| The Letter/Neon Rainbow | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1967 (1967-11) | |||
| Recorded | 1967 | |||
| Studio | American Sound Studio (Memphis, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Memphis soul | |||
| Length | 34:56 | |||
| Label | Bell | |||
| Producer | Dan Penn | |||
| The Box Tops chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Letter/Neon Rainbow is the debut album by American rock bandthe Box Tops, released in 1967. Following "The Letter" reaching number one on the singles charts,The Letter/Neon Rainbow was quickly assembled for a follow-up.
Most of the backing tracks were performed by session musicians; however the original group played the hit "The Letter". The session musicians likely consisted ofReggie Young andBobby Womack (guitars),Tommy Cogbill (bass),Bobby Emmons (piano, organ), andGene Chrisman (drums).[1][2]
Although lead singerAlex Chilton (16 at the time) had already written a number of songs, none were included on the Box Tops' debut LP, perhaps due to his relative inexperience with songwriting. Chilton later had a significant songwriting role in the cult power pop bandBig Star, and after the dissolution of the group continued to develop his career as a solo artist.[3]
The Letter/Neon Rainbow was re-released on CD in 2000 on theSundazed label (SC 6158) with four additional tracks. These included the mono single versions of "The Letter" and "Neon Rainbow"; the 1969 single "Turn on a Dream"; and the previously unreleased track "Georgia Farm Boy".
The album peaked at number 87 on theBillboard Top LPs in 1968, during a fifteen-week run on the chart.[4]OnCash Box the album peaked at No. 37.[5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
Writing forAllMusic, music criticRichie Unterberger notes Chilton's strong vocals but called the album "a spotty affair showing every indication of having been assembled very quickly in the wake of "The Letter" soaring to number one".[2]
InThe New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), contributor Greg Kot writes, the "debut album is steeped inMemphis soul, with touches ofcountry andblues, an approach that would remain intact on subsequent releases".[6]
with:
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard Top LPs[4] | 87 |
| USCashbox Top 100 Albums[5] | 37 |
