Ghosts Upon the Road is an album by the American musician Eric Andersen, released in 1989.[3][4] His first release on an American label in 12 years, it was regarded as a comeback album.[5][6] Andersen had been living in Norway for many years.[7]
| Ghosts Upon the Road | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Label | Gold Castle[1] Alert[2] | |||
| Producer | Steve Addabbo, Eric Andersen | |||
| Eric Andersen chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Steve Addabbo and Andersen.[8] Andy Newmark played drums on the album, and other musicians were borrowed from Suzanne Vega's band.[9][10] "Ghosts Upon the Road" is a 10-minute autobiographical song; Andersen also attempted to turn it into a screenplay.[11][12]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| Chicago Tribune | [14] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [15] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [8] |
| Ottawa Citizen | [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [16] |
The Ottawa Citizen noted that "pastoral settings and Celtic inflections flirt with Andersen's brutal confessions."[5] The Los Angeles Times concluded that, "if mental fragility and the spectral fading of the past are the twin shadows of Ghosts Upon the Road, Andersen also points to sources of brightness and healing in songs about love and the calmer, quieter life he leads in Norway."[17] The Chicago Tribune stated that the album "showcases Andersen's considerable talents as a contemporary folk/pop songwriter."[14]
The New York Times praised the title track, writing that "the swirl of personal reminiscence and myth makes for a poignant personal evocation of the era and its romantic icons."[12] The Windsor Star deemed Ghost Upon the Road "one of the year's most satisfying albums."[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide called Ghosts Upon the Road "one of the best albums of the 1980s."[16]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Belgian Bar" | |
| 2. | "Spanish Steps" | |
| 3. | "It Starts with a Lie" | |
| 4. | "Trouble in Paris" | |
| 5. | "Listen to the Rain" | |
| 6. | "Ghosts Upon the Road" | |
| 7. | "Too Many Times (I Will Try)" | |
| 8. | "Carry Me Away" | |
| 9. | "Six Senses of Darkness" | |
| 10. | "Irish Lace" |
References
edit- ^ Krampert, Peter (March 23, 2016). The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. Mel Bay Publications.
- ^ a b Shaw, Ted (16 Dec 1989). "Eric Andersen: Ghosts Upon the Road". Windsor Star. p. C2.
- ^ "Eric Andersen Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Meguerian, Garen (22 June 1989). "Summer Folk Concert Draws Colorful Crowd". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. M6.
- ^ a b c Erskine, Evelyn (29 Sep 1989). "Andersen revisits beat poet Kerouac, keeps dreams alive". Ottawa Citizen. p. D6.
- ^ Niesel, Jeff. "Folk Singer-Songwriter Eric Andersen Looks Back at His 50-Year Career". Cleveland Scene.
- ^ Benarde, Scott (28 Jan 1990). "New Generation of Male Folk Singers on Horizon". The Palm Beach Post. p. L1.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 28.
- ^ "Eric Andersen on Songwriting and Poetry". No Depression. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ MacInnis, Craig (24 June 1989). "Eric Andersen starts over". Toronto Star. p. J3.
- ^ Hinton, Brian (June 26, 2012). Country Roads: How Country Came to Nashville. Bobcat Books.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (23 Aug 1989). "Eric Andersen's 'Ghosts'". The New York Times. p. C17.
- ^ "Ghosts Upon the Road". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Van Matre, Lynn (24 Aug 1989). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 13C.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 173.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 14.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (21 Sep 1989). "Wanderings of Eric Andersen Lead Him Back into Musical Mainstream". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 11.