The Charm of the Highway Strip
Encyclopedia
The Charm of the Highway Strip is the fourth studio album
by The Magnetic Fields
, released in 1994. It is the first Magnetic Fields album to have its original release with Merge Records
. Its title, lyrics and musical styling are a nod to country music
, though the songs of Stephin Merritt
remain rooted in classic pop
and synthesizers. Virtually every song deals with roads and travel - and several songs' lyrics implicitly reference vampires.
The title of the album comes from a quote by J. B. Jackson
, 1959: "Let us hope that the merits and charm of the highway strip are not so obscure but that they will be accepted by a wider public."
This is the group's second album in which songwriter Merritt does all of the singing.
The album was released on vinyl for the first time on May 6, 2008 via Merge Records
. This marks the very first appearance of a Magnetic Fields album on vinyl.
Lush
covered "I Have the Moon" as single B-side, also in Japanese/Canadian released album Topolino.
The song "Dust Bowl" was used during an episode of the television series version of This American Life
("Pandora's Box").
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields
The Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
, released in 1994. It is the first Magnetic Fields album to have its original release with Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
. Its title, lyrics and musical styling are a nod to country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, though the songs of Stephin Merritt
Stephin Merritt
Stephin Merritt is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles , best known as the principal singer and songwriter in the band The Magnetic Fields...
remain rooted in classic pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and synthesizers. Virtually every song deals with roads and travel - and several songs' lyrics implicitly reference vampires.
The title of the album comes from a quote by J. B. Jackson
J. B. Jackson
John Brinckerhoff "Brinck" Jackson, J.B. Jackson, was a writer, publisher, instructor, and sketch artist in landscape design. Herbert Muschamp, New York Times architecture critic, stated that J.B...
, 1959: "Let us hope that the merits and charm of the highway strip are not so obscure but that they will be accepted by a wider public."
This is the group's second album in which songwriter Merritt does all of the singing.
The album was released on vinyl for the first time on May 6, 2008 via Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
. This marks the very first appearance of a Magnetic Fields album on vinyl.
Lush
Lush (band)
Lush were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1987 and disbanded in 1998. They were one of the first bands to attract the "shoegazing" label...
covered "I Have the Moon" as single B-side, also in Japanese/Canadian released album Topolino.
The song "Dust Bowl" was used during an episode of the television series version of This American Life
This American Life (TV series)
This American Life is an American television series based on the radio program of the same name. Like the radio program, the series is hosted by Ira Glass. The series premiered on March 22, 2007. Two seasons of the show have aired on Showtime...
("Pandora's Box").
Track listing
All tracks written by Stephin Merritt.- "Lonely Highway" – 3:06
- "Long Vermont Roads" – 3:27
- "Born on a Train" – 3:46
- "I Have the Moon" – 2:37
- "Two Characters in Search of a Country Song" – 3:33
- "Crowd of Drifters" – 3:36
- "Fear of Trains" – 3:15
- "When the Open Road Is Closing In" – 3:39
- "Sunset City" – 4:05
- "Dust Bowl" – 2:20
Personnel
- Stephin MerrittStephin MerrittStephin Merritt is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles , best known as the principal singer and songwriter in the band The Magnetic Fields...
- vocals, instrumentation - Sam DavolSam DavolSamuel Bradford Davol is a musician best known for his work with the indie pop band The Magnetic Fields. He is featured several times in videos for The Magnetic Fields, and in the opening for "Born on a Train", his cello is featured at the beginning of the video...
- cello - Claudia GonsonClaudia GonsonClaudia Miriam Gonson, is an American musician best known for her work with The Magnetic Fields. She occasionally provides the band lead vocals as well as performing the piano or drums...
- management