Damaged Goods is an album by the American musician Nils Lofgren, released in 1995.[1] The title track was the first single.[2] Lofgren supported the album with North American and European tours.[3][4]

Damaged Goods
Studio album by
Released1995
GenreRock
LabelPure
ProducerRoger Greenawalt
Nils Lofgren chronology
Every Breath
(1994)
Damaged Goods
(1995)
Acoustic Live
(1997)

Production

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The album was produced by Roger Greenawalt, who also played bass.[5][6] Andy Newmark played drums.[6] Damaged Goods was Lofgren's first album in more than a decade that did not feature guest spots from his more famous musician friends.[7] He wrote most of the songs on acoustic guitar and chose to sing in a lower octave.[8][9] "Life" was cowritten by Lou Reed.[10] Branford Marsalis played saxophone on a few tracks.[11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
Daily Press     [12]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [13]

The Oregonian posited that "perhaps Nils Lofgren is the American Keith Richards—the soul of rock 'n' roll, North American division."[14] The Washington Post noted that "Damaged Goods has an emotional intensity and racing narrative flow that sets it apart from his previous work," and praised the "typically imaginative guitar work, everything from scorched blues lines to neo-psychedelic sweeps."[15] The Chicago Tribune said that "Lofgren roughs up some typically buoyant tunes with a gruff, bluesy delivery and odd production touches."[16]

The Plain Dealer deemed Damaged Goods "an ambitious, richly textured and eclectic rock record."[17] The Philadelphia Inquirer admired "Lofgren's raggedly tuneful rock and endearingly rickety vocals."[18] The Daily Press concluded that "he's generally good for three or four really good tunes per record, and that's about it."[12] The Record considered it one of the best rock albums of 1995.[11]

AllMusic wrote that "Lofgren remains, in essence, a guitar hero, and on the album's 12 tracks, he seems to have spent more time working on the riffs and textures he could get out of his guitars than on anything else."[10]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Damaged Goods" 
2."Only Five Minutes" 
3."Alone" 
4."Trip to Mars" 
5."Here for You" 
6."Black Books" 
7."Setting Sun" 
8."Life" 
9."Heavy Hats" 
10."In the Room" 
11."Nothin's Fallin'" 
12."Don't Be Late for Yesterday" 

References

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  1. ^ "Nils Lofgren Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (Dec 9, 1995). "Singles — Damaged Goods". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 49. p. 74.
  3. ^ Blackstock, Peter (23 Feb 1996). "Musical Diversity in Ballard? You Betcha". What's Happening. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. 8.
  4. ^ "When oldies can still be goodies". Evening Standard. 20 Oct 1995. p. 29.
  5. ^ Weitz, Matt (June 20, 1996). "Who?". Dallas Observer.
  6. ^ a b Weatherford, Mike (16 Feb 1996). "Fans of barroom rock...". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2J.
  7. ^ Rodriguez, Kenn (16 Feb 1996). "Lofgren Manufactures 'Damaged Goods'". Albuquerque Journal. p. E18.
  8. ^ Isola, Gregor (Mar 1996). "Nils Lofgren: The original road warrior". Guitar Player. Vol. 30, no. 3. p. 22.
  9. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. 1999. p. 580.
  10. ^ a b c "Damaged Goods Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b Johnson, Steven C. (17 Dec 1995). "Living lives of quiet desperation". Books & Music. The Record. Bergen County. p. 15.
  12. ^ a b Piercy, Mike (17 Nov 1995). "Nils Lofgren Damaged Goods". InRoads. Daily Press. p. 10.
  13. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 417.
  14. ^ Foyston, John (23 Feb 1996). "It's Amazing Grace in Rock 'n' roll". Arts and Entertainment. The Oregonian. p. 7.
  15. ^ Joyce, Mike (28 Feb 1996). "Sonic U.: Rock's Standards". The Washington Post. p. R17.
  16. ^ Dahl, Bill (1 Mar 1996). "Nils Lofgren". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. P.
  17. ^ "Lofgren Loves Being on Road Again". Arts & Living. The Plain Dealer. 3 Mar 1996. p. 91.
  18. ^ Cristiano, Nick (8 Mar 1996). "Nils Lofgren". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 17.