 4:33
2. "Brave and Crazy" – 4:37
3. "You Used to Love to Dance" – 5:33
4. "The Angels" – 4:38
5. "You Can Sleep While I Drive" – 3:14
6. "Testify" (Etheridge, Kevin McCormick) – 4:28
7. "Let Me Go" – 3:56
8. "My Back Door" – 4:24
9. "Skin Deep" – 3:10
10. "Royal Station 4/16" – 7:08

Note

• The album lists the running time of two songs incorrectly: "You Used to Love to Dance" actually runs 5:33 (not 4:33) and "Royal Station 4/16" runs 7:08 (not 6:40). The correct times are printed on the disc itself.

Personnel

• Melissa Etheridge – vocals, twelve-string guitar, producer, arranger
• Bono – harmonica
• Bernie Larsen – electric guitar
• Mauricio-Fritz Lewak – drums
• Kevin McCormick – bass guitar, producer, arranger
• Scott Thurston – keyboards
• Waddy Wachtel – guitar

Production

• Niko Bolas – producer, mixing, engineer
• Niko Bolas, Bob Vogt – engineer,
• Tom Banghart – assistant engineer
• Larry Goodwin – assistant engineer
• Randy Wine – assistant engineer
• Dennis Keeley – photography
• Robin Fredriksz – make-up

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Canadian Album Chart^[5]	5
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)^[6]	38
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)^[7]	20

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ask Billboard: Records About Records. Billboard. Gary. Trust. August 5, 2010. February 17, 2020.
2. Album Reviews. Billboard Music Week. 23 September 1989 . 84 . July 18, 2024.
3. Album Reviews. Cash Box. 11 November 1989 . 18 . July 18, 2024.
4. https://www.allmusic.com/album/brave-and-crazy-mw0000201739
5. Web site: Nov 18, 1989. Image : RPM Weekly . April 6, 2024 . Bac-lac.gc.ca.
6. https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf
7. European Top 100 Albums. Eurotipsheet. 6. 42. 21 October 1989. 14. 29800226. World Radio History.