Hello is the debut album by the American singer-songwriter Poe.[4][5] It was released in 1995 on Modern Records.[6]

Hello
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 10, 1995
Recorded1994–1995
Genre
Length41:24
Label
Producer
Poe chronology
Hello
(1995)
Haunted
(2000)
Singles from Hello
  1. "Angry Johnny"
    Released: 1995
  2. "Hello"
    Released: October 1996
  3. "Trigger Happy Jack"
    Released: 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[3]

Background

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Aside from the Detroit studio of album producer RJ Rice, the recording of Hello took place at a variety of studios in Los Angeles.[7]

The first music video for the album was for the single "Angry Johnny"; it featured Poe on the skeletal frame of a bed looking forlorn whilst destroying a variety of effects one might associate with romance (like roses or a box of chocolates). The song's rage-filled lyrics quickly found her being lumped into the "angry female rocker" category, and the video was heavily played on MTV's Alternative Nation. The second single, "Hello", did not fare as well, until a remix version was released two years after the album's initial release. At least one other track (Junkie) was remixed as well, since the 1999 CD-quality download of 'Hello' contains a version of 'Junkie' with more instrument layers (horns and warbly guitar) that is 6 seconds shorter than the 3:06 original.

Hello was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 20, 1996.[8]

Critical reception

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Trouser Press wrote that "Poe has enough personality to keep the pleasant and occasionally intriguing album her own, but not enough to make it a strong statement."[6] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide called the album "a mess of over-personal, overproduced folk songs," aside from "Trigger Happy Jack" and "Angry Johnny."[3] Tulsa World wrote that Poe "rips and rocks, but she doesn't kick out the jams at the expense of the songcraft."[9] Glen Ballard in an interview on Spotify's Landmark series quoted "Around the time, I was making this record Jagged Little Pill, I heard some tracks by an artist named Poe. I heard a couple of these things and it really blew my mind. As much as anything, the Poe record, "Hello", was probably the biggest influence I had at that time, honestly, because it was a brilliant record that had jazz influence, hip hop, electronic, rock. It was a hybrid of the first degree."[10]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Poe.[7]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hello"
  • Poe
  • Ronnie Estelle
4:31
2."Trigger Happy Jack (Drive By a Go-Go)"
  • Poe
  • Jeffrey Connor
3:36
3."Choking the Cherry"
  • Poe
  • Connor
3:34
4."That Day"
  • Poe
  • Cameron Stone
2:41
5."Angry Johnny"4:18
6."Dolphin"
  • Poe
  • Sean Uberoi Kelly
3:47
7."Another World"
  • Poe
  • Rice
3:20
8."Fingertips"4:21
9."Beautiful Girl"
3:42
10."Junkie"
  • Poe
  • Rice
3:06
11."Fly Away"Poe4:34
Sample credits

Personnel

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Credits adapted from CD liner notes.[7]

Musicians

Technical

Design

  • Beau Barton – art direction, design, cover photography
  • Thomas Bricker – art direction, design, additional photography
  • Amanda Cruz – photography
  • Marty Levin – back cover photography
  • Poe – lyric collages

Chart positions

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AlbumBillboard (US)

Year Chart Peak position
1996 Heatseekers 4
1996 The Billboard 200 71

SinglesBillboard (US)

Year Single Chart Peak position
1995 Trigger Happy Jack (Drive by a Go-Go) Modern Rock Tracks 27
1996 Angry Johnny Modern Rock Tracks 7
1996 Hello Modern Rock Tracks 13
1997 Hello (Remixes) Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1

References

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  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 577.
  3. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 881.
  4. ^ "Poe | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  5. ^ Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn; Fonseca, Anthony J. (December 1, 2018). Hip Hop around the World: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313357596 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ a b "Poe". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Hello (CD booklet). Poe. Canada: Modern Records. 1995. 92605.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  9. ^ "Poe, Hello". Tulsa World.
  10. ^ "Influences". 5 November 2015.