Marshall Crenshaw - Field Day (1983)

I will tolerate no talk of a "sophomore slump" when speaking of this album. Nothing could possibly measure up to Crenshaw's 1982 debut so it's useless to compare. There's plenty of good tunes on this album - Crenshaw can churn out pop gems seemingly at will. Four of those good tunes also appear on the fantastic compilation This Is Easy: The Best Of Marshall Crenshaw. Nevertheless, I'm glad I picked up this CD to not only fill a gaping hole in my collection, but to satisfy my curiosity about the album's six other tunes. What was side one is admittedly better than what was side two, but the more I listen to the album as a whole, the more I like it.

From RockCellar Magazine, here's a good piece about the album and why Crenshaw dislikes the original cover art.

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau (A+): "this follow-up has better songs than the debut."
• Stereo Review: "less than scintillating"
• Billboard: "short, smart anthems laced with melodic hooks."
• Smash Hits (3 out of 10): "US rock-pop to snooze to"
• Musician: "shoots the proverbial sophomore jinx straight to hell."
• Rolling Stone (★★★): "a good album that could've been a great one."
• Record Mirror (★★): "If you like this record you will be a complacent American who believes wearing a skinny tie guarantees your place in the modern popstream" [note: that characterization very accurately described this humble blogger, ca. 1983]

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #52
• Billboard Rock: #31
• CashBox: #52
• Rolling Stone: #21

Tracks: The four tunes that also appear of that Best Of compilation I mentioned are Whenever You're On My Mind (#23 rock, #103 pop - and holy cow what a bridge), Our Town, For Her Love, and Monday Morning Rock. All four are fantastic and I think tracks like One More Reason, Try, and One Day With You are right up there with them in terms of quality.

Crenshaw includes a cover of What Time Is It, a #67 minor hit for The Jive Five in 1962. It's an urgent tune that perfectly recreates the torturous anticipation of waiting to pick up a girl for a date. Both the original doo wop version and Crenshaw's pop cover are great in their own way - Crenshaw makes the tune his own at the end with a twangy guitar bit.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None and it's a damn shame this wasn't blaring out of my car stereo when I was a high school senior. I can just imagine a 90 minute cassette with the 1982 debut on one side and this album on the other.

And here's a pic of Crenshaw playing Whenever You're On My Mind when I saw him back in June 2019:

Previously revisited for the blog:
Jaggedland (2009)
What's In The Bag (2003)
The Best of Marshall Crenshaw (2000)
Life's Too Short (1991)
Marshall Crenshaw (1982)