Sheryl Crow
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Mainstream pop, rock
Status:
Most recent release, Live from The Ryman and More (live, 2019); most recent studio release, Threads (2019)
See also:
Sheryl Crow's site
Comparisons:
A bit like Joan Osborne sometimes. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Covers/own material:
Own, mostly co-written
General comments:
i really liked sheryl crow on the first few listens, but grew to despise her. (barbearuh@erols.com)I couldn't stand Sheryl Crow when she first came out. "All I Wanna Do" was all over the radio, and I wanted to scream. But after the immense popularity of the album started dying down, and I heard the songs less frequently, I realized that I actually LIKED them. Quite a bit. I inherited my sister's copy of Tuesday Night Music Club, and I found that I liked it. I find that I tend to like the songs she doesn't release better than the singles. Sheryl really does have talent, both vocal and instrument-playing-wise. Her music, solidly pop/rock, draws on a lot of different influences and often has blues touches. Perhaps all her hype and fame has some people writing her music off, but she is good, and she's worth a listen. At the least, her music is fun and enjoyable, and at its best, there are some real gems. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Comments about live performance:
I saw Sheryl Crow a few weeks ago in Toledo. She was a strong and charismatic performer, leading her band with a stage presence and assuredness I had not expected. Her stage banter wasn't much, but her performances were very true to her albums...a decent show. Still, got to downgrade it for her diva-like behavior after the show, when she sneaked into her tourbus without even acknowledging the 10 or so 12-year-old fans who had gathered to get an autograph. Not very nice. (miazgama@pilot.msu.edu)Sheryl Crow played all her hits and had a cold, but she remembered all the words to her own songs. It was enjoyable and I could dance to it, but *shrug*. (bunnies@cris.com)
Sheryl Crow's performance was already in progress when I arrived, thanks to conflicting information about the start time. Somehow I doubt if what I missed was all that different from what I didn't. This one was at the main stage, with a large crowd; I saw the performance on a video screen, probably getting a better view than those seated where they could see the stage with the naked eye. Musically, Crow seemed to be mostly preaching to the converted, as it were. The set was replete with Greatest Hits, and what I assume to be other album tracks. A few numbers deviated from normal radio rock, shading into folk or maybe country; perhaps unsurprisingly, those are the selections I found most interesting.
The crowd certainly did its fair share of clapping and singing along to the music. But somehow I doubt that any of them learned anything new, musically. (7/03, mapravat@prairienet.org)
Recommended first album:
Sheryl Crow
Recordings:
- Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
- Sheryl Crow (1996)
- The Globe Sessions (1998)
- sheryl crow and friends live from central park (live, 1999)
- C'mon C'mon (2002)
- The Very Best of Sheryl Crow (compilation, 2003)
- Wildflower (2005)
- Hits and Rarities (compilation, 2007)
- Detours (2008)
- Home for Christmas (seasonal, 2008)
- 100 Miles From Memphis (2010)
- Feels Like Home (2013)
- Be Myself (2017)
- Live from The Ryman and More (live, 2019)
- Threads (2019)
Tuesday Night Music Club
Release info:
1993—A&M Records—D103061
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, unused classically-trained piano, unused untrained guitar, and unorthodox Hammond
Guest artists:
Bill Bottrell—reborn guitarist, "budding" pedal steel player
Kevin Gilbert—drums
David Baerwald—funky guitar
Dan Schwartz—God-like bass
Brian MacLeod—drums
David Ricketts—laugh and bass tracks on "Leaving Las Vegas"
Wendell Crow—trumpet on "We Do What We Can"
Produced by:
Bill Bottrell
Comments:
Tuesday Night Music Club is probably the lightest, poppiest, "funnest" of her albums. Still there are three very beautiful slower songs: "I Shall Believe" and "We Do What We Can," and "No One Said It Would Be Easy." And the singles are much better when they aren't being pounded into your head on the radio all the time. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Sheryl Crow
Release info:
1996—A&M Records—31454-0587-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, hammond, wurlitzer, piano, loop, electric guitar, moog bass, pennyosley, harmonium, keyboard
Guest artists:
Jeff Trott—guitars, vocals, loop, acoustic guitars, longhorn guitar
Brian MacLeod—loop, drums
Davey Faragher—fuzz bass
Todd Wolfe—electric guitar, dobro
Michael Urbano—drums, snare, loop
Steve Berlin—sax
Pete Thomas—drum kit, drums
