Product Description:
Indigo Girls: Amy Ray, Emily Saliers (vocals, guitar).
Additional personnel: John Jennings, Cooper Seay (guitar); Donal Lunny (mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran); Lisa Germano, Nollaig Ni Chathasaigh (fiddle); Martin McCarrick (cello, accordion); Ronan Browne (Uilleann pipes, low whistles); Sandy Garfinkle (harmonica); Jerry Marotta (piano, drums, percussion); Maggie Roche (piano, background vocals); Jai Winding (piano); Benmont Tench (organ); Edgar Meyer, Sara Lee (bass); Kenny Aranoff (drums, percussion); Simone Simontow, Talvinde Singh, Budgie (percussion); Sue Owens (handclaps); David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Terre Roche, Suzzy Roche, Michael Lorant (background vocals).
Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York.
Indigo Girls: Amy Ray, Emily Saliers (vocals, guitar).
Additional personnel: John Jennings, Cooper Seay (guitar); Donal Lunny (mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran); Lisa Germano, Nollaig Ni Chathasaigh (fiddle); Martin McCarrick (cello, accordion); Ronan Browne (Uilleann pipes, low whistle); Sandy Garfinkle (harmonica); Jerry Marotta (piano, drums, percussion); Maggie Roche (piano, background vocals); Jai Winding (piano); Benmont Tench (organ); Edgar Meyer, Sara Lee (bass); Budgie (marimba, drums, claves); Kenny Aranoff (drums, percussion); Simone Simontow, Talvinde Singh (percussion); Sue Owens (handclaps); David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Terre Roche, Suzzy Roche, Michael Lorant (background vocals).
Producer: Peter Collins.
Reissue producer: Bruce Dickinson.
Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York. Originally released on Epic (48865). Includes liner notes by Emily Saliers.
Digitally remastered by Scott Hull (Classic Sound Studios, New York, New York).
This is a limited edition packaged in a recycled paper digipak.
Indigo Girls: Amy Ray, Emily Saliers (vocals, guitar).
Additional personnel: John Jennings, Cooper Seay (guitar); Donal Lunny (mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran); Scarlet Rivera (violin); Lisa Germano, Nollaig Ni Chathasaigh (fiddle); Martin McCarrick (cello, accordion); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Ronan Browne (Uilleann pipes, low whistles); Sandy Garfinkle (harmonica); Jerry Marotta (piano, drums, percussion); Maggie Roche (piano, background vocals); Jai Winding (piano); Benmont Tench (organ); Edgar Meyer, Sara Lee (bass); Kenny Aranoff (drums, percussion); Simone Simontow, Talvinde Singh, Budgie (percussion); Sue Owens (handclaps); David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Terre Roche, Suzzy Roche, Michael Lorant (background vocals).
Producer: Peter Collins.
Reissue producer: Bruce Dickinson.
Engineers: Pat McCarthy, Don McCollister.
Recorded at Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York and live at Eddie's Attic, Atlanta, Georgia on April 4, 1993. Includes liner notes by Emily Saliers.
Digitally remastered by Scott Hull (Classic Sound, New York, New York).
Composer: Amy Ray.
Personnel: Emily Saliers (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, hand claps); Amy Ray (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, hand claps); Ronan Browne (whistling, pipe, Uilleann pipe); John Jennings (electric guitar, slide guitar); Cooper Seay (electric guitar); DĒnal Lunny (bouzouki, mandolin, bodhran); Scarlet Rivera (violin); Lisa Germano, Maire Ni Chathasaigh (fiddle); Martin McCarrick (cello, accordion); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Jerry Marotta (piano, drums, percussion); Maggie & Terre Roche, Maggie Roche (piano, background vocals); Jai Winding (piano); Benmont Tench (organ); Budgie (marimba, drums, claves, percussion); Edgar Meyer (acoustic bass); Kenny Aronoff (drums, percussion); Simone Simonton (cymbals); Sue Owens (hand claps); Talvin Singh (percussion); David Crosby, Crosby, David & Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Michael Lorant, Suzzy Roche, Terre Roche (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: David Leonard; Tim Harrigan.
Audio Remixer: Scott Litt.
Liner Note Author: Emily Saliers.
Recording information: Bearsville Studios, NY (11/24/1994-04/04/1993); Eddie's Attic, Atlanta, GA (11/24/1994-04/04/1993); Hit Factory, London, England (11/24/1994-04/04/1993); Record One, Los Angeles, CA (11/24/1994-04/04/1993); Rigsend Road Studios, Dublin, Ireland (11/24/1994-04/04/1993); Ringsend Road Studios, Dublin, Ireland (11/24/1994-04/04/1993); The Hit Factory, London, England (11/24/1994-04/04/1993).
Author: Virginia Woolf.
Photographers: Kris Anderson; Michael Lavine.
Unknown Contributor Role: Simone Simonton.
Arranger: Michael Kamen.
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been playing music together since they met as young girls. RITES OF PASSAGE marks a creative and artistic watershed for the duo. The album strikes a fine balance between politics and romance, rhythm and melody, and acoustic and electric musicianship.
RITES OF PASSAGE features special guests and memorable songs and performances. The album's standout tracks demand attention. The political "Three Hits" is classic Amy Ray. "Galileo" finds Saliers exploring philosophical matters (again) and features backing vocals by Jackson Browne and David Crosby. "Ghost" is a haunting reminder of the power of lost love. Indigo Girls cover Dire Straits' "Romeo and Juliet," and The Roches guest on the original fear-of-flying hymn "Airplane." Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie, bassist Sara Lee, and fiddler Lisa Germano also lend strong musical support. The depth and breadth of the Indigo Girls' songwriting on RITES OF PASSAGE will keep even the most discerning listeners happy. This is one for Indigo novices and fans alike.
Though not what you'd call polished or slick, Rites of Passage introduces a sound and structure that are a touch more refined than previous albums by Indigo Girls. Thanks to producer Peter Collins and a slew of amazing guests, including Jackson Browne, David Crosby, the Roches, and Lisa Germano, the added harmonies and diverse instrumentation put on a whole other spin. They even tossed in strings arranged and conducted by Michael Kamen. But lest you think otherwise, the songs themselves are pure Indigo Girls. One of the threads that runs through tunes by both Amy Ray and Emily Saliers seems to center around what it takes to be a good, kind person in this world, to do the right thing even in the face of danger or at all costs. Both women also express humility and reverence for a power greater than themselves, be it a cause, a god, a love, a fear, or a poet. Vocally, their harmonies have never been cleaner and clearer than on songs like Saliers' "Love Will Come to You" and "Virginia Woolf." And, naturally, Ray's fiery passion rears its head on "Jonas and Ezekial," "Joking," and "Chickenman." The Girls continue to be two of the most literate, engaging, and important songwriters in the folk-rock scene as they tackle issues ranging from Native American awareness to governmental misdoing. No misfires here, just a steady shot echoing forth. ~ Kelly McCartney
