Treehouse (The Grapes of Wrath album) explained

Treehouse
Type:Studio Album
Artist:The Grapes of Wrath
Cover:treehouseCover.jpg
Released:1987
Recorded:March – May 1987
Genre:Rock, pop
Length:49:56
Label:Nettwerk
Producer:Tom Cochrane
Prev Title:September Bowl of Green
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Now and Again
Next Year:1989

Treehouse is the second album by the Canadian band the Grapes of Wrath, released in 1987 on Nettwerk.[1] [2]

"Peace of Mind" was the band's first single to reach the RPM singles charts in Canada, peaking at No. 56.[3] "Backward Town" and "O Lucky Man" were also released as singles.

Production

The album was produced by Tom Cochrane. However, he departed the project slightly before it was finished, after conflicting with engineer Ric Arboit over "Peace of Mind"; Cochrane disliked the song and wanted to stop working on it before Arboit or the band thought it was finished. Arboit and Dave Ogilvie finished the final mixes. Cochrane encouraged the band to use pedal steel and keyboards.[4]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album "represents a nifty balancing act between harder-edged rock 'n' roll (courtesy of the Hooper brothers on bass and drums) and a more reflective and breezy folksiness."[1] The Kingston Whig-Standard noted that "the instrumental introduction to 'So Many Times' ends up taking up most of the song, but it's a wonderful blend of piano, organ and drums."[5] The Windsor Star called the album "peppy pop music reminiscent of the Mamas and the Papas and other late-'60s bands that blended folk and rock."[6] The Vancouver Sun deemed "Peace of Mind" "one of the cleanest, freshest songs of the year."[7]

Track listing

  1. "O Lucky Man" (3:26)
  2. "Backward Town" (4:06)
  3. "How Long" (3:04)
  4. "Very Special Day" (4:00)
  5. "Try" (3:30)
  6. "At Your Soul" (3:39)
  7. "Peace of Mind" (3:41)
  8. "Amused" (0:30)
  9. "Amused" (4:44)
  10. "So Many Times" (4:13)
  11. "Jewel in the Hand" (3:13)
  12. "Completely Lost" (4:33)
  13. "Run You Down" (2:41)
  14. "Seems Like Fate" (4:36)

Notes and References

  1. News: Matsumoto . Jon . Nostalgia with a Fizz . Los Angeles Times . 20 Sep 1987 . Calendar . 97.
  2. News: Dafoe . Chris . The Grapes of Wrath Treehouse . The Globe and Mail . 26 Nov 1987 . A25.
  3. Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack and Jason Schneider, . ECW Press. .
  4. News: Swaite . Lenny . Kelowna-bred Grapes branches east . Toronto Star . 9 Nov 1987 . C1.
  5. News: Burliuk . Greg . Treehouse The Grapes of Wrath . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 7 Nov 1987 . Magazine . 1.
  6. News: Shaw . Ted . No sour grapes in Kelowna bunch . Windsor Star . 13 Nov 1987 . C4.
  7. News: Mackie . Jon . Fine new artists give Canadian music a boost . Vancouver Sun . 11 Dec 1987 . D10.