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Verities & Balderdash

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1974 studio album by Harry Chapin
Verities & Balderdash
Studio album by Harry Chapin
ReleasedAugust 1974
Recorded1973
StudioConnecticut Recording Studios, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Length43:49
LabelElektra
7E-1012
ProducerPaul Leka
Harry Chapin chronology
Short Stories
(1973) 		Verities & Balderdash
(1974) 		Portrait Gallery
(1975)
Singles from Verities & Balderdash
  1. "What Made America Famous?"
    Released: August 1974
  2. "I Wanna Learn a Love Song"
    Released: August 1974
  3. "Cat's in the Cradle"
    Released: October 1, 1974
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Tom HullD

Verities & Balderdash is the fourth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1974. (see 1974 in music). "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's highest-charting single, finishing at number 38 for the year on the 1974 Billboard year-end Hot 100 chart. The follow-up single, "I Wanna Learn a Love Song," charted on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart at number 44, and Billboard Adult Contemporary at number 7. A promotional single, "What Made America Famous?", was released to radio stations as a 45 rpm single. The album was certified Gold on December 17, 1974.

The album was advertised with the slogan: "As only Harry can tell it."

Track listing

All tracks written by Harry Chapin, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Cat's in the Cradle" (Written by Sandy Chapin and Harry Chapin)3:44
2."I Wanna Learn a Love Song"4:19
3."Shooting Star"4:02
4."30,000 Pounds of Bananas"5:45
5."She Sings Songs Without Words"3:31
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."What Made America Famous?"6:53
2."Vacancy"4:00
3."Halfway to Heaven"6:10
4."Six String Orchestra"5:25

Personnel

Band

Production

  • Ron Bacchiocchi - recording engineer
  • Grant Ames - recording engineer
  • Paul Leka - mixing
  • Fred Kewley - mixing
  • Glen Christensen - art direction
  • Bill Hofman - illustration
  • Ruth Bernal - photography
  • Shiah Grumet - design

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australian Album (Kent Music Report) 15
US Billboard 200 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1975) Position
US Billboard 200 48

Certifications

Region Certification Sales
United States 2× Platinum 2,500,000
Canada 2× Platinum 200,000

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Hull, Tom (April 1975). "The Rekord Report: Second Card". Overdose. Retrieved June 26, 2020 – via tomhull.com.
  3. SuperSeventies.com Verities & Balderdash
  4. http://www.anyoldkindofday.com/album_VeritiesandBalderdash.html
  5. Original LP 1974 Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records 7E-1012
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 59. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Harry Chapin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  8. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
Harry Chapin
  • Mike Masters
  • Doug Walker
  • Howie Fields
  • Ron Evanuik
  • Kim Scholes
  • Yvonne Cable
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