Suzanne Vega (album)

Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Studio album by Suzanne Vega
Released	May 1, 1985
Recorded	November 1984 – March 1985
Studio	Celestial Sound (New York City)
Genre	Folk rock
Length	35:37
Label	A&M
Producer	Steve Addabbo; Lenny Kaye;
Suzanne Vega chronology
Singles from Suzanne Vega
	"Marlene on the Wall"; Released: 1985 (re-release in 1986); "Knight Moves"; Released: 1985 (Germany); "Small Blue Thing"; Released: 1986 (UK);

Suzanne Vega is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, released on May 1, 1985 by A&M Records. The album was primarily recorded at Celestial Sound in New York City and was produced by Steve Addabbo and Lenny Kaye.

The album's folk-style and stripped-back arrangements deviated from the prevailing trends of the time, and helped to usher in a new era of singer-songwriters. Suzanne Vega was a critical success and helped Vega's rise to popularity.^[2] The album surpassed sales expectations by selling over 200,000 copies in the US^[3] and was certified platinum in the UK for sales of over 300,000 copies.

"Marlene on the Wall", "Small Blue Thing" and "Knight Moves" were released as singles to promote the album, with the former becoming a top 30 hit on the UK Singles Chart upon a re-release in 1986. The album itself reached the top 20 on the UK Albums Chart. It would later be placed at number 80 in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Best Albums of the Eighties".^[4]

Commercial performance

Suzanne Vega exceeded both A&M and Vega's expectations by selling over 200,000 copies in the US.^[3] The album would peak at number 91 on the Billboard 200.^[5] It was even more successful in the UK, where sales numbers exceeded 300,000 and the album reached number 11.^[3]^[6]

"Marlene on the Wall" was released as the album's first single. Upon its original release, the song stalled at number 83 on the UK Singles Chart.^[6] However, after being re-released in 1986, it reached a new peak of number 21, becoming her highest-charting song in that country and one of her biggest hits.^[6] The album's second single, "Small Blue Thing", peaked at number 65 in the UK.^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[8]
The Village Voice	B−^[9]

Spin wrote, "Vega can get a bit pretentious, but what singer-songwriter worth a damn doesn't? It's the price you pay for taking risks. Suzanne Vega is a flattering and very substantial introduction."^[10]

Track listing

All tracks written by Suzanne Vega.

Side one

"Cracking" – 2:49
"Freeze Tag" – 2:36
"Marlene on the Wall" – 3:40
"Small Blue Thing" – 3:54
"Straight Lines" – 3:49

Side two

"Undertow" – 3:26
"Some Journey" – 3:38
"The Queen and the Soldier" – 4:48
"Knight Moves" – 3:36
"Neighborhood Girls" – 3:21

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes:

Suzanne Vega – vocals, acoustic guitar
Steve Addabbo — background vocals (4, 5, 7), Synclavier guitar (6), 12-string acoustic guitar (8), electric guitar (10)
Darol Anger – electric violin (7)
Frank Christian – acoustic guitar (2, 9), electric slide guitar (10)
Paul Dugan – bass (1, 4, 6, 8, 9), vertical bass (2)
Sue Evans – drums (3, 5, 6, 10), percussion (4, 10)
Jon Gordon – electric guitar (1–7)
Peter Gordon – string arrangement (6)
Frank Gravis – bass (3, 5, 10)
Shem Guibbory – violin (6)
Mark Isham – synthesizers (7)
John Mahoney – Synclavier programming (6)
Maxine Neuman – cello (6)
C.P. Roth – synthesizers (1–5, 9), piano (8), organ (8)
Roger Squitero – percussion (7)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Suzanne Vega*
Chart (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[11]	23
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[12]	11
European Albums (Music & Media)^[13]	61
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[14]	34
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[15]	54
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[16]	9
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[17]	42
UK Albums (OCC)^[18]	11
US Billboard 200^[19]	91

Year-end charts

1985 year-end chart performance for *Suzanne Vega*
Chart (1985)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[20]	98

1986 year-end chart performance for *Suzanne Vega*
Chart (1986)	Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[21]	52
European Albums (Music & Media)^[22]	76
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[23]	44
UK Albums (Gallup)^[24]	46