Steve Donnelly—dobro, guitars, electric guitar
Dan Rothchild—bass
Mitchell Froom—dueling harmonium, keyboards, string and horn arrangements
Neil Finn—vocals
Anders Rundblad—bass
Jim Keltner—drums
Bob Stewart, Curtis Fowlkes, Dave Douglas, Josh Roseman—horns
Jane Scarpantoni—strings
Produced by:
Sheryl Crow
Comments:
I think "Sheryl Crow", her second album, is fantastic and her best work. It's very assured, and offers a nice blend of blues-rock-folk-pop numbers with Sheryl sounding very confident and in fine voice. The best track is "Ordinary Morning," a soaring blues number, although the radio hits were all gems from this album. (miazgama@pilot.msu.edu)I agree that her second, self-titled album is her best. There are a lot of strong songs here, including "Home," "Maybe Angels," "Redemption Day," as well as the singles. It's her most consistently strong album. And there is a range of songs on the album as well, some quiet ballads, rock, bluesy, some with a full band and some with smaller 3- or 4-person ensembles. (JoAnn Whetsell)
The Globe Sessions
Release info:
1998—A&M Records—31454-0959-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, bass, Hammond B-3, wurlitzer, percussion, clavinet, acoustic guitar, harmonica, National guitar, keys, tambourine, funk guitar, electric guitar, 12-string electric guitar
Guest artists:
Jeff Trott—tremelo guitar, guitars, electric guitars, 12 string acoustic guitar, bass, slide guitar, moog, 12-string guitar
Gregg Williams—drums, percussion, tambourine, programming
Val McCallum—guitar, electric guitars
Tim Smith—bass, acoustic guitar
Wendy Melvoin (Wendy and Lisa)—guitars, bass
Dan McCarroll—drums
Bobby Keys—baritone, tenor & alto sax
Michael Davis—trombone
Kent Smith—trumpet
Dan Rothchild—double bass, bass
Trina Shoemaker—drum loop
Benmont Tench—organ, piano, Hammond B-3, chamberlain
Lisa Germano—violin, solo, autoharp
Jimmie Haskell—string arrangement and conducting
Mark Feldman, Maura Giannini, Avril Brown, Mary Rowell, Joyce Hammon, Laura Seaton, Matthew Pierce & Lorenza Ponce—violins
Jane Scarpantoni, Mary Wooten, Garo Yellin, Michelle Kinney—cellos
Todd Wolfe—electric guitar
Jim Bogios—drums
Mitchell Froom—clavinet, orchistron
Greg Liesz—pedal steel
Kathy Crow—guest vocals
Produced by:
Sheryl Crow
Comments:
This sounds competent, and a couple of songs sound inspired. (Eric_Starker)Overall a good album, but I prefer the mellower sound of the previous albums. Also, the previous ones seemed to borrow from more genres, like blues and country, while this one seems to just want to rock out all the time. From the first video too, it seems like she's trying to change her image to be more bad-ass or something. But I really like "My Favorite Mistake" and "Anything But Down." The other songs are good too, but she tries a bit too hard to push the intensity. Perhaps it would have been an even better album if she'd chilled out a bit. (JoAnn Whetsell)
sheryl crow and friends live from central park
Release info:
1999—A&M Records—069490574-4
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, harmonica
Tim Smith—electric guitar, bass, background vocals
Jim Bogios—drums, background vocals
Mike Rowe—keyboards
Peter Stroud—acoustic, electric, lead, and slide guitars
Matt Brubeck—cello, bass ("Gold Dust Woman")
Mary Rowell—violin, acoustic guitar ("Everyday Is A Winding Road")
Guest artists:
Ash Sood—percussion, tambourine
Natalie Maines—vocals
Martie Seidel—fiddle, background vocals
Emily Robinson—banjo, slide guitar, background vocals
Stevie Nicks—vocals, tambourine
Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)—vocals, rhythm guitar, background vocals
Keith Richards—vocals, guitar
Sarah McLachlan—vocals
Eric Clapton—vocals, guitar, lead guitar
Produced by:
Sheryl Crow; Stephen "Scooter" Weintraub, executive producer
Comments:
Energetic and fun. I haven't listened to this all the way through yet, but I think it will be a good addition to my car tape collection (I don't think I'd listen to it that much in the house). She seems like an enthusiastic performer. About half the songs feature guest vocals. "Strong Enough" works really well as a country tune with the Dixie Chicks; I also really like the violin on that track. (JoAnn Whetsell)
C'mon, C'mon
Release info:
2002—A&M Records—069493260-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, acoustic guitar, maracas, F/X keyboard, electric guitar, Wurlitzer, bass, piano, Wurlitzer organ, accordion, tambourine, organ, B3, moog bass, Rhodes piano
Guest artists:
John Shanks—electric guitar, drum loops, bass samples, percussion loops
Doyle Bramhall II—backing vocals (1, 7), electric guitar
Craig Ross—electric guitar
Steve Jordan—drums, tambourine, maracas
Shawn Pelton—drums, loops, bells, gomez and vintage loops
Lenny Castro—congas, shaker, percussion
