Voices Carry
Encyclopedia
Voices Carry is the first studio album by the American band 'Til Tuesday
, released in 1985. (see 1985 in music
).
'Til Tuesday's debut single was the album's title track
, which went to #8 on the Billboard singles chart and remains the band's best-known song. The title song was originally sung by a woman to a woman, but due to record company pressure for less controversial lyrics it was changed to be sung to a man. The "Voices Carry" video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
and was played heavily on MTV
. It depicts a boyfriend trying to convert Aimee Mann
to his upper-class lifestyle; she finally lashes out at him during a concert at Carnegie Hall
, standing up from her seat in the audience and belting the lyrics ("He said, shut up! He said, shut up! Oh God, can't you keep it down?...") as she removes her cap to reveal her signature spiky, rat-tailed hair
.
Except for one short establishing shot of the exterior of New York City's Carnegie Hall, the video was shot completely on-location in Boston, MA. The Strand Theater in Dorchester's Upham's Corner doubled for the interior of Carnegie Hall during the video's final crane shot.
The album's second and third singles were "Love in a Vacuum" and "Looking over My Shoulder"; the latter peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
, which is known for naming each episode after an 80s hit song or album, named a two part episode after this album.
'Til Tuesday
Til Tuesday was an American New Wave band formed in Boston in 1982. Its original lineup was bassist/vocalist Aimee Mann, guitarist/vocalist Robert Holmes, keyboardist Joey Pesce, and drummer Michael Hausman.-History:...
, released in 1985. (see 1985 in music
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
).
'Til Tuesday's debut single was the album's title track
Voices Carry (song)
"Voices Carry" is a song by American new wave band 'Til Tuesday. Written by Aimee Mann, the song was produced by Mike Thorne for the group's debut album Voices Carry, released in 1985. The song is about past sour relationships and was originally written and sung as if to a woman, but the lyrics...
, which went to #8 on the Billboard singles chart and remains the band's best-known song. The title song was originally sung by a woman to a woman, but due to record company pressure for less controversial lyrics it was changed to be sung to a man. The "Voices Carry" video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
and was played heavily on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. It depicts a boyfriend trying to convert Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
to his upper-class lifestyle; she finally lashes out at him during a concert at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, standing up from her seat in the audience and belting the lyrics ("He said, shut up! He said, shut up! Oh God, can't you keep it down?...") as she removes her cap to reveal her signature spiky, rat-tailed hair
Rattail (haircut)
A rattail is a hair style that is characterized by a long "tail"-like element of hair growing downward from the back of the head. The rattail usually curls naturally; however, it can be braided, treated as a dread, permed, straightened, or curled with an iron...
.
Except for one short establishing shot of the exterior of New York City's Carnegie Hall, the video was shot completely on-location in Boston, MA. The Strand Theater in Dorchester's Upham's Corner doubled for the interior of Carnegie Hall during the video's final crane shot.
The album's second and third singles were "Love in a Vacuum" and "Looking over My Shoulder"; the latter peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Track listing
Personnel
- Aimee MannAimee MannAimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Robert HolmesRobert Holmes (musician)Robert Holmes is a guitarist, best known for his work as guitarist/vocalist/writer in the new wave band 'Til Tuesday, the former band of Aimee Mann....
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s and background vocals - Joey Pesce – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and background vocals - Michael HausmanMichael HausmanMichael Hausman is an American percussionist and artist manager in the music industry.He was a former student of Berklee College of Music and played with a Boston band called The Dark before becoming the drummer for the mid-1980s New Wave band 'Til Tuesday; the group's only hit, Voices Carry, is...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Production
- Produced By Mike Thorne
- Executive Producer: Dick Wingate
- Engineered By Domenic Maita
- Mixed By Harvey Goldberg; assisted by Moira Marquis
- Studio Assistants: Mike Krowiak & Jeff Lippay
- Mastered By Jack Skinner
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Billboard 200 | 19 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Voices Carry" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 14 |
| 1985 | "Voices Carry" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| 1985 | "Looking Over My Shoulder" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 61 |
Legacy
The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
, which is known for naming each episode after an 80s hit song or album, named a two part episode after this album.