The Man Upstairs (album)
The Man Upstairs is the twentieth studio album by Robyn Hitchcock. It was released on August 26, 2014 on the Yep Roc Records label. The album comprises ten acoustic songs, all produced by Joe Boyd, noted for his work with various folk acts in the 1970s.[2]
| The Man Upstairs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | Folk pop | |||
| Label | Yep Roc | |||
| Producer | Joe Boyd | |||
| Robyn Hitchcock chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (70/100)[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
It contains five original songs by Hitchcock and five covers of songs by the Psychedelic Furs, Roxy Music, Grant-Lee Phillips, Norwegian indie-rock band I Was a King, and The Doors. I Was a King's Anne Lise Frøkedal also plays guitar and sings vocal harmonies on the album. The album's cover was created by musician and artist Gillian Welch.[2]
In 2020, Hitchcock released an album of outtakes from the Man Upstairs sessions, The Man Downstairs: Demos & Rarities.[3][4]
Reception
The album was well received by critics: according to Metacritic, the album has received an average review score of 70/100, based on 17 reviews.[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Ghost in You" | Richard Butler, Tim Butler | 4:28 |
| 2. | "San Francisco Patrol" | Robyn Hitchcock | 4:19 |
| 3. | "To Turn You On" | Bryan Ferry | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Trouble in Your Blood" | Robyn Hitchcock | 4:42 |
| 5. | "Somebody to Break Your Heart" | Robyn Hitchcock | 2:21 |
| 6. | "Don't Look Down" | Grant-Lee Phillips | 5:08 |
| 7. | "Ferries" | Anne Lise Frøkedal, Frode Strømstad | 3:02 |
| 8. | "Comme Toujours" | Robyn Hitchcock | 3:08 |
| 9. | "The Crystal Ship" | The Doors, Jim Morrison | 2:27 |
| 10. | "Recalling the Truth" | Robyn Hitchcock | 4:26 |
Charts
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[5] | 49 |
| US Top Current Albums (Billboard)[6] | 184 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[7] | 11 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] | 45 |
References
- "The Man Upstairs - Robyn Hitchcock". metacritic.com. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- Monger, James Christopher. "The Man Upstairs - Robyn Hitchcock". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- Bill Pearis (2020-08-07). "Robyn Hitchcock covers Nick Drake, Pink Floyd on new rarities album for Bandcamp Friday". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- Darryl Sterdan (2020-08-07). "Reviews: Robyn Hitchcock, The Man Downstairs: Demos & Rarities". Tinnitist. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- "Top Current Albums". Billboard.biz. September 13, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- "Robyn Hitchcock Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- "Robyn Hitchcock Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2018.