Jeff Trott—electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lap steel, bass, drum programming
Jeff Anthony—drums and drum programming
Tim Smith—backing vocals (2, 8), electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass
Keith Schreiner—drum programming
Jeremy Stacey—string arrangement (4, 9), synth strings (4), toy piano, moog lead, drums, drum loops, percussion
Peter Stroud—backing vocals (8), electric guitars, acoustic guitars, drum loop, 12-string acoustic guitar, slide guitar, Wurlitzer
Lorenza Ponce—string arrangement (4, 9, 10), violin (4, 9, 10)
Antoine Silverman, Lynn Bechtold, Hatalie Cummins, Joe Deninzan, Joyce Hammann, Jill Jaffe, Paul Peabody, Matthew Pierce, Marti Sweet, Hiroko Taguchi, Soozie Tyrell, Joan Wasser—violin (4, 9, 10)
Rena Andoh, David Gold, Ron Lawrence, Debra Schufelt—viola (4, 9, 10)
Jane Scarpantoni, Julia Kent, Michelle Kinney, David Garo Yellin—cello (4, 9, 10)
Brad Jones—bass (4, 9, 10)
Benmont Tench—organ, piano, B3 treatments
Mike Elizondo—bass
Brian McLeod—drum fills
Matt Brubeck—string arrangement and cello (6)
Joel Derouin, Charlie Bisharat, Berg Garabedian, Michele Richards—violin (6, 13)
Rudy Stein—cello (6)
Matt Funes, Evan Wilson—viola (13)
Suzie Katayama, Dan Smith—cello (13)
Doug Grean—electric effect guitars, keyboards
Dan Smith—cello (7)
Keefus Ciancia—keyboards, C6 organ, string samples
Scott Weiland—additional production in bridge (8)
Wendy Melvoin (Wendy and Lisa)—electric guitar
Karen Crow—claps
Dave Faragher—upright bass
Mitchell Froom—string arrangement (13)
Liz Phair—guest vocals (2)
Lenny Kravitz—guest vocals (3)
Stevie Nicks—guest vocals (5, 9)
Don Henley—guest vocals (6)
Gwyneth Paltrow—guest vocals (10)
Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks)—guest vocals (11)
Emmylou Harris—guest vocals (13)
Produced by:
Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott, John Shanks
Comments:
I decided to give this album a listen despite its inane single "Soak Up the Sun" because Sheryl's singles are often her weakest material. That's true here too, though the better songs are still pretty mediocre rock/pop that scream "I'm still young and hip, really I am!" The best though, like "Safe and Sound," approach the material on her far better follow-up release Wildflower. (JoAnn Whetsell)Straightforward rock and roll. Nothing profound or earthshaking. Good driving music for a sunny summer morning. (cdavis@tir.com)
The Very Best of Sheryl Crow
Release info:
2003—A&M Records—B0001521-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, 12-string guitar, bass guitar
Guest artists:
Abraham Laboriel, Jr.—drums (4, 8)
John Shanks—bass and electric guitars (4, 8), background vocals (8)
Jamie Muhoberac—keyboards (4, 8)
Patrick Warren—string arrangement (4)
Kid Rock—lead vocals, rhythm guitar (11)
Misty Love, Shirley Hayden—background vocals (11)
Jimmie Bones—keyboards (11)
Kenny Olson—lead guitar (11)
Shannon Forrest—drums (17)
Michael Rhodes—bass guitar (17)
Tom Bukovac—electric guitar (17)
Paul Franklin—steel guitar (17)
Matt Rollings—piano (17)
Produced by:
Bill Bottrell, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott, John Shanks, Kid Rock, Garth Fundis
Comments:
This retrospective is well arranged, covering all her hits from her first four studio albums in non-chronological order. As with most "Best of" albums, the new material (in this case 2 originals and 2 versions of a Cat Stevens' cover) is the weakest. I'm glad that "Home" and "I Shall Believe"are included as they're easily her best songs ever even though they never became popular hits. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Wildflower
Release info:
2005—A&M Records—B0005229-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—lead, background, and harmony vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, bass, Wurlitzer, keyboards
Guest artists:
Abe Laboriel, Jr.—drums
John Shanks—bass, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, keyboards, background vocals
David Campbell—string arrangement
Joel Derouin—concertmaster
Jeff Rothschild—drums, programming
Jeff Trott—piano, Wurlitzer, electric and acoustic guitars, slide guitar, drum programming, synth bass, bass, keyboards, background vocals
Keith Schreiner—atmospheric synths, drum programming
Bruce Kaphan—pedal steel guitar
Greg Leisz—pedal steel guitar, baritone guitar
Mike Elizondo—bass
Dan Chase—drums, programming, percussion, Casio keyboard
Brian MacLeod—drums
Roger Manning—piano
Jamie Muhoberac—keyboards
Produced by:
Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow, John Shanks
Comments:
Slower, perhaps a bit more somber, Wildflower is Sheryl's most thoughtful and mature recording to date. Really an excellent album. (JoAnn Whetsell)one of my favorite albums of the decade. (mp@moonmac.com)
Hits and Rarities
Release info:
2007—A&M Records—174 699 2
Availability:
Europe?
