Pieces of You

Pieces of You is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on February 28, 1995 by Atlantic Records. It was produced by Ben Keith, who has also produced works for artists such as Neil Young and Patsy Cline. Featuring acoustic guitar-based songs written when Kilcher was a teenager, the album is composed of both live recordings from 1994 at The Innerchange, a coffeehouse in San Diego, and studio recordings completed at Neil Young's personal studio in Redwood City, California.

This article is about the Jewel album. For the book by Tablo, see Pieces of You (book).
Pieces of You
Studio album by
Jewel
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1995
Studio
The Innerchange (San Diego, California)
Genre
Length58:31
LabelAtlantic
ProducerBen Keith
Jewel chronology
Pieces of You
(1995)		 Spirit
(1998)
Singles from Pieces of You
  1. "Who Will Save Your Soul"
    Released: June 4, 1996
  2. "You Were Meant for Me"
    Released: November 12, 1996
  3. "Foolish Games"
    Released: July 8, 1997
  4. "Morning Song"
    Released: January 9, 1998

After its release in February 1995, the album initially failed to chart. Two years later, in 1997, Bob Dylan invited Kilcher to tour with him as his opening act, which gave the album widespread public exposure. The single "Who Will Save Your Soul" eventually received airplay, and the album peaked at #4 on Billboard 200, almost exactly two years after its release. Other hits included were "Foolish Games" and "You Were Meant for Me", as well as the UK single "Morning Song". After two years, the album was re-released featuring the re-recorded versions of "You Were Meant for Me" and "Foolish Games". Despite a mixed critical response, the album is listed at number 64 of the "Definitive 200" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[2]

As of 2010, the album had sold 7.3 million copies in the U.S.[3] It was certified 12× Platinum for shipments of 12 million copies in the U.S.,[4] making it one of the best selling debut albums of all time.[5]

On September 28, 2020, Jewel announced that the album would be rereleased in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the album's release. It will be released in multiple formats including the original album remastered, alongside a 4-CD box set containing B-sides, demos, outtakes, and live performances of the album's songs.[6]

Background

The bulk of the songs featured on Pieces of You were written by Kilcher between the ages of sixteen and nineteen; she has said that "Who Will Save Your Soul" specifically was written while she was busking during a hitchhiking trip she took by herself over spring break from the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she had been studying on a vocal scholarship.[7]

While living in San Diego, California, Kilcher managed to amass a local following while performing in coffee houses and local bars, which resulted in a bootleg being broadcast on 91X FM.[7] Kilcher then became subject of a bidding war between labels, eventually signing with Atlantic Records.[7]

Recording

Several tracks on Pieces of You were recorded live in 1994 at the Innerchange, a San Diego coffeehouse where Kilcher was a regular performer.[8] The remainder of the album was recorded in Neil Young's studio at Broken Arrow Ranch in Redwood City, California, under the supervision of producer Ben Keith.[9] Jewel told Time about the recording process:[10]

"[...] Typically I’ve had difficulty in the studio. I don’t sing as raw, it’s just a bit more tame. I’m a live singer who’s always fed off the energy of the audience. In a studio, you’re just looking at a wall—it feels very odd to me. I’ve been a live performer since I was six years old. The reason I recorded the album live with the band was so that I could play guitar, which I usually never do in the studio, while I sing at the same time. The band was accustomed to following singer-songwriters and feeling for me slowing down and speeding up. It has a real ebb and a flow and a naturalness that didn’t inhibit my singing or performance."

In her 2015 memoir, Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story, she described Pieces of You as "imperfect, full of mistakes and guitar flubs", but also "honest".[11]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[14]
The Village VoiceC−[15]

Upon its initial release in 1995, the album received little attention, after which Kilcher was invited to tour as the opener for Bob Dylan, which helped garner more public attention.[7] Two of the album's singles were re-recorded for a 1997 re-release of the album.

David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a negative review upon its 1997 re-release, noting, "Pieces of You remains a wimpily produced batch of songs — so ineffectual that both ”Who Will Save Your Soul?” and ”You Were Meant for Me” had to be rerecorded for release as singles. It’s best considered as a guided tour through three decades of female folk-pop styles," comparing it negatively to Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush.[13] Robert Christgau also gave the album a starkly negative review, writing: "With the possible exception of Saint Joan, who at least had some stature, this is the bad folkie joke to end all bad folkie jokes."[15]

