Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Stones in the Road was an eagerly awaited album from Mary Chapin Carpenter; the runaway success of Come On Come On established her as a bona star in the country and up-and-coming AAA radio formats. For this offering, she tipped her sound down to its basics and returned to the core of her music -- namely, her folkier singer/songwriter roots. Although the lyrics are among her best and the songs thoroughly memorable and beautifully literate, Carpenter cut back on the number of hooks in her melodies, creating a palette that required closer listening to appreciate. There were no immediately radio-friendly hits to be found here -- though radio did indeed pick up on it and the album did exceptionally well. Previously, she found a balance between the lyrical and musical aspects of her writing, walking a tightrope between words and hooks. Here, she concentrates on lyrics, giving the listener something that might require working a bit to appreciate -- but also something to hold on to. And craft never leaves Carpenter's songs; these are as finely wrought as anything she's ever done and better than most. There are uptempo tracks here, such as "House of Cards," the dreamy "A Keeper for Every Flame," the retro pop/rock sound of "Tender When I Want to Be" (a song Bruce Springsteen could have written and most likely deeply influenced), the single "Outside Looking In," and the barroom rocker "Shut Up and Kiss Me." But even these are lyrically more involved than those on earlier records. The moodier pieces here include the title track, the transcendent "John Doe No. 24," and the brilliant "The End of My Pirate Days." Carpenter and producer John Jennings hired a crack band that included drummer Kenny Aronoff, keyboardist Benmont Tench, guitarists Lee Roy Parnell and Steuart Smith, and backing vocalists Trisha Yearwood, Linda Williams, and Shawn Colvin. The sound of Stones in the Road is moody and very introspective at times, but it is never less than engaging and even pleasant. This is a worthy if startling entry in Mary Chapin Carpenter's catalog.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Acoustic Guitar, Producer - Robin Williams - Linda Williams - ALAN O'BRYANT - Stuart Duncan, Fiddle, Mandolin - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - J.T. Brown, Fretless Bass - James Saez, Recording Engineer - Robbie Magruder, Drums - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano - Jon Carroll, Accordion, Piano
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Electric Guitar, Producer - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Kenny Aranoff, Drums - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - Don Dixon, Bass - James Saez, Recording Engineer
1994 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennigns, Acoustic Guitar - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - Kenny Aranoff, Drums - Benmont Tench, Piano - Didier C. Deutsch, Mastering Engineer - Don Dixon, Bass - John Jennings, Producer - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Darcy Proper, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Producer - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - James Saez, Recording Engineer - Robbie Magruder, Drums - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano - J.T. Brown, Bass
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Guitar, Producer - Trisha Yearwood - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - Kenny Aranoff, Drums - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Don Dixon, Bass - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Trisha Yearwood - John Jennings, Guitar, Producer - Lee Roy Parnell, Electric Guitar - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - Kenny Aranoff, Drums - Benmont Tench, Piano - Don Dixon, Bass - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Electric Guitar, Producer - Robbie Magruder, Drums - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Jon Carroll, Piano - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - J.T. Brown, Bass - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Bass, Piano, Producer - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - J.T. Brown, Fretless Bass - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Robbie Magruder, Drums - Jon Carroll, Piano - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Producer - Branford Marsalis, Soprano Saxophone - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Guitar, Producer - Paul Brady - Shawn Colvin - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - James Saez, Recording Engineer - Kenny Aranoff, Drums - Benmont Tench, Piano - Don Dixon, Bass
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Guitar, Producer - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Kenny Aranoff, Drums, Percussion - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - Benmont Tench, Piano - James Saez, Recording Engineer - Don Dixon, Bass
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Producer - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - John Jennings, Guitar, Producer - STEUART SMITH, Electric Guitar - Lee Roy Parnell, Electric Guitar - Kenny Aranoff, Drums, Percussion - Benmont Tench, Piano - MATT ROLLINGS, Piano - Don Dixon, Bass - Dave Chavez, Assistant Engineer - DENNY PURCELL, Mastering Engineer - Bob Dawson, Recording Engineer - James Saez, Recording Engineer
(P) 1994 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Album review
Stones in the Road was an eagerly awaited album from Mary Chapin Carpenter; the runaway success of Come On Come On established her as a bona star in the country and up-and-coming AAA radio formats. For this offering, she tipped her sound down to its basics and returned to the core of her music -- namely, her folkier singer/songwriter roots. Although the lyrics are among her best and the songs thoroughly memorable and beautifully literate, Carpenter cut back on the number of hooks in her melodies, creating a palette that required closer listening to appreciate. There were no immediately radio-friendly hits to be found here -- though radio did indeed pick up on it and the album did exceptionally well. Previously, she found a balance between the lyrical and musical aspects of her writing, walking a tightrope between words and hooks. Here, she concentrates on lyrics, giving the listener something that might require working a bit to appreciate -- but also something to hold on to. And craft never leaves Carpenter's songs; these are as finely wrought as anything she's ever done and better than most. There are uptempo tracks here, such as "House of Cards," the dreamy "A Keeper for Every Flame," the retro pop/rock sound of "Tender When I Want to Be" (a song Bruce Springsteen could have written and most likely deeply influenced), the single "Outside Looking In," and the barroom rocker "Shut Up and Kiss Me." But even these are lyrically more involved than those on earlier records. The moodier pieces here include the title track, the transcendent "John Doe No. 24," and the brilliant "The End of My Pirate Days." Carpenter and producer John Jennings hired a crack band that included drummer Kenny Aronoff, keyboardist Benmont Tench, guitarists Lee Roy Parnell and Steuart Smith, and backing vocalists Trisha Yearwood, Linda Williams, and Shawn Colvin. The sound of Stones in the Road is moody and very introspective at times, but it is never less than engaging and even pleasant. This is a worthy if startling entry in Mary Chapin Carpenter's catalog.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:55:38
- Main artists: Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Composer: Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Country
(P) 1994 Sony Music Entertainment
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.