The Smithereens
Blow Up

Capitol    CDP 7 94963 2  (1991)

Rock/Pop
CD, 12   Tracks, 47:58  Length
01 Top Of The Pops Pat DiNizio 04:33
02 Too Much Passion Pat DiNizio 04:35
03 Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong Pat DiNizio 02:22
04 Evening Dress Pat DiNizio 03:12
05 Get A Hold Of My Heart Pat DiNizio; Diane Warren 04:22
06 Indigo Blues Pat DiNizio 04:58
07 Now And Then Jim Babjak 03:50
08 Girl In Room 12 Pat DiNizio 03:22
09 Anywhere You Are Pat DiNizio 03:44
10 Over And Over Again Pat DiNizio 03:17
11 It's Alright Pat DiNizio 03:45
12 If You Want The Sun To Shine Pat DiNizio; Julian Lennon 05:58
Music Details
Product Details
Packaging Jewel Case
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Musicians  &  Credits
Guitar Jim Babjak
Drums Dennis Diken
Vocals Pat DiNizio
Bass Mike Mesaros
Musician The Smithereens
Producer Ed Stasium
Engineer Paul Hamingson
Cover by Saul Bass
Mixed By Ed Stasium
Personal Details
Index # 3133
Owner Dave
Tags Alternative Rock, Pop Rock
User Defined
Purchased Used
Notes
Sometimes it seems like the Smithereens' entire career was mistimed. After the relative success of 11, Pat DiNizio and company returned with their most straightforward and mainstream-ready release yet in Blow Up. Produced by Ed Stasium, the mix is arena ready and clean, and DiNizio co-wrote two of the disc's most accessible songs with songwriters Diane Warren and Julian Lennon. The first single, the string-laden Philly soul of "Too Much Passion" not only cracked the Top 40, but it placed at number 38, one position higher than their previous biggest hit, "A Girl Like You." That's where the success story ends. If there was ever a time for an alternative band to opt for a slicker sound, 1991 wasn't it. Blow Up was released within a week of Nirvana's Nevermind, and that album would quickly change alternative radio formats forever, squeezing out largely pop-oriented bands like the Smithereens. Also, "Too Much Passion" was the most adult contemporary single the Smithereens ever released, which meant a good deal of their new audience came on board expecting more of the same, and found only Warren's "Get a Hold of My Heart" to be similar. Still, the Smithereens never released a bad record, and Blow Up is in fact a quite good one: Much like 11 before it, Blow Up is a collection of catchy, blue-collar power pop distinguished by DiNizio's often moody outlook. -- Jason Damas (allmusic.com)