Native Son is the first studio album by the American band the Judybats, released in 1991 by Sire Records.[2][3] The title track peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4] The band supported the album by touring with John Wesley Harding.[5]

Native Son
Studio album by
Released1991
StudioDreamland, Hurley, New York
GenreAlternative pop[1]
Length45:34
LabelSire
ProducerRichard Gottehrer
The Judybats chronology
Native Son
(1991)
Down in the Shacks Where the Satellite Dishes Grow
(1992)

Promotion

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"She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)" first appeared on Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson (1990).[6] "Don't Drop the Baby" later appeared on the Sire Records various artists sampler album Just Say Yes Volume V: Just Say Anything (1991).

Music videos were made for the songs "Native Son", "Don't Drop the Baby", "Daylight", and "She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)".

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
Calgary HeraldB+[8]
Chicago Tribune    [9]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[10]

The Calgary Herald wrote that "the Judybats strikes a blow for pop music lovers with its debut disc, a shimmering collection of songs".[8] Trouser Press determined that "it's really Jeff Heiskell's remarkable singing and bittersweet lyrics that distinguish the record—'Incognito' provides an elegant précis of a relationship that can’t quite be publicly acknowledged, and 'Convalescing in Spain' and 'Don't Drop the Baby' address fear and desire with both grace and humor."[1] The Chicago Tribune opined that "it's a playful debut with some sparkling pop (the title track, 'Daylight') propping up overscrutinized propositions like 'Love's All Counting Sheep'."[9] The Washington Post concluded that "any band that can make the 13th Floor Elevator's 'She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)' sound this tidy could use a little scuffing up."[11] The Indianapolis Star considered Native Son to be one of the best pop/rock albums of 1991.[12]

Track listing

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All music by the Judybats, lyrics by Jeff Heiskell, except where otherwise indicated.

  1. "Native Son" – 3:19
  2. "Daylight" – 3:19
  3. "Convalescing in Spain" – 4:07
  4. "Don't Drop the Baby" – 3:42
  5. "She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)" (Tommy Hall, Roky Erickson) – 4:06
  6. "Incognito" – 3:03
  7. "In Like With You" – 4:06
  8. "Woman in the Garden" – 3:58
  9. "Waiting for the Rain" – 4:08
  10. "Counting Sheep" – 3:25
  11. "Perfumed Lies" (Lyrics: Johnny Sughrue) – 3:44
  12. "The Wanted Man" – 4:45

Personnel

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The Judybats

  • Jeff Heiskell – lead vocals
  • Ed Winters – electric guitars
  • Terry Casper – drums
  • Peggy Hambright – keyboards, violin & vocals
  • Timothy Stutz – electric bass & vocals
  • Johnny Sughrue – acoustic guitar & vocals

Technical

  • Richard Gottehrer – co-producer
  • Jeffrey Lesser – co-producer, engineer
  • David Cooke – additional engineering
  • Jeff Lippay – assistant engineer
  • Chris Laidlaw – assistant engineer
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Terry Casper – design
  • Peg Hambright – design, illustration
  • Johnny Sughrue – photography

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Zwirn, Michael. "Judybats". Trouser Press. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  2. ^ Hall, Dave (Feb 22, 1991). "Sound Bites". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
  3. ^ Burliuk, Greg (Mar 30, 1991). "Native Son The Judybats". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  4. ^ "The Judybats Songs Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography Music VF, US & UK hits charts".
  5. ^ Kim, Jae-Ha (April 14, 1991). "Harding sets his wise-guy wit to music at Park West". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.44.
  6. ^ Larsen, Dave (April 19, 1991). "Dig the New Breed". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 14.
  7. ^ "Native Son Review by Stewart Mason". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b Muretich, James (Feb 17, 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F2.
  9. ^ a b Caro, Mark (Mar 28, 1991). "JudyBats Native Son". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  10. ^ Arnold, Gina (February 15, 1991). "Native Son". Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ^ Jenkins, Mark (Apr 26, 1991). "The rare batch of New South folk-rockers...". The Washington Post. p. N13.
  12. ^ "Best of Show". The Indianapolis Star. Dec 29, 1991. p. G1.