' (''Ninety-Nine Point Nine Fahrenheit Degrees'') is the fourth album by American singer and songwriter

Suzanne Vega Suzanne Nadine Vega ( Peck; born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter best known for her folk-inspired music. Vega's music career spans almost 40 years. She came to prominence in the mid-1980s, releasing four singles that entered th ...

. Released in 1992, the album marked a departure for Vega, as she embraced a more electronic, experimental sound. It peaked at No. 86 on ''Billboard'' magazine's album chart and was Vega's fourth Top 20 album in the U.K. The single " Blood Makes Noise" reached No.1 on the ''Billboard'' Modern Rock chart. The album was certified gold (500,000 copies sold) by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

in October 1997. It was certified silver in the UK (60,000 copies sold) by the BPI in March 1993. ' was the first of two of Vega's albums to be produced by

Mitchell Froom Mitchell Froom (born June 29, 1953) is an American musician and record producer. He was a member of the bands Gamma (band), Gamma and Latin Playboys, and is currently the keyboardist for Crowded House. He has produced albums for several artists, ...

, whom she later married.

Critical reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' wrote: "By far Vega's most rewarding record, ''99.9 F degrees'' ... is the first album in which she breaks almost completely away from the conventions of the New York folk milieu that nurtured her." ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference to ...

'' wrote that "many of the songs display a new interest in space and sound, using both in an almost sculptural fashion, creating a compelling amalgam that industrializes folk music."

Track listing

Personnel

* Suzanne Vega – vocals, acoustic guitar *

–keyboards, string arrangement on 12 *

Tchad Blake Tchad Blake (born 1955) is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixer and musician. A native of Baytown, Texas, he has worked with numerous artists and musicians, including Al Green, American Music Club, Ani DiFranco, Apartment 26, Arct ...

– electric guitar on 3, 4, 6, 10 *

David Hidalgo David Kent Hidalgo (born October 6, 1954, in Los Angeles.) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Los Lobos. Hidalgo frequently plays musical instruments such as accordion, violin, 6-string banjo, cello, requin ...

– electric guitar on 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11 *

Bruce Thomas Bruce Thomas (born 14 August 1948 in Stockton-on-Tees, England) is an English rock bass guitarist, best known as bassist for the Attractions; the band formed in 1977 to back Elvis Costello in concert and on record. In addition to his work ...

– bass guitar *

Jerry Marotta Jerome David Marotta (born February 6, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American drummer who resides in Woodstock, New York. He is the younger brother of Rick Marotta, who is also a drummer and composer. Career Marotta was a member of the bands ...

– drums, percussion Additional personnel *

Richard Pleasance Richard Arnold Pleasance is an Australian rock musician and producer. He was a founding member of Boom Crash Opera on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and as a songwriter in 1985; they released three albums before Pleasance left in 1992. Their hit ...

– electric guitar on 1, 3, 10 * Michael Visceglia – fretless bass guitar on 5 * Richard Thompson – guitar solo on 11 * Greg Smith – baritone saxophone on 8, 11 *

Jerry Scheff Jerry Obern Scheff (born January 31, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for his work with Elvis Presley from 1969 to 1977 as a member of his TCB Band and on the Doors' '' L.A. Woman''. Biography Scheff grew up in Vallejo, California. After ...

– double bass on 6, 12 * Marc Shulman –

bouzouki The bouzouki (, also ; el, μπουζούκι ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', from Greek ), also spelled buzuki or buzuci, is a musical instrument popular in Greece. It is a member of the long-necked lute family, with a round body with a flat top and ...

on 5 *

Sid Page Sid Page is an American violinist who has been active in many genres of music since the late 1960s. He has been a member of Dan Hicks (singer), Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. From 1973 to 1974, he was a member of Sly and the Family Stone and appea ...

– 1st violin on 12 *

Joel Derouin Joel Derouin is a Canadian violinist, concert master, composer and music director. In addition to having worked with many popular musicians, he is also known for his work in film, television and theatre. Biography Born in Cornwall, Ontario, Can ...

– 2nd violin on 12 *

Maria Newman Maria Louise Newman (born January 18, 1962) is an American composer of classical music, violinist and pianist. She is the youngest child of Alfred Newman, a major Hollywood film composer. Maria holds the Louis and Annette Kaufman Composit ...

– viola on 12 * Larry Corbett – cello on 12 * Suzie Katayama – copyist on 12 Technical * Ronald K. Fierstein – executive producer * Tchad Blake – engineer, mixing * Len Peltier, Suzanne Vega – art direction

Charts

Singles

Certifications and sales

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:99.9f 1992 albums Albums produced by Mitchell Froom A&M Records albums Suzanne Vega albums