''You Gotta Sin to Get Saved'' is the second album by the American singer-songwriter

Maria McKee Maria Luisa McKee (born August 17, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice, her 1990 song " Show Me Heaven", and her song "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" from the film ''Pulp Fiction'' ...

, released in 1993. The album includes two

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...

covers and a take on Goffin/King's "I Can't Make It Alone". The first single was " I'm Gonna Soothe You", which peaked at No. 35 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. McKee, while promoting her third album, stated that she was unsatisfied with ''You Gotta Sin to Get Saved''.

Critical reception

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 ...

'' wrote: "Like much of this amazing, unexpected album, McKee splits her convictions between the music and the words, sinning and saving herself in a fission explosion that blasts into the spirit of rock'n'roll." ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' concluded that "languid backing by California session pros Jim Keltner, Benmont Tench et al, does nothing to spice up Maria's clear voice, or tumbleweed 'n' dust affairs." Johnny Dee of ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' described the album as "good, occasionally inspired, stuff" on which McKee "adopts a heavily rootsical approach, mixing R&B, country and Southern soul into a melancholic rock pot". He said it contained "all handsome songs", but felt it was McKee's "stunning delivery that really charms", writing, "McKee's voice torches each song with deep melancholic melody and her band mirror this beautifully, tinting everything with a richly soulful brush." He concluded, "An unreservedly retro and indulgent album, but a valuable one nonetheless. If there's a space in your record collection between

the Black Crowes The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. Their discography includes eight studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer Ge ...

and

the Jayhawks The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential ...

his His or HIS may refer to: Computing * Hightech Information System, a Hong Kong graphics card company * Honeywell Information Systems * Hybrid intelligent system * Microsoft Host Integration Server Education * Hangzhou International School, in ...

will plug that gap amply." Ian Gittins of '' Melody Maker'' described the album as "no disgrace", but felt that it "still falls inevitably short of the sacred heights she scales live". He considered

George Drakoulias George Drakoulias (born 1965) is a Greek-American music producer and a former A&R executive at the American Recordings label. He is often considered a protégé of Rick Rubin. Drakoulias grew up in Syosset, New York, and attended Syosset High Sc ...

' production to be "partly the problem", with the tracks "riddled with parping brass and cheesy keyboards", and added that the music is "frequently lame" and "spirited belters are few". He concluded, "The LP's "forte eingshoulder-heaving, wrenched ballads, sepia laments, yet McKee never sounds truly wracked or at her best. The live shows may see McKee soar again, but here is a girl nowhere near her volcano."

Track listing

#" I'm Gonna Soothe You" (Bruce Brody,

Marvin Etzioni Marvin Elan Etzioni is an American singer, mandolinist, bassist, and record producer. Also known as the Mandolin Man, Etzioni is best known as a founder of, and bassist for, the band Lone Justice. He is a noted record producer and has released th ...

, McKee) – 3:36 #"My Lonely Sad Eyes" (

) – 2:41 #"My Girlhood Among the Outlaws" (McKee) – 3:44 #"Only Once" (McKee) – 4:03 #"I Forgive You" ( Sam Brown, McKee) – 5:06 #"I Can't Make It Alone" ( Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:38 #"Precious Time" (

Gary Louris Gary Louris (born March 10, 1955) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the ...

, Mark Olson) – 3:35 #"

The Way Young Lovers Do "The Way Young Lovers Do" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison from his second solo album, ''Astral Weeks''. It was recorded in 1968, at Century Sound Studios New York City, during September and October of that year. The so ...

" (Van Morrison) – 3:29 #"Why Wasn't I More Grateful (When Life Was Sweet)" (Brody, Etzioni, McKee) – 5:05 #"You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" (Brody, Sam Dogg, Etzioni, McKee) – 5:49

Personnel

*Maria McKee – piano, rhythm guitar, vocals *

Jon Auer Jonathan Paul "Jon" Auer (born September 29, 1969) is an American musician who co-founded the power pop band The Posies, along with Ken Stringfellow. Auer and Stringfellow also participated in the rejuvenated Big Star and in 2003 released ''Priv ...

– background vocals *Bruce Brody – organ, piano, Hammond organ, background vocals, handclapping, Wurlitzer * David Campbell – conductor *

– drums *

– bass guitar, guitar, mandolin, background vocals, handclapping *

Don Heffington Don Heffington (December 20, 1950March 24, 2021) was an American drummer, percussionist, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the Los Angeles alternative country band Lone Justice, which he performed with from 1982 to 1985. Heffington was ...

– percussion, drums, background vocals, handclapping *

The Jayhawks The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential ...

Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America". Howard Sounes. ''Dow ...

– drums *Dale Lavi – handclapping *

– electric guitar, background vocals, handclapping *

The Memphis Horns The Memphis Horns were an American horn section, made famous by their many appearances on Stax Records. The duo consisted of Wayne Jackson (November 24, 1941 – June 21, 2016) on trumpet and Andrew Love (November 21, 1941 - April 12, 2012) on ...

– horns *Spyder Mittleman – saxophone *

Brendan O'Brien Brendan O'Brien may refer to: *Brendan O'Brien (bishop) (born 1943), Roman Catholic archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada *Brendan O'Brien (cricketer) (born 1942), Irish former cricketer *Brendan O'Brien (journalist), senior Irish journalist on R ...

– bass * Mark Olson – acoustic guitar, guitar, harmonica, background vocals, handclapping *Nicol Sponberg – handclapping *

Ken Stringfellow Kenneth Stuart Stringfellow (born October 30, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. Best known for his work with The Posies, R.E.M., and the re-formed Big Star, Stringfellow's discography includ ...

– background vocals *

Benmont Tench Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American musician and singer, and a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Early years Tench was born in Gainesville, Florida, the second child of Benjamin ...

– organ, piano, Hammond organ, background vocals, handclapping, Wurlitzer, vox organ *

Mike Utley Michael Gerard Utley (born December 20, 1965) is a former American football player. He played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1989 through 1991, when he was paralyzed during a game. Early life and college career A gr ...

– piano *

Don Was Don Edward Fagenson (born September 13, 1952), known professionally as Don Was, is an American musician, record producer and record executive. Primarily a bass player, Was co-founded the funk-rock band Was (Not Was). In later years he produced so ...

– bass *Julia Waters – background vocals *Maxine Waters – background vocals *Edna Wright – background vocals

Production

*Producer:

*Engineers:

Thom Panunzio Thom Panunzio is a music producer and engineer. His career began in 1974 at the Record Plant Studios NYC, working with John Lennon. Later, he became a staff engineer at the Record Plant, and later at The Hit Factory. Panunzio worked often wit ...

, Martin Schmelze *Assistant engineers: Doug Boehm, Jim Champagne *Mixing: David Bianco, Martin Schmelze *Mastering: Stephen Marcussen *Arranger: David Campbell *Horn arrangements:

*Art direction: Janet Wolshom *Director: Robin Sloane *Photography: Marvin Etzioni

Charts

Album – '' Billboard'' (North America)

References

{{Authority control Maria McKee albums 1993 albums Geffen Records albums Albums produced by George Drakoulias Albums arranged by David Campbell (composer)