Bought this when it came out and can't recall who turned me on to Jeff Buckley (Tim's son for those who don't know- who's THAT?! ED) but his tragic death so young by swimming in the Mississippi river robbed us of a true star and incredible creative force. His first album here blew almost everyone away with any ears to hear and sensibilities to boot! I loved this album and still do . . . . .
On this day in music history: August 23, 1994 - “Grace”, the debut album by Jeff Buckley is released. Produced by Jeff Buckley and Andy Wallace, it is recorded at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY from Late 1993 - Early 1994. Singer, songwriter and musician Jeff Buckley was the son of folk music legend Tim Buckley (though he grows up being unaware of his true lineage until he meets his biological father for the first and only time when he is eight years old), and is raised his mother (a classically trained musician) and stepfather in Southern California. Two years after moving to New York to heighten his profile as a musician, he is signed by Columbia Records. Upon its release, the album initially receives mixed reviews and sells poorly until Buckley’s emotional and ethereal live performances of the material win critics and fans over. It eventually comes to be regarded as one of the finest singer/songwriter albums of the 90’s. Though Buckley does not live to see much of this belated acclaim and appreciation for his artistry. Ironically and tragically, he dies young like his father years before him (his father died of an accidental drug overdose in 1975 at the age of 28). Jeff accidentally drowns while swimming in the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN, during a break in working on material for his second studio album in 1997. Buckley is only thirty years old at the time of his death. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the albums’ release in 2004, “Grace” is remastered and reissued as a double CD + DVD deluxe edition. Disc one includes the original ten song album, with the second disc featuring various outtakes, alternate takes and other previously unreleased material. The DVD contains a documentary on the making of the album, along with behind the scenes footage of the making of the four music videos shot for the singles. Originally released on vinyl only in Europe in 1994, the album receives its first US release on vinyl, packaged with a bonus 7" of “Forget Her” b/w “Strawberry Street”, pressed on blue vinyl. The LP is reissued as a 180 gram LP by Music On Vinyl in 2009, and again by Columbia/Legacy in 2010. “Grace” peaks at number one hundred forty nine on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
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