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One Left Shoe

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One Left Shoe
Studio album by
Steve Poltz
Released1998
StudioOcean Way[1]
LabelMercury[2]
ProducerJ. Steven Soles
Steve Poltz chronology
One Left Shoe
(1998) 		Live at Largo
(2000)

One Left Shoe is the solo debut album by the American musician Steve Poltz, released in 1998.[3][4] The first single was "Silver Lining".[5] Poltz, at the time, expected to record again with the Rugburns, and considered One Left Shoe to be a "sensitive" folk excursion.[6]

Poltz promoted the album by playing shows with, among others, Richard X. Heyman and Lisa Loeb.[7][8] He also took part in the "Frasier Fair" tour (so named by Rufus Wainwright), with John Doe, Pete Droge, and Glen Phillips.[9]

Production

[edit]

Recorded in 15 days, the album was produced by J. Steven Soles.[10][11][12] Four of its songs were cowritten by Jewel, who also provided backing vocals.[13][14] Jim Keltner, Leland Sklar, Benmont Tench, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' horn section were among the musicians who played on One Left Shoe.[15][16][17] Jimmie Haskell arranged the strings; Van Dyke Parks also contributed during the recording sessions.[18][19]

"Forbidden Fruit" is about an interaction with a prostitute.[20] "I Thought I Saw You Last Night" was inspired by the death of a friend.[21]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[22]
The Indianapolis Star[23]
Los Angeles Daily News[24]
Los Angeles TimesA[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[12]
The Province[25]
Rolling Stone[18]
Telegraph-Journal[26]
Toronto Sun[20]

Salon determined that, "particularly when it wanders off the straight folkie path, One Left Shoe sounds better than it reads."[27] The Los Angeles Daily News called the album "a gentle and amusing acoustic collection that avoids the furrowed-brow introspection of similar singer-songwriter debuts."[24] The Province labeled it "a reflective, folksy singer-writer album of quiet charm and some sleepiness."[25]

The Washington Post stated that "Poltz wisely sticks to his strengths: pleasant, Randy Newman-ish melodies and whimsical delivery."[28] The Telegraph-Journal advised: "Think Jackson Browne with the seventies sincerity turfed out, replaced by nineties irony."[26] The Indianapolis Star deemed the album "pleasant, mostly earnest, competently performed and ultimately unmemorable."[23] The New Yorker considered it to be "an unexpectedly mature collection of forlorn ballads."[29]

AllMusic wrote that "Poltz still sounds a little unsure of himself in places on One Left Shoe, but on the whole, it's a promising debut."[22]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Look to the East" 
2."Good Morning (Waking Up with You)" 
3."Krikor's Waltz" 
4."Silver Lining" 
5."Forbidden Fruit" 
6."Salvation Song" 
7."Impala" 
8."One Left Shoe" 
9."I Thought I Saw You Last Night" 
10."Everything About You" 
11."Leavin' Again" 
12."The Great Mystery" 
13."Broken Hearts and Painted Nails" 
14."Kicking Distance" 
15."Beautiful Day" 

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Westmacott, Gord (June 13, 1998). "Busking Led to Solo Record". The London Free Press. p. C2.
  2. ^ "The secret origin of Steve Poltz's One Left Shoe". San Diego Reader.
  3. ^ "Steve Poltz Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ^ "Steve Poltz: One To Watch for at SXSW". No Depression. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ^ Borzillo, Carrie (Feb 14, 1998). "Mercury wants Steve Poltz's name as familiar as his face". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 7. pp. 12, 15.
  6. ^ a b Locey, Bill (16 July 1998). "Making Music". Los Angeles Times. p. F48.
  7. ^ Moon, Tom (3 Apr 1998). "And devotees of power-pop...". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 15.
  8. ^ Weatherford, Mike (24 July 1998). "The Lisa & Steve show". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 30J.
  9. ^ Anderman, Joan (11 Nov 1998). "Four guys with songs, guitars, and a few chords". The Boston Globe. p. F3.
  10. ^ Yorke, Richie (March 14, 1999). "Jewel's Diamond Friend". Encore. The Courier-Mail. p. 75.
  11. ^ Verna, Paul (May 16, 1998). "One Left Shoe". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 20. p. 23.
  12. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. pp. 961–962.
  13. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Jewel Co-Songwriter Steve Poltz's Solo Debut". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "A gem on his own". Maclean's. Vol. 111, no. 20. May 18, 1998. p. 56.
  15. ^ Roos, John (12 May 1998). "Steve Poltz Pulls a Slow One". Los Angeles Times. p. F2.
  16. ^ Ohler, Shawn (28 June 1998). "Steve Poltz discusses music, touring and Ms. Jewel". Edmonton Journal. p. C3.
  17. ^ Peterson, Karla (January 4, 1998). "Steve Poltz". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E5.
  18. ^ a b Hunter, James (May 14, 1998). "One Left Shoe/Burning the Daze". Rolling Stone. No. 786. p. 59.
  19. ^ Booth, Philip (7 Aug 1998). "Poltz Learned the Old-Fashioned Way". Ticket. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 9.
  20. ^ a b Stevenson, Jane (March 22, 1998). "Steve Poltz One Left Shoe". Toronto Sun. p. S7.
  21. ^ Zollinger Turner, Tracy (April 23, 1998). "One Left Shoe, Steve Poltz". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 5.
  22. ^ a b "Steve Poltz – One Left Shoe". AllMusic.
  23. ^ a b Penner, Diana (12 Apr 1998). "Steve Poltz". The Indianapolis Star. p. I11.
  24. ^ a b Shuster, Fred (20 Mar 1998). "Sound Check". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L24.
  25. ^ a b Harrison, Tom (16 Apr 1998). "Steve Poltz: One Left Shoe". The Province. p. B14.
  26. ^ a b Mersereau, Bob (11 Apr 1998). "Goin' down the road". News. Telegraph-Journal.
  27. ^ Moerer, Keith (March 18, 1998). "Sharps and Flats: Steve Poltz". Salon.
  28. ^ Foster, Patrick (25 Mar 1998). "Steve Poltz: Bard Next Door". The Washington Post. p. D7.
  29. ^ "Mercury Lounge". The New Yorker. May 11, 1998. p. 20.
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