| Because They Can | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 21, 1995 (1995-06-21) (Japan) | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 55:26 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Nelson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Because They Can is the second album from American rock groupNelson, released byGeffen Records in 1995.
The album had a shaky production history as a result of creative differences between brothersMatthew andGunnar Nelson and the Geffen Records executives, the latter led byJohn Kalodner. After the success of their debut album,After the Rain, the band recorded the heavier and darker follow-upImaginator. When Kalodner and other Geffen executives were displeased with it, Nelson was told to record a lighter album. After more than a year of writing and recording, Nelson came up withBecause They Can. The band left Geffen shortly after the release of the album.[1][2]
"We basically stripped away everything and tried to make the songs work for themselves. And that's basically what we were left with. I am very proud of this piece of work even though the process was very painful."
After the success of their first album,After the Rain, and years of touring, Nelson returned to the studio to record their second album. They came up with a darker and harder, concept album titledImaginator. However, when they presented the album to producerJohn Kalodner and the executives atGeffen Records, they weren't pleased. They then gave the band the choice to either record another album, more according to what they were expecting, or they would be released from their contract. The band decided to return to the studio and began working on a more acoustic-oriented album which was, according to Gunnar, "180 degrees in the opposite direction ofImaginator".[1][2]
Because They Can was recorded at various studios such as Sound City, Studio F, Nichols Canyon Studios, Caravell Studios, Granny's House,Capitol Studios, Cactus Studios and Quarkbrain Studio. It featured original band membersBrett Garsed,Paul Mirkovich, Joey Cathcart andBobby Rock on most of the songs, and it featured guest musicians such asMike Baird,Don Felder,Steve Porcaro and others. The album was mixed atConway Studios.[3]
"Won't Walk Away" was originally demoed in 1985 and an early version was performed during their 1986Saturday Night Live appearance. Nelson reworked the song withJack Ponti and recorded the song as studio track for this album.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
Because They Can was released in 1995, five years after the release of Nelson's first album. According to Gunnar Nelson,Geffen was not "going to put any money into promoting it".[1] The album went mostly unnoticed and did not appear on theBillboard charts. "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" was released to radio and video outlets, and peaked at #30 on the Radio & Records Pop chart. On another interview, Gunnar said about the album "I’m really proud of [it], but our fanbase had gone away. Everybody had changed their musical tastes, and it was really kind of a drag".[2]
Gunnar has also noted thatPeople gave them the "best bad review in the history of rock 'n' roll" forBecause They Can writing only "Maybe they shouldn’t".[2] He has argued that a lot of the negative reviews they had were just based on their legacy and not in the actual music.[5]
All tracks are written by Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, with additional contributors noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" | Marc Tanner | 4:42 |
| 2. | "The Great Escape" | Tanner | 5:25 |
| 3. | "Five O'Clock Plane" | Tanner | 5:00 |
| 4. | "Cross My Broken Heart" | Danny Tate | 4:47 |
| 5. | "Peace on Earth" | Taylor Rhodes | 4:30 |
| 6. | "Remi" | Tanner | 2:27 |
| 7. | "Won't Walk Away" | Jack Ponti | 3:51 |
| 8. | "Only a Moment Away" | Tanner | 4:22 |
| 9. | "Joshua Is With Me Now" | Tanner | 1:30 |
| 10. | "Love Me Today" | 4:19 | |
| 11. | "Be Still" | 4:14 | |
| 12. | "Right Before Your Eyes" | Rhodes | 4:51 |
| 13. | "Nobody Wins in the End" | Tanner | 5:28 |
| Total length: | 55:26 | ||
Musicians
Art