The Winding Sheet
| The Winding Sheet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Mark Lanegan | ||||
| Released | May 1990 | |||
| Recorded | December 1989 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, blues rock, indie rock | |||
| Length | 40:18 | |||
| Label | Sub Pop | |||
| Producer | Jack Endino, Mike Johnson and Mark Lanegan | |||
| Mark Lanegan chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
The Winding Sheet is a studio album by alternative rock artist Mark Lanegan. It was released in 1990 on Sub Pop. The album was Lanegan's first solo work, and is notable in its departure from the characteristic sound of Screaming Trees, the band he fronted from 1985 until 2000. While the work done in that group was much more energetic and fit into the burgeoning grunge genre of the late 80s/early 90s, The Winding Sheet has a much more stripped down sound, defining Lanegan's solo work largely for the rest of the decade. The album was a modest success. The term "winding sheet" is a synonym of shroud. "The Winding Sheet" is also the title of a traditional sea shanty that was the basis of the well known "Streets of Laredo".
The album showcases Lanegan's adept skills as a lyricist and his deep, soulful voice. Highlights include "Mockingbirds," "Ugly Sunday" and the haunting "Wild Flowers." On "Down in the Dark" good friend Kurt Cobain sings while on the folk classic "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" Cobain contributes guitar and vocals and Krist Novoselic plays bass. Nirvana would later also cover "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" on their Unplugged album.
The album is produced by Mike Johnson, who also co-wrote many of the songs.
Influence
Foo Fighters' frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl has called The Winding Sheet "one of the best albums of all time" and has said that it was a huge influence on Nirvana's 1993 MTV Unplugged concert.
Track listing
All songs written by Mark Lanegan and Mike Johnson except as noted.
- "Mockingbirds" – 2:29
- "Museum" – 2:50
- "Undertow" – 2:52
- "Ugly Sunday" – 3:56
- "Down in the Dark" – 3:21
- "Wild Flowers" (Lanegan) – 2:59
- "Eyes of a Child" – 4:00
- "The Winding Sheet" – 5:30
- "Woe" (Lanegan) – 2:04
- "Ten Feet Tall" – 2:49
- "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (Traditional) – 3:59
- "Juarez" (Lanegan, Steve Fisk) – 1:21
- "I Love You Little Girl" (Lanegan) – 2:02
Performers
- Mark Lanegan - lead vocals / acoustic guitar (6, 9, 13)
- Kurt Cobain - electric guitar (11) / background vocal (5, 11)
- Krist Novoselic - bass (11)
- Jack Endino - bass (1, 3 - 5, 10) / second electric guitar (5)
- Mike Johnson - acoustic guitar (1 - 4, 7 - 8, 10) / electric guitar (1, 3 - 5, 8, 10)
- Mark Pickerel - drums (1, 3 - 5, 11)
- Steve Fisk - organ (8, 12) / piano (1, 4)
- Justin Williams - violin (3, 7)
References
- Charles R. Cross (2001). "10". Heavier Than Heaven. London, UK: Hodder and Stoughton. pp. 137–138. ISBN 0-340-73939-8.
- "On an Honor Roll". RollingStone.com. Retrieved February 5, 2006.