San Francisco Days

Chris Isaak

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 1993)
• Original Release Date: April 13, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002MH7
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,857 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Chris Isaak's first album in four years, "San Francisco Days," marks no great departures from his previous three. Recorded once again with his same Silvertone band and producer Erik Jacobsen, this is another Isaak collection of brooding songs about unslaked lust and half-completed break-ups; his restrained but lush voice is still out in front of the heavily echoed popabilly guitars. Nonetheless there are subtle differences in this project that make it more varied, more open, more aggressive and better overall than its predecessors. For example, "Lonely with a Broken Heart" sounds like the ultimate Isaak title, but the song is delivered at a brisk swing tempo, pushed by the soulful B-3 organ of the Robert Cray Band's Jimmy Pugh, and Isaak's carefree vocal makes it clear that the song is meant as a sarcastic taunt to a lover who expects him to come crawling back. A similar twist informs "Except the New Girl," which is lit up by lovely steel guitar lines from Tom Brumley (ex-Buck Owens); Isaak confesses to a woman that "there's never been anyone else...," but then adds the kicker, "except the new girl." "Round & Round" features some dirty guitar and a chugging beat, while the album closes with the best song Neil Diamond ever wrote, "Solitary Man," which sounds more lonely and desperate in this minimalist arrangement than it ever did before. Isaak's trump card, as always, is his singing. Like his heroes Roy Orbison and Don Everly, Isaak sings as if it were always 3 a.m., when every other gambit has failed and there are no options left but complete honesty. He pulls so tightly on the reins to his voice that he usually sings in a husky whisper, which is no less lush for being held back. And when he loosens the reins and allows his handsome tenor to rise in power, as it does on the incandescent falsetto chorus to the first single, "Can't Do a Thing (To Stop Me)," the effect is thrilling. --Jeffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "San Francisco Days" is a classic!, November 18, 1998

By A Customer

Four years after "Heart Shaped World", Chris Isaak returns with a brilliant collection of songs that overall has a more "upbeat" mood than his previous records.

From rousing rockers to heartfelt ballads and even a couple of jazz-flavoured tracks, this is easily Mr. Isaak's best album. His natural sense for melody is even more evident on this record than the previous ones. Among the best cuts are "Can't Do A Thing (To Stop Me)" and "Two Hearts", which has an irresistibly catchy melody, and a vocal delivery that pays tribute to Roy Orbison, complete with flawless high notes. The jazzy "5:15" has a great smoky vocal and bass line. "Lonely With A Broken Heart " sounds uncannily like Elvis Presley, and "Solitary Man", the only cover song on the album, sounds better than the Neil Diamond version.This is one of those albums where every song is nothing short of excellent.

"San Fransico Days" is a brilliant album and a as much a classic as "Rumours" or "Band On The Run".

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gets better with each listen...., June 22, 2005

By	Frank Garon (Breinigsville, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought all of his Cds in one fell swoop last year. Listened to most of them once and got so hooked on Baja Sessions that I didn't spend much time on any of the others.

Well, I went back and relistened to the rest and am very glad I did.
This album rocks, and it's definetly one of my favorites.

San Franciso Days, Beautiful Homes, Two Hearts,
Except The New Girl, Waiting, and I Want Your Love are all classics.
This one is in heavy rotation here in my home office, and it truly does get better with each listen. Kudos to the musicians that back Chris up - I'm getting closer and closer to taking up guitar thanks to wanting to play along while I listen!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars California Dreaming, October 7, 2004

By	Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Chris Isaak took a four year workup between his breakthrough "Heart Shaped World" and "San Francisco Days," and used that time to hone a very cool collection of songs. He also allows a few new elements to seep into the songs. A strong example is the rhythm machine that accents the rock-a-billy guitars of "Round And Round." He also gained new confidence as a singer, pouring even stronger vocals than before into songs like "Two Hearts," which evoked Roy Orbison as flawlessly as ever. "San Francisco Days" also finds Isaak in a more flirtatous mode. Instead of all the angst and heartbreak, there is some playful teasing in "Except The New Girl" and "Lonely With A Broken Heart."

For those that got hooked on Isaak via the success of "Wicked Game," there is "Can't Do A Thing To Stop Me." While certainly not as dark as "Wicked Game," Isaak still sends his shimmering falsetto heartbreakingly over a hypnotic mid-tempo melody and a mysterious sounding organ base. Just as effective in the high lonesome mode is, oddly enough, the CD's lone cover. Isaak outdoes Neil Diamond on "Solitary Man," completely understanding the song's unhappy retreat into reclusion.

"San Francisco Days" was a slight step back from the intensity of "Heart Shaped World," but follows Isaak's musical game plan pretty effectively. It's Isaak's most "California" sounding disc (followed closely by "Baja Sessions"), and a unique disc from a unique artist.