Tenderland Explained

Tenderland
Type:Album
Artist:Renée Geyer
Cover:Tenderland_by_Renee_Geyer.jpg
Studio:Woodstock Studios, Melbourne
Length:51:31[1]
Label:ABC / Universal Music Australia
Producer:Renée Geyer
Prev Title:Sweet Life
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Live at the Athenaeum
Next Year:2004

Tenderland is the eleventh studio album by Australian soul and R&B singer Renée Geyer. The album was released in August 2003 and peaked at number 11 on the ARIA Charts. It is described as Geyer's "interpretation of a special collection of classic soul, funk and R&B songs".[2]

In 2007 Geyer said "Tenderland was the first time I finally agreed to do interpretations of existing soul classics. I've always dabbled and had the odd one or two on albums, but I'd never before wanted to make a record totally like that. After being asked to for so many years I finally did it when I turned 50. I thought, if ever there was a time to do it, now was the time."[3]

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2003, the album was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album and Best Female Artist.[4]

In February 2004, Geyer was presented with a gold record for Tenderland.[5]

The album was re-released in April 2004 with a bonus live disc recorded at Melbourne Athenaeum on 1 November 2004.

Reception

Bruce Elder from Sydney Morning Herald gave the album a positive review saying "Here are songs everyone knows... filtered through years of love and intelligence. The results are fine interpretations that are unique expressions of Geyer's rare and beautiful vocal talent." adding "There's not a bad track on the album and Geyer has demonstrated that, when confronted with the right material and truly sympathetic production values, an Australian musician really can produce a very, very good soul album."[6]

Track listing

Standard edition

  1. "Thieves in the Temple" (Prince) – 4:21
  2. "Morning Glory" (Bobbie Gentry) – 3:54
  3. "Midnight Train to Georgia" (Jim Weatherly) – 5:37
  4. "Try a Little Tenderness" (Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods) – 4:44
  5. "Oh Me, Oh My" (Jim Doris) – 5:18
  6. "Sexual Healing" (Marvin Gaye, Odell Brown, David Ritz) – 4:47
  7. "A Song for You" (Leon Russell) – 4:23
  8. "The Makings of You" (Curtis Mayfield) – 2:30
  9. "Now That Love's Taken Over" (Chanté Moore, Simon Law) – 4:37
  10. "Heading in the Right Direction" (Garry Paige, Mark Punch) – 4:37
  11. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore (Miles Gregory) – 6:46

Special edition (Live at the Athenaeum)

  1. "Really, Really Love You" – 5:46
  2. "Thieves in the Temple" – 4:45
  3. "Morning Glory" – 4:30
  4. "Midnight Train to Georgia" – 5:42
  5. "Peace and Understanding" – 10:07
  6. "Nasty Streak" (Dan Kelly) – 7:27
  7. "Killer Lover" (Paul Kelly) – 6:01
  8. "Close to You" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 4:57
  9. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore (Miles Gregory) – 9:08
  10. "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" – 9:06
  11. "Sitting in Limbo" (Guilly Bright, Jimmy Cliff) – 6:40
  12. "Heading in the Right Direction" – 5:27

Release history

RegionDateFormatEdition(s)LabelCatalogue
AustraliaAugust 2003StandardABC Music / Universal Music Australia13112
AustraliaApril 2004Special EditionABC Music / Universal Music Australia13690

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tenderland by Renee Geyer. AllMusic. 12 May 2017.
  2. Web site: Tenderland. Sanity. 12 May 2017.
  3. Web site: Gigs Renee Geyer. Caravan Music. 12 May 2017.
  4. Web site: ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2003: 17th Annual ARIA Awards. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 12 May 2017.
  5. Web site: RENEE GEYER The Basement February 26 . SMH. 28 February 2004 . 18 March 2018.
  6. Web site: Renee Geyer, Tenderland. Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 2003. 12 May 2017.