music.wikisort.org - Composition

Free-for-All was singer-songwriter Michael Penn's second full-length record, released in 1992 on RCA. There were no big hit singles of the strength of his only top 40 hit, 1989's "No Myth", but the album did feature two songs that reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock Charts: "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" peaked at number 14, while the second single, "Seen the Doctor", reached nine spots higher. The album led to a bitter battle between Penn and his record company, leading him to forgo releasing a follow-up until 1997.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008)

Free-for-All
Studio album by Michael Penn
Released	15 September 1992
Recorded	1991–1992
Studio	Zeitgeist Studios, Los Angeles; A&M Studios, Hollywood; Groove Masters, Santa Monica
Genre	Rock, Alternative rock, Folk rock
Length	38:35
Label	RCA
Producer	Tony Berg, Michael Penn
Michael Penn chronology
March (1989) Free-for-All (1992) Resigned (1997)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

In his review for AllMusic, reviewer Stewart Mason gave the recording four and a half stars (out of a possible five), saying that it was the record which proved to critics that Penn was no one-hit wonder, calling "Long Way Down" a "dark and pained opening to an album that was hardly pop-star material."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Michael Penn.

1. "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" – 3:52
2. "Free Time" – 4:12
3. "Coal" – 3:33
4. "Seen the Doctor" – 3:12
5. "By the Book" – 3:46
6. "Drained" – 3:59
7. "Slipping My Mind" – 2:36
8. "Strange Season" – 3:51
9. "Bunker Hill" – 4:39
10. "Now We're Even" – 4:55

Personnel

Musicians

• Michael Penn – vocals, guitars
• Chris Hickey, Steven Soles, Glenn Tilbrook, Keith Wilkinson – backing vocals
• Bennett Chesne – guitars, backing vocals
• Gurf Morlix – pedal steel, steel guitar, backing vocals
• Tony Berg – harmonica, percussion
• Patrick Warren – keyboards
• Joel Hirsch – djembe, udu
• Wendy Melvoin – trombone
• Ron Leonard – cello
• John Pierce – bass
• Kenny Aronoff, D.J. Bonebrake, Jim Keltner, Ian McHandel Lepine, Pat Mastelotto – drums, percussion

Production

• Arranged by Michael Penn
• Produced by Michael Penn and Tony Berg
• Engineered by Greg Goldman (also assistant engineer), Chris Lord-Alge & Susan Rogers, with assistance by Paul Dieter & Ken Jordan
• Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig

Charts

Chart performance for Free-for-All

Chart (1992)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[2]	160

References

---