Strings (EP) explained

Strings
Type:	ep
Artist:	Kristin Hersh
Border:	yes
Released:	^[1]
Genre:	Alternative Rock
Length:	30:39
Label:	4AD, Sire
Producer:	Lenny Kaye, Kristin Hersh

Strings is an extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh, released in April 1994. It peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart.

Track listing

All songs were written by Kristin Hersh except where noted.

"Beestung" - 3:09
"A Loon" (strings version) - 4:25
"Sundrops" (strings version) - 4:11
"Me and My Charms" (strings version) - 4:31
"Velvet Days" (strings version) - 3:44
"The Key" - 3:36
"Uncle June and Aunt Kiyoti" - 2:33 (Kristin Hersh and W.J. Hersh)
"When the Levee Breaks" - 4:35 (Memphis Minnie, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham)

The original UK release (4AD BAD 4006 CD) featured only tracks two, three, four, and five. Tracks six, seven, and eight originally featured as extra tracks on the CD and 12-inch "Your Ghost" single.

Personnel

Kristin Hersh – vocals and guitars
Martin McCarrick – cello and string arrangements
Jane Scarpantoni – cello
Wilfred Gibson – violin
Perry Montague-Mason – violin
Gavin Wright – violin
Billy McGee – double bass
Production: Lenny Kaye and Kristin Hersh
Engineering: Paul Q. Kolderie, Steve Rizzo, Phil Brown and John Fryer
Mixing: Martin McCarrick, Bill O'Connell and John Fryer
Design: Vaughan Oliver

"The Key"

"The Key" appeared on Secret Tracks 2, a cassette given away with Select. "I had this instrumental to finish but I wasn't hearing any words," Hersh said in the accompanying notes. "Then I opened this Krazy Kat comic from the '30s and there were all these beautiful words. So I re-wrote the song, took it apart, put it back together – and then I opened up the book again and none of those words were there. Honest to God! It was like this song was just kicking me in the head: 'Goddammit, whaddya need?! Alright, we'll write it in a comic book for ya, dipshit!'"^[2]

Notes and References

Single Releases. Music Week. 21. April 2, 1994.
Select, May 1994