Sarah Sytsma of AllMusic gave the album a positive review, calling it "a charming collection of light alternative folk-rock from the teenage singer/songwriter. Her songs are occasionally naive, but her melodies can usually save her lyrics."[12] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, of AllMusic, wrote: "Pieces of You is a charming debut that is somewhat undone by its own naïveté. Jewel has a rich voice and an innocent, beguiling charm that makes "Who Will Save Your Soul," "I'm Sensitive," and "You Were Meant for Me" - songs with slight, simple lyrics and catchy, sweet melodies - quite endearing; they sound like a high-school diary brought to life. [...] Pieces of You has enough charm to make it an ingratiating debut, even if the album doesn't quite fulfill Jewel's potential."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Who Will Save Your Soul"Jewel Kilcher4:00
2."Pieces of You"Kilcher4:15
3."Little Sister"Kilcher2:29
4."Foolish Games"Kilcher5:39
5."Near You Always"Kilcher3:08
6."Painters"Kilcher6:43
7."Morning Song"Kilcher3:35
8."Adrian"
7:02
9."I'm Sensitive"Kilcher2:54
10."You Were Meant for Me"
  • Kilcher
  • Poltz
4:13
11."Don't"Kilcher3:34
12."Daddy"Kilcher3:49
13."Angel Standing By"Kilcher2:38
14."Amen"Kilcher4:32
Total length:58:31
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Emily"Kilcher3:10
16."Foolish Games" (edit)Kilcher4:00
New Zealand bonus disc/US vinyl bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Emily" (from the motion picture The Crossing Guard)Kilcher3:15
16."Rocker Girl"Kilcher1:44
17."Everything Breaks"Kilcher3:21
18."Cold Song"Kilcher1:03
19."Angel Needs a Ride"Kilcher4:17

25th anniversary edition
Disc 1: Original album remastered
No.TitleLength
1."Who Will Save Your Soul" 
2."Pieces of You" 
3."Little Sister" 
4."Foolish Games" 
5."Near You Always" 
6."Painters" 
7."Morning Song" 
8."Adrian" 
9."I'm Sensitive" 
10."You Were Meant for Me" 
11."Don't" 
12."Daddy" 
13."Angel Standing By" 
14."Amen" 
15."You Were Meant for Me" (Album Edit)3:48
16."Foolish Games" (Radio Edit)4:02
17."Morning Song" (Radio Mix)3:34
18."Angel Needs a Ride" 
19."Everything Breaks" 

Personnel

Musicians

Technical personnel

  • Ben Keith - production
  • Tim Mulligan production
  • John Nowland – production
  • John Dixon – engineering assistance
  • John Hausmann – engineering assistance
  • Gene Eichelberger – mixing
  • Tim Mulligan – mixing
  • John Nowland – mixing
  • Joe Baldrige – mixing
  • Tim Mulligan – mastering
  • Jenny Price – A&R
  • Gena Maria Rankins – production coordination
  • Tim Mulligan – digital editing
  • Charlotte Caffey – arrangements
  • Jewel Kilcher – arrangements

Art personnel

Charts and certifications

See also

References
  1. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 432. ISBN 978-0-743-20169-8.
  2. "The 200 Definitive Albums of All Time". EIL.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  3. "Ask Billboard: Jewel..." Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. "RIAA – Searchable Database: Jewel". Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  5. "Jewel - Biography". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-12-28.
  6. "Pieces Of You 25th Anniversary". The Official Website of Jewel. September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. Kilcher, Jewel (March 31, 2017). "22 Minutes with Jewel" (Interview). Interviewed by Brigitte Quinn. CBS New York. Video on YouTube.
  8. Gaar 2002, p. 415.
  9. Dodd 2004, p. 164.
  10. Berman, Eliza (September 11, 2015). "Jewel on Coping With Heartache: 'I Peel Off Every Scab and Stick My Finger in Them". Time.
  11. Gibson, Caitlin (January 18, 2018). "'90s folk superstar Jewel is happy — finally. Now she wants to know: Are you?". The Washington Post. Washington. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  12. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pieces of You – Jewel". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  13. Browne, David (August 15, 1997). "Pieces of You". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  14. Berger, Arion; Walters, Barry (2004). "Jewel". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 431–32. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  15. Christgau, Robert (July 23, 1996). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  16. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
  17. "Jewel - New Zealand Chart Positions". charts.org.nz. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
  18. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  19. "Chart log Candy J. – JX". zobbel.de. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
  20. "Jewel - Artist Chart History". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
  21. "Jewel Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  22. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1997". ARIA. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  23. "NZ Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1997". Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  24. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  25. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  26. "Canadian album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". Music Canada.
  27. "Jewel in Japan". Billboard. 27 December 1997 – 3 January 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  28. "Dutch album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Pieces of You in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  29. "New Zealand album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". Recorded Music NZ.
  30. "Norwegian album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". IFPI Norway. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  31. "British album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Pieces of You in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  32. "American album certifications – Jewel – Pieces of You". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  33. Trust, Gary (June 18, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Jewel, Ciara, Ricky Martin". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  34. "World's Best Selling Singles and Albums Artist". 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2016.

Works cited
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