Maria McKee (album)

The songwriting was inspired in part by books about the history of vaudeville, as well as by Tennessee Williams plays.[7]

Trouser Press wrote that McKee's "lyrics don’t reveal any clear artistic mission and Mitchell Froom’s overstylized production ... drowns and/or drains her personality out of the album, leaving characterless elegance instead of a strong statement."[8] The Washington Post called the album "stunning," writing that "aside from her luminous singing, the real success story of McKee's solo album is her songwriting, highly developed and ambitious, full of melodic and rhythmic variety."[9] NME placed the album at #9 on its 1989 albums of the year list.[10] The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album "presents Maria McKee the person as something of an introspective, even introverted loner reeling from a romantic split."[11]

All songs by Maria McKee, except where noted

1. "I've Forgotten What It Was in You (That Put the Need in Me)" – 3:41
2. "To Miss Someone" – 3:52
3. "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?)" – 2:56
4. "Nobody's Child" (McKee, Robbie Robertson) – 3:58
5. "Panic Beach" – 5:55
6. "Can't Pull the Wool Down (Over the Little Lamb's Eyes)" – 3:45
7. "More Than a Heart Can Hold" (Bruce Brody, McKee) – 4:29
8. "This Property Is Condemned" (Brody, McKee, Patrick Sugg, Gregg Sutton) – 4:44
9. "Breathe" (McKee, Sutton) – 4:39
10. "Has He Got a Friend for Me?" (Richard Thompson) – 3:32
11. "Drinkin' in My Sunday Dress" – 3:27

• Maria McKee – acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, vocals
• Alex Acuña – percussion
• Bruce Brody – conductor, keyboard, Hammond organ
• Shane Fontayne – guitar
• Mitchell Froom – keyboard
• Heart Attack Horns – horn
• Jim Keltner – drums
• Tony Levin – bass guitar
• Jerry Marotta – drums
• Sid Page – concert master
• Philip Pickett – recorder, crumhorn
• James Ralston – guitar
• Marc Ribot – guitar
• Jerry Scheff – bass
• Greg Sutton – vocals
• Richard Thompson – guitar, mandolin
• Steve Wickham – fiddle

• Producer: Mitchell Froom
• Executive producer: Gary Gersh
• Associate producer: Bruce Brody
• Engineer: Tchad Blake
• Assistant engineers: Ed Goodreau, Mike Kloster, Randy Staub, Randy Wine, Scott Woodman
• Mastering: Bob Ludwig
• Arranger: Bruce Brody
• Art direction: Gabrielle Raumberger
• Design: Maria DeGrassi
• Photography: Deborah Frankel

Album – Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)