Loose is the third studio album by American singer/songwriter Victoria Williams, released in 1994.
Contents
Background and recording
Her previous album, 1990’s Swing the Statue!, won some critical praise but completely failed to attract commercial attention, and the collapse of Rough Trade Records left her without a contract until Mammoth Records bought the rights to that album. Two years afterwards, Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and as a working musician, lacked health insurance or the money to pay her medical fees; however, a large number of musicians who admired the talent she had shown on her Geffen Records albums came in to support her with 1993’s Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams tribute album recording her songs – including two unrecorded by Williams herself.
Loose, in contrast to her first two albums, was recorded with a large crew including some high-profile contributors like R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Sly Stone’s sister and bandmate Rose, husband-to-be Mark Olson and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner.
Music
Containing a full hour of music, Loose saw Victoria Williams use a greater diversity of styles, notably the spiritual-influenced “You R Loved” and “Get Away”. Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine wrote: "There’s a tenderness and fragility to these tracks that fits [...] with her idiosyncratic lyrics, filled with an emotional depth, whether she’s singing about her dog, her grandfather, her crazy childhood neighbor or her soon-to-be husband—or just letting you know You R Loved."
Reception
Despite widespread critical praise, Loose could not break her commercially, failing to dent the Billboard Top 200, and Williams moved with new husband Olson to Joshua Tree, California.
Personnel
Scott Babcock – timpani, shaker
Peter Buck – electric guitar, sitar
Greg Cohen – acoustic bass, electric guitar
Paul Fox – chimes, shaker
The Richard Greene Fourteen – strings
Lili Haydn – viola
Don Heffington – drums, percussion
Rami Jaffee – organ
Greg Leisz – electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, acoustic guitar, dulcimer
Gary Louris – backing vocals
Jean McClain – backing vocals
Mike Mills – backing vocals
Mark Olson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Van Dyke Parks – accordion, arrangements
Dave Pirner – vocals
Tim Ray – piano, electric piano
Tammy Rogers – violin, viola, backing vocals
Rose Stone – backing vocals
Geri Stuyak – cello
Tower of Power Horn Section – horns
Doug Weisselman – clