Sheryl Crow - C'mon, C'mon

It's hard to call The Globe Sessions a stumble, but its stripped-down, straightforwardness paled in comparison to the dark pop-culture kaleidoscope of Sheryl Crow's eponymous second album. That's why C'mon, C'mon, Crow's long-delayed fourth album, is such a delight -- it's the sunny flip side of that masterpiece, a skillful synthesis of classic rock and modern sensibilities that's pretty irresistible. Crow has turned into the professional she always acted she was -- she not only crafts songs impeccably, she knows how to record them, filling the record with interesting sonic details, whether it's the Steve Miller-styled "woo hoo"s on "Steve McQueen" or subtle Mellotrons on "Over You." That kind of sly sonic adventure was missing from Globe Sessions, as was her predilection for almost-absurd lyrical asides -- check the digital cable reference on the lead single, "Soak Up the Sun," along with its opening line of "My friend, the communist" -- and the return of both makes C'mon, C'mon a delightful return to form. There's so much to enjoy on the surface of the record, particularly in its unashamed glossy sheen and classically structured hooks, that it's easy to enjoy just on that level, yet it also works as a set of songs nearly as consistent and rich as those on her second album. Where Sheryl Crow was a quintessential fall album -- even at its happiest, there was an undercurrent of melancholy and weariness -- this is a record designed for the sunkissed open road of spring and summer. Even when she's singing about heartache, there's an assured sense of purpose, even a swagger, to this album that shines through. Yet it doesn't just work a mood, it showcases her skills at a peak. It's Sheryl Crow at her best, delivering music that is firmly rooted in the past, yet recorded and performed with a modern feel and flair, something that was absent from The Globe Sessions. It's pretty much what the follow-up to Sheryl Crow should have been and what she needed to release for her fourth album, but even better than expected. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andy Wallace Mixing Antoine Silverman Violin, Concert Master Benmont Tench Organ (Hammond), Piano, Organ Berj Garabedian Violin Brad Jones Bass Brian MacLeod Drum Fills Brian Scheuble Engineer Charlie Bisharat Violin Chris Hudson Production Coordination Chris Reynolds Engineer Christopher Shaw Engineer Craig Ross Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar Daniel Smith Cello Davey Faragher Bass (Upright) Dean Baskerville Engineer Debra Shufelt Viola Don Henley Vocals Douglas Grean Keyboards, Guitar (Electric) Doyle Bramhall II Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background), Guitar Emmylou Harris Vocals Eric Tew Engineer Evan Wilson Viola Garo Yellin Cello Glen Nakasako Design Gwyneth Paltrow Vocals Hiroko Taguchi Violin Howie Weinberg Mastering Jack Joseph Puig Mixing Jane Scarpantoni Contractor, Cello Jeff Anthony Drum Programming, Drums Jeff Trott Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Producer, Bass, Drum Programming Jeremy Stacey Drum Loop, Percussion, String Arrangements, Synthesizer Strings, Moog Lead, Drums, Toy Piano Jeri Heiden Art Direction, Design Jill Jaffe Violin Joan Wasser Violin Joe Deninzon Violin Joe Zook Mixing Joel Derouin Violin, Concert Master John Saylor Engineer John Shanks Bass, Sampling, Drum Loop, Producer, Percussion Programming, Guitar (Electric) Joyce Hammann Violin Julia Kent Cello Keith Ciancia Keyboards, String Samples, Organ Keith Schreiner Drum Programming Keith Shortreed Engineer Lenny Castro Conga, Shaker, Percussion Lenny Kravitz Vocals Liz Phair Vocals Lorenza Ponce Violin, String Arrangements Mark Valentine Engineer Marti Sweet Violin Matt Funes Viola Matthew Brubeck String Arrangements, Cello Matthew Pierce Violin Michele Richards Violin Michelle Kinney Cello Mike Elizondo Bass Mitchell Froom String Arrangements Monique Mizrahi Engineer Natalie Maines Vocals Pam Wertheimer Production Coordination Paul Peabody Violin Peter Stroud Vocals (Background), Guitar (Electric), Engineer, Wurlitzer, Drum Loop, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar, Slide Guitar Roger Lian Digital Editing Ron Lawrence Viola Ross Peterson Engineer Rudy Stein Cello Scott Weiland Producer Shari Sutcliffe Contractor Shawn Pelton Bells, Drums, Loops Sheryl Crow Guitar (Acoustic), Fender Rhodes, Moroccan Drum, Wurlitzer, Vocals, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Choir, Chorus, Producer, Piano, Accordion, Moog Bass, Tambo Drums, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Bass Sheryl Nields Photography Soozie Tyrell Violin Stephen Weintraub Executive Producer Steve Jordan Drums, Moroccan Drum, Tambo Drums Steve Sisco Mixing Stevie Nicks Vocals Suzie Katayama Concert Master, Cello Thom Panunzio Engineer Tim Smith Bass, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background) Trina Shoemaker Engineer Wendy Melvoin Guitar (Electric)