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Fun is the second studio album by singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston, and his thirteenth album overall. it is It was his first major label release, as well as his only album for Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Butthole Surfers member Paul Leary.[6] Two years after the release, Johnston was dropped from the Atlantic Records label.

Fun
Studio album by Daniel Johnston
Released	September 20, 1994
Recorded	Summer 1994 Waller, Texas
Genre	Alternative rock, outsider music
Length	45:53
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Paul Leary
Daniel Johnston chronology
Laurie (1992) Fun (1994) Frankenstein Love (1998)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Austin American-Statesman	[2]
Chicago Tribune	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	6/10[5]

Background

Label Courtship

By late 1991, Johnston was institutionalized at the Austin State Hospital after relocating to Waller, Texas, with his family. During the said period, Johnston's popularity continued to grow, with Kurt Cobain wearing a shirt featuring the 'Hi, How Are You' cover in several publicity events, most notably at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. The shirt's increased visibility led to increased publicity for Johnston.

Around that time, Terry Tolkin contacted Johnston's manager, Jeff Tartakov, about signing him to Elektra Records. Tartakov, Tolkin, and Johnston met in the waiting room of Austin State Hospital and had a half-hour business meeting. Eventually, a contract was crafted, taking Johnston's situation into careful consideration. The label would provide Johnston with a physician, not require him to tour, and not drop him for failing to promote a record. Tartakov referred to it as 'The most one-sided contract in favor of artists' rights that had ever been drawn up.' Elektra intended to sign Johnston for his whole career, with eight records planned.

Over the next few months, Tartakov and Tolkin waited for Johnston's health to improve. Eventually, Tartakov was contacted by Yves Beauvais, Vice President of A&R for Atlantic Records, who was interested in Johnston's label situation. Tartakov told him they were close to signing with Elektra, which launched a bidding warwith a $100,000 possibility.

Once Daniel was released from Austin State, he became paranoid about Elektra, worried that they were satanic and that Metalica would 'beat and kill him.' As such, the deal was abandoned. Tartakov eventually discovered he had been replaced as Johnston's manager by Tom Gimbel.[7] Johnston had discovered Gimbel after visiting Austin, Texas based record label Amazing Records. After he gave the receptionist a tape, Gimbel recognised his name and followed him out and gave Johnston his card. Months later, Johnston hired him as his manager. Gimbel insisted he had no experience, but Johnston convinced him to try.

Within weeks of hiring Gimbel, Johnston was signed to Atlanta. The new contract featured no provisions to deal with Johnston's illness, with an emphasis on releasing the album out as soon as possible.[8]

Writing

Johnston had written a majority of tracks at his piano[9] between 1990 and 1994. The earliest traces of 'Fun' material date back to Johnston's March 14th, 1990, live performances at SXSW, where he premiered the songs 'Silly Love' and 'Love Wheel.' This was during the time Johnston was writing Artistic Vice. In late 1992, Johnston performed a trio of live dates across Texas,[7] the last of which, at the University of Houston, was recorded and released as Frankenstein Love in 1998.[10] The setlist was largely made up of songs which would later appear on Fun, such as 'Mind Contorted', 'Life in Vain', 'Love Will See You Through', 'Happy Time', 'Crazy Love', 'Rock 'n' Roll/EGA', and 'Foxy Girl.' He also premiered the songs 'Come to Me Tonight,' 'Casper the Holy Ghost', 'Frankenstein Love', 'Memphis', 'I Will Be Free' and reworked versions of 'I Had a Dream', 'Hey Joe', 'Walking the Cow' & 'Honey I Sure Miss You.'

Recording

Beauvais was aware that Johnston's illness would make the album difficult to record, and so hired Paul Leary to produce the album. Leary later noted that Johnston had trouble playing instruments at the time, and that he played most of the instruments in the studio. According to Beauvais, Johnston was suffering with severe lithium tremors, and his hands were too unsteady to play piano. Johnston showcased the basic chord progressions of the songs to Leary, who worked out the instrumentation and recorded guitar tracks in a local studio owned by Willie Nelson, and then had the vocals overdubbed in Johnston's garage.[9]

Release

Daniel signed to Atlantic Records in February of 1994. 'Fun' was released on September 20th, 1994, selling 5,800 copies. Johnston was dropped by Atlantic in 1996.[11] After the release Johnston would take a hiatus from releasing, and would eventually return with Rejected Unknown in 2001. During that period Johnston performed several live shows.

Track listing

Credits

Adapted from album liner notes

• Daniel Johnston: Vocals, Keyboards on 7, 15, 17, Rhodes Piano on 3, 12, Guitar on 'Silly Love'

Guest Performers

• Paul Leary: Guitar on 2, 4, 6, 8, - 10, 14, 18, Bass on 1, 8, 10, 18, Drums on 1, 10, 18, Tambourine on 'Lousy Weekend', Backing Vocals on 'Rock 'N' Roll/Ega'
• King Coffey: Drums on 1, 10, 18, Tambourine on 'Lousy Weekend'
• Sandy Smallens: Bass on 2, 14
• Regina Carter: Violin on 2, 14
• John Hagen: Cello on 2, 5
• Bobbie Nelson: Piano on 'Love Will See You Through'

Technical

• Paul Leary: Engineer, Mixing, Production

References

External links

• Personal Demons The Guardian
• Fun at Google Music
• Fun at MusicBrainz (list of releases)

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