Painted Desert Serenade

Painted Desert Serenade is the debut studio album by American pianist/singer-songwriter Joshua Kadison, released in 1993 on SBK (a subsidiary of Capitol Records). It features two singles, both of which reached the top 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Jessie" peaked at number 26, while "Beautiful in My Eyes" reached number 19 in 1994. The album was certified Gold in the United States in August 1994, and Platinum the following April.

Painted Desert Serenade
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 18, 1993
Recorded1992
GenreSoft rock
Length36:51
Label
Producer
Joshua Kadison chronology
Painted Desert Serenade
(1993)
Delilah Blue
(1995)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Bryan Buss called it "chock full of odes to finding romance, longing for romance and losing romance".[1] Music & Media wrote, "Whereas most singer/songwriters operate in the cult hero circle, Kadison has an unmistakable ACE potential. The single Jessie could tear down walls like 'Walking in Memphis' did for Marc Cohn. Those who even think that that's too left of centre should recognise that his voice comes close to Billy Joel and most of all to Elton John. The track 'Beau's All Night Radio Love Line' is the finest about this delicate subject since Ben Vaughn's 'The Apology Line'."[2]

Track listing

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All songs written by Joshua Kadison.

  1. "Jessie" – 5:19
  2. "Painted Desert Serenade" – 2:56
  3. "Beau's All Night Radio Love Line" – 4:26
  4. "Invisible Man" – 4:57
  5. "Mama's Arms" – 3:00
  6. "Beautiful in My Eyes" – 4:07
  7. "Picture Postcards from LA" – 4:33
  8. "When a Woman Cries" – 3:31
  9. "Georgia Rain" – 4:03

Personnel

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String Quartet (Track 4)

  • Rod Argent – arrangements
  • Gavyn Wright – conductor, violin
  • Roger Smith – cello
  • George Robertson – viola
  • Wilfred Gibson – violin

Strings (Tracks 6 & 8)

  • Rod Argent – arrangements
  • Gavyn Wright – conductor
  • Chris Laurence – double bass
  • Paul Kegg, Ben Kennard, Helen Liebmann and Roger Smith – celli
  • Susie Hansen, Andrew Parker, George Robertson, Robert Smissen and Stephen Tees – viola
  • Mark Berrow, Ben Cruft, Roger Garland, Wilfred Gibson, Roy Gillard, Tim Good, Rita Manning, Peter Oxer, Bill Penham, Barry Wilde, David Woodcock and Gavyn Wright – violin

Choir (Track 6)

Choir (Track 9)

Production

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  • Rod Argent – producer (1, 3-8)
  • Peter Van Hooke – producer (1, 3-8)
  • David Kershenbaum – producer (2, 9), mixing (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9)
  • Brian Koppelman – A&R
  • Simon Smart – engineer (1, 3-8)
  • Kevin Smith – mixing (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9), engineer (2, 9)
  • John Kurlander – string recording (4, 6, 8)
  • Rob Eaton – mixing (4, 5, 8)
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Nick Bode – art direction, design, management
  • Annalisa Pessin – photography

Studios

  • Recorded at Red House Studios (Bedfordshire, UK); Westside Studios and Abbey Road Studios (London, UK); The Mill Studios (Cookham, UK); Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California); Track Record Studios and Pacifique Studios (North Hollywood, California).
  • Mastered at Masterdisk (Hollywood, California).

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[19] Platinum 70,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[20] Gold 25,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Painted Desert Serenade – Joshua Kadison – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. March 19, 1994. p. 9. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Charts.nz – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Joshua Kadison – Painted Desert Serenade". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Joshua Kadison Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1994". austriancharts.at. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1994". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  16. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994". hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  17. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1995". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved March 1, 2020.