The Wallflowers: Jakob Dylan (vocals, guitar); Michael Ward (guitar); Rami Jaffee (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, organ); Greg Richling (bass); Mario Calire (drums).
Additional personnel: Jay Joyce, Leo Le Blanc, Fred Tackett, Michael Penn, Gary Louris, Mike Campbell, Don Heffington, Sam Phillips, T-Bone Burnett, Adam Duritz, Kevin Patrick Warren, Jon Brion, Stephen Bruton, Tobi Miller, David Rawlings, Matt Chamberlin.
Engineers: Toby Wright, Neal Avron, Jon Schiff, Tom Lord-Alge.
Recorded at Sunset Sound, Groove Masters, O'Henry Studios, House Of Blues West and Brooklyn Studios, Los Angeles, California.
"6th Avenue Heartache" was nominated for 1997 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. "One Headlight" won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. "The Difference" was nominated and "One Headlight" won the 1998 Grammy for Best Rock Song.
On BRINGING DOWN THE HORSE, The Wallflowers refine their roots-rock and bring their considerable talents into focus. Now it's clear what distinguishes them from the rest of the roots-rock pack, and it's not just their convincing vintage musical chops. Singer/songwriter Jakob Dylan (son of Bob) has developed a knack for elliptical, imagistic lyrics that still convey urgent emotions. The intriguing collection of songs Dylan wrote for BRINGING DOWN THE HORSE catalogs the disillusionment and frustration he sees in himself and around him.
Adam Duritz, Michael Penn and Sam Phillips are among a star-studded group of guests here, but their contributions are tastefully understated, never distracting the listener from the band's signature sound. One of the most distinctive pieces of that sound is the organ work of Rami Jaffee, whose style combines elements of Charles Hodges' playing for Al Green with Al Kooper's seminal work with Jakob Dylan's dad. T-Bone Burnett's sympathetic production makes the most out of the quiet, acoustic passages as well as the anthemic rockers.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (5/13/99, pp.63-64) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."
Rolling Stone (6/27/96, p.56) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Four years older and a whole lot wiser, the Wallflowers return with an eye-popping second album that casts their leader in a far better light..."
Entertainment Weekly (5/31/96, p.60) - "...The combination of T-Bone Burnett's atmospheric production and the young Dylan's sly songwriting honors the past while giving the proceedings a modern patina." - Rating: B
Q (11/96, p.138) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...Jakob Dylan--son of Bob--must be commended for dealing in the kind of picaresque folk rock Dad invented, without besmirching the family silver..."
NME (Magazine) (9/14/96, p.51) - 7 (out of 10) - "...packed with lush tales of Americana, folklore from the frontiers wrapped up in string-creaking acoustic guitars....while The Wallflowers are struggling for their own identity, there's an affecting honesty and authenticity to their music..."