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans
Comments:
A nice compilation, bringing together songs from Sheryl's first 5 studio albums, as well as tracks from her first career retrospective, and 3 songs recorded for soundtracks. In that way, it's far lighter on Ôrarities' than Ôhits,' and many of the Ôhits' would probably be more accurately described as singles. But I like the way they're all interspersed rather than chronologically arranged. Not something to go out of your way to find, but worthwhile if you run into it. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Detours
Release info:
2008—A&M Records—B0010599-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, acoustic guitars, bass, organ, accordion, piano, hand claps
Guest artists:
Bill Bottrell—acoustic guitars, electric guitars, pedal steel, mellotrons, bass, marimba, synthesizer, Wurlitzer, percussions, pipe, drum programming, synth bass, organ, drums, string arrangement, vocals
Brian MacLeod—drums, sample, drum programming, percussions
Jeff Trott—electric guitars, bass, acoustic guitars, slide guitar; vocals
Greg D'Augeli—brass
Ahmed Al Hirmi—vocals, oud (4)
Abdulla Al Khalifa—Arabic vocal arrangement (4)
Malallah—percussions (4)
Doyle Bramhall II—electric guitar (4)
Mike Elizondo—drum programming, guitar sample, bass, drums, synth, acoustic guitar
Ben Harper—vocals (5)
Jeremy Stacey—drums, timbale, percussion, kalimba, piano, vocals
Marva Soogrim, Rosanna Arquette—vocals (6)
Mike Rowe—flute sample (7)
Matt Butler—cello
Wyatt Crow—gurgles (14)
Produced by:
Bill Bottrell; Abdulla Al Khalifa (Arabic vocal on track 4)
Comments:
Detours finds Sheryl Crow addressing contemporary issues both global/political (9/11, global warming) and personal (a highly publicized broken engagement and far less publicized motherhood through adoption). The sound is akin to the poppier songs on Wildflower, and the lyrics are more hopeful than preachy or angry. Another excellent album. (JoAnn Whetsell)I've always sort of resented and criticized Sheryl Crow, but I did get a little bit addicted to this album, probably because the production is less polished. I can't get enough of "Diamond Ring." She is what she is and she's solid at what she does. (timjy@sbcglobal.net)
100 Miles from Memphis
Release info:
2010—A&M Records—B0014507-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Sheryl Crow—vocals, background vocals, Wurlitzer
Guest artists:
Doyle Bramhall II—electric guitar, acoustic guitars, slide guitar, mandolin, percussion, bass, harmonica, background vocals, gang vocals
Justin Stanley—electric guitar, percussion, drums, orchestra bells, omnichord, tambourine, acoustic guitar, programming, piano, Leslie guitar, guitar, organ, gang vocals, background vocals
Homer Steinweiss—drums
Tommy Sims—bass, electric guitar, background vocals
Chris Bruce—electric guitar, bass
Jeff Babko—B3 organ, piano, synths, organ, clavinet, moog, Wurlitzer, rhodes
Tim Orindgreff—saxophone
Printz Board—trumpet
Keith Richards—electric guitar, gang vocals (2)
Justin Timberlake—background vocals (3)
Jerry Wonda Duplessis—bass (3)
Keith Megna—acoustic guitar (5)
Henson Studio Gang—claps (5)
Ephraim Owens—trumpet (7)
Shelly Carrol—saxophone (7)
Victor Indrizzo—drums (8, 9. 11, 12); percussion (11)
Citizen Cope—vocals, acoustic guitar (9)
David Campbell—string arrangement (3, 4, 8, 9)
Sid Page, Mario De Leon, Gerry Hilera, Songa Lee, Michele Richards, Ken Yerke, Belinda Broughton, Peter Kent, Gina Kronstadt, Vladamir Polimatidi, Philip Vaiman, Margaret Wooten—violin (4, 9)
Karen Elaine, Kazi Pitelka, Alma Fernandez—viola (4, 9)
Steve Richards, Suzie Katayama, Rudy Stein—cello (4, 9)
Niki Haris, Jean McClain, Shawntae Jackson, Bridgette Bryant—background vocals (1, 3, 5, 8)
Nayanna Holley—background vocals (1, 2, 5, 7)
Will Wheaton, Antonio Sol—background vocals (3, 5)
Gary Lee Clark, Jr.—background vocals (12)
Produced by:
Doyle Bramhall II and Justin Stanley
Comments:
