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Tongues and Tails
Studio album by Sophie B. Hawkins
Released	April 21, 1992
Recorded	July 1991 – February 1992
Length	52:23
Label	Columbia
Producer	Rick Chertoff Ralph Schuckett
Sophie B. Hawkins chronology
Tongues and Tails (1992) Whaler (1994)
Singles from Tongues and Tails
"Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" Released: 31 March 1992 "California Here I Come" Released: July 1992 "I Want You" Released: October 1992

Tongues and Tails is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, released in 1992 on Columbia records. It was produced by Rick Chertoff and Ralph Schuckett.

The album contains ten original tracks, including "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "California Here I Come", and a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Want You"; in Rolling Stone, Paul Evans described the style of her version as "breathy techno-MOR".

The album, which sold over 850,000 units worldwide, was a commercial and critical success. It was awarded "Best Pop Album" and "Best Debut Album by a Solo Artist" at the 1992 New York Music Awards, and earned Hawkins a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist in 1993.

Background

Hawkins recorded her debut album, Tongues and Tails, after signing a contract with Columbia Records, who had liked a demo tape she circulated to various labels. She was enthusiastic about her relationship with the label, telling Billboard in 1992, "Once it sunk into my brain that I got this deal because believed in me and my music, I was able to dig into making this album without any inhibitions."

Singles

The lead single, "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", preceded the album and was released in the US on March 31, 1992. It achieved success in many countries worldwide; in the United States, it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "California Here I Come", was released in July 1992. It failed to appear on any Billboard charts, but did peak at number 79 on the US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles chart. "I Want You" was issued as the third and final single in October 1992, but was not a chart success. It did, however, reach number 49 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1993.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Indianapolis Star
Los Angeles Times
Orlando Sentinel
Q	(1992) (1994)
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine

Billboard believed that Tongues and Tails "distinguishes itself from the femme-fronted confessional genre by contrasting sensitive lyrics with insinuating pop grooves, '70s soul stylings, and African-tribal percussion". They added that Hawkins "reveals a unique voice and charisma that's well worth the attention." Kent Zimmerman of Gavin Report described the album as "one of this year's prime releases". He noted how Hawkins has "carved a personality niche right alongside her textured and keyboard-drive recordings", which "emphasizes sex and affection during dangerous times". The Indianapolis Star stated that "Hawkins' music ranges from churchlike keyboards to what should be instant favorites on the dance floor—sort of an early Springsteen to current Madonna."

Track listing

All tracks written by Sophie B. Hawkins, except "I Want You," written by Bob Dylan.

1. "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" – 5:23
2. "California Here I Come" – 4:38
3. "Mysteries We Understand" – 4:40
4. "Savior Child" – 4:45
5. "Carry Me" – 4:36
6. "I Want You" – 5:19
7. "Before I Walk on Fire" – 4:58
8. "We Are One Body" – 4:49
9. "Listen" – 3:31
10. "Live and Let Love" – 4:13
11. "Don't Stop Swaying" – 5:31

Personnel

• Sophie B. Hawkins – keyboards, vocals
• Eric Bazilian – guitar
• Café – percussion
• Mino Cinelu – percussion
• Rick DiFonzo – guitar
• Mark Egan – bass
• Roger Greenawalt – twelve-string guitar
• Omar Hakim – drums
• Gary Lucas – guitar
• Sammy Merendino – rhythm, rhythm collage
• Ralph Schuckett – keyboards
• Peter Wood – synthesizer
• Frederick Zlotkin – cello

Technical personnel

• Studio: Messina Music
• Producers: Rick Chertoff, Ralph Schuckett
• Engineers: John Agnello, Steve Churchyard, Stewart Lerman, Martin Brass
• Assistant engineers: Ted Trewhella, Michael White
• Mixing: Steve Churchyard, David Leonard
• Mastering: George Marino
• Art direction: Christopher Austopchuk, Nicky Lindeman
• Paintings: Sophie B. Hawkins

Charts

Notes

1. Flick, Larry (October 10, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 78. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via World Radio History.
2. Gettelman, Parry (May 22, 1992). "Sophie B. Hawkins". Orlando Sentinel. p. C8.
3. "Rollin' & tumblin'". Rolling Stone. August 11, 1994. p. 70.
4. "Sophie B. Hawkins - Whaler advertisement". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 32. Billboard Publications, Inc. August 6, 1994. p. 1. ISSN 0006-2510.
5. ^ Deming, Mark. "Sophie B. Hawkins - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
6. Applefeld, Catherine (October 24, 1992). "Hawkins gets her wish at N.Y. Awards". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 43. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 19. ISSN 0006-2510.
7. "35th Annual GRAMMY Awards". Grammy Awards. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
8. ^ Flick, Larry (April 4, 1992). "Bigger & better prospects for Sophie Hawkins". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 14. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 13. ISSN 0006-2510.
9. Rufer, Diane; Fell, Ron (July 24, 1992). "Reviews". Gavin Report. No. 1915. p. 28. OCLC 34039542.
10. Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 152. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
11. "I Want You – Sophie B. Hawkins – The new single...". Radio & Records. No. 961. Radio & Records, Inc. October 2, 1992. p. 91. ISSN 0277-4860.
12. "Sophie B. Hawkins - Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
13. Tongues and Tails at AllMusic
14. "Sophie B. Hawkins". Robert Christgau. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
15. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
16. "Protected Blog › Log in". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
17. ^ Wolf, Judy (May 8, 1992). "Sophie B. Hawkins Tongues and Tails". The Indianapolis Star. p. C12.
18. "*** SOPHIE B. HAWKINS "Tongues and Tails" Columbia". Los Angeles Times. April 19, 1992. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
19. Gettelman, Parry (May 22, 1992). "Sophie B. Hawkins". Orlando Sentinel.
20. "Sophie B Hawkins - Tongues & Tails CD Album". www.cduniverse.com.
21. Rolling Stone review
22. Cinquemani, Sal (October 26, 2003). "Review: Sophie B. Hawkins, Tongues & Tails". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
23. "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 15. Billboard Publications, Inc. April 11, 1992. p. 43. ISSN 0006-2510.
24. Zimmerman, Kent (April 17, 1992). "Album: New Releases". Gavin Report. No. 1901. p. 40. OCLC 34039542.
25. "Australiancharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
26. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2023". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
27. "European Top 100 Albums". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 39. September 26, 1992. p. 17. OCLC 29800226.
28. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
29. "Norwegiancharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
30. "Swedishcharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
31. "Swisscharts.com – Sophie B. Hawkins – Tongues and Tails". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
32. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
33. "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
34. "Top 200 Pop Albums". Cash Box. Vol. 55, no. 47. July 18, 1992. p. 15. ISSN 0008-7289.

External links

• Full lyrics of all tracks at official website

• Sophie B. Hawkins albums
• 1992 debut albums
• Columbia Records albums
• Albums produced by Rick Chertoff