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for *Suzanne Vega*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[25]	Gold	7,500^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[26]	Platinum	300,000^{^}
United States	—	250,000^[27]
Summaries
Worldwide	—	2,000,000^[28]
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b Ruhlmann, William. "Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega". AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2006.
^ "Suzanne Vega: A Life in Music". Official Community of Suzanne Vega. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c Huey, Steve. "Suzanne Vega Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
^ Azerrad, Michael; DeCurtis, Anthony (November 16, 1989). "The 100 Best Albums of the Eighties: 80 | Suzanne Vega, 'Suzanne Vega'". Rolling Stone. No. 565. p. 53. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
^ "Suzanne Vega Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Suzanne Vega Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
^ Evans, Paul; Berger, Arion (2004). "Suzanne Vega". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 845–46. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Christgau, Robert (July 30, 1985). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
^ Gary Kenton (July 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 3. p. 31.
^ Kent 1993, p. 329
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 27. July 12, 1986. p. 19. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
^ "Charts.nz – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
^ "Suzanne Vega Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
^ Kent 1993, p. 438
^ "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 35. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
^ "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – Suzanne Vega – Suzzane Vega". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
^ "British album certifications – Suzanne Vega – Suzzane Vega". British Phonographic Industry. October 19, 1988. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
^ Pooley, Eric (April 27, 1987). "Songwriter Suzanne Vega Gets Set for Stardom". New York. Vol. 20, no. 17. p. 54. ISSN 0028-7369 – via Google Books.
^ Meter, Jonathan van (July 9, 2007). "Lady of the Canyons". New York. Retrieved August 17, 2018.

Bibliography

Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

External links

Suzanne Vega at Discogs (list of releases)

[Allmusic-1] Ruhlmann, William. "Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega". AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2006.

[bio-2] "Suzanne Vega: A Life in Music". Official Community of Suzanne Vega. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2008.

[biography-3] Huey, Steve. "Suzanne Vega Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 5, 2023.

[RS1989-4] Azerrad, Michael; DeCurtis, Anthony (November 16, 1989). "The 100 Best Albums of the Eighties: 80 | Suzanne Vega, 'Suzanne Vega'". Rolling Stone. No. 565. p. 53. Retrieved November 20, 2011.

[billboard-5] "Suzanne Vega Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2023.

[OCC-6] "Suzanne Vega Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2023.

[7] Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.

[8] Evans, Paul; Berger, Arion (2004). "Suzanne Vega". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 845–46. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[ChristgauCG-9] Christgau, Robert (July 30, 1985). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 20, 2011.

[10] Gary Kenton (July 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 3. p. 31.

[11] Kent 1993, p. 329

[ac_Netherlands_Suzanne_Vega-12] "Dutchcharts.nl – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[13] "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 27. July 12, 1986. p. 19. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[14] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[ac_Germany4_Suzanne_Vega-15] "Offiziellecharts.de – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

[ac_New_Zealand_Suzanne_Vega-16] "Charts.nz – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[ac_Sweden_Suzanne_Vega-17] "Swedishcharts.com – Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[ac_UK2_-18] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

[ac_Billboard200_Suzanne_Vega-19] "Suzanne Vega Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2014.

[20] "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved December 31, 2020.

[21] Kent 1993, p. 438

[22] "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 35. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[23] "Top Selling Albums of 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

[24] "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.

[New_ZealandSuzanne_VegaSuzzane_VegaalbumCertRef-25] "New Zealand album certifications – Suzanne Vega – Suzzane Vega". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[United_KingdomSuzanne_VegaSuzzane_VegaalbumCertRef-26] "British album certifications – Suzanne Vega – Suzzane Vega". British Phonographic Industry. October 19, 1988. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

[27] Pooley, Eric (April 27, 1987). "Songwriter Suzanne Vega Gets Set for Stardom". New York. Vol. 20, no. 17. p. 54. ISSN 0028-7369 – via Google Books.

[28] Meter, Jonathan van (July 9, 2007). "Lady of the Canyons". New York. Retrieved August 17, 2018.

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v t e Suzanne Vega
Studio albums	Suzanne Vega Solitude Standing Days of Open Hand 99.9F° Nine Objects of Desire Songs in Red and Gray Beauty & Crime Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers
Acoustic albums	Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs Close-Up Vol. 2, People & Places Close-Up Vol. 3, States of Being Close-Up Vol. 4, Songs of Family Close-Up Series (box set)
Live albums	Live in London 1986 Solitude Standing: Live at the Barbican Live at the Speakeasy Sessions at West 54th An Evening of New York Songs and Stories
Compilations	Tried & True Retrospective
Singles	"Marlene on the Wall" "Left of Center" "Luka" "Tom's Diner" "Solitude Standing" "Blood Makes Noise" "Caramel" "No Cheap Thrill" "Book & a Cover"
Related articles	Discography Tim Vega Mitchell Froom