Kind of a step forward and a step back at the same time. Musically, it's a new sound (step forward), which is actually an old one, the kind of blues/soul mix Sheryl heard growing up in a small town about 100 miles from Memphis. Sometimes it really works, like on the terrific opening track, "Our Love Is Fading," the relaxed "Summer Day," and the country-tinged "Long Road Home." But other times (step back) there's more enthusiasm than effectiveness. My sister commented that she didn't like the way Sheryl's voice sounds on this album, and I agree, at least at times. Her voice sometimes sounds really strained. The band is excellent, which in some ways hurts more because at times it seems they just have the wrong vocalist.
The album is certainly no embarrassment (okay, the reggae "Eye to Eye" is, and covering "I Want You Back" as a tribute to Michael Jackson was an unfortunate decision). Still, she would have done better to drop some songs and record others to replace them or to have released and EP. I made my own with half the album (tracks 1, 4–7, and 10), and I'm pretty happy with it. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Further info:
Sheryl wrote the music for the film comedy Dill Scallion, and appeared as Casper, a heroin addict, in the film The Minus Man. An album of bluegrass instrumental covers of Sheryl's music called Pickin' on Sheryl Crow: A Tribute was released in 2001.Her songs have appeared on many compilation albums including the following:
Compilations: Thanks & Giving All Year Long; A Very Special Christmas 3 & 5; Women For Women volumes 1 and 2; Songbird; Diva; Women & Songs, Vol. 2 & 3; The Silverwolf Homeless Project; Peace Songs; America: A Tribute to Heroes; Good Rockin Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records; While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Vol. 3; The Rolling Stone Women in Rock Collection; Bravo The Hits 2002/1; Powered By Fender: The Players; 2 Meter Sessies, Vol. 9; Pure Love; Love Songs; Pure Soft Rock Anthems; Late Night Moods; New Woman; Platin Vol. 1 and 3; She, Vol. 2; Now That's What I Call Music! 2 and 15; Now 4; MTV Party to Go Vol. 8; and the 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2005 Grammy Nominee albums.
Live compilations: Live on Letterman: Music From the Late Show; The Very Best of MTV Unplugged, Vol. 1 and 3; VH1 Storytellers; The Best of Sessions at West 54th, Vol. 1; Today Presents: The Best of the Today Concert Series; A Very Special Christmas Live: From Washington DC; All Access: The Horde Festival; Woodstock '94; and Woodstock 99 Vol. 2: Blue Album.
Soundtracks: Arctic Tale; Cars; One Tree Hill; King of the Hill; Roswell; X-Files; Bridget Jones' Diary; Steal This Movie; Phenomenon; Hope Floats; Message in a Bottle; Tomorrow Never Dies; The Best of Bond...James Bond 007; Boys on the Side; Alfie; The Faculty, Shallow Hal; Sweet Home Alabama; I Am Sam; De-Lovely; Must Love Dogs; and Nascar 3D: The IMAX Experience. Other soundtrack work includes "Imagine" with Salt 'n' Pepa for Our Friend, Martin; "If You Ever Did Believe" with Stevie Nicks for Practical Magic; "Riding on a Dream" with Dwight Yoakam and Marty Stuart for Daddy & Them; and a cover of Guns 'N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" for Big Daddy.
Tributes: Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons (duet with Emmylou Harris); If I Were a Carpenter; The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family; Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash; Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute; Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin.
DVD/Video: Sheryl Crow has released the DVDs C'mon America (2003); Rockin' the Globe Live (2003); The Very Best of Sheryl Crow—The Videos (2004); Live from London (2005); and Wildflower Tour: Live from New York (2006). She also appears on Pavarotti & Friends—For War Child (1997); Unplugged: Classic Moments (2000); Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music (2001); VH1 Storytellers Classics (2001) and Sesame Street: All-Star Alphabet (2005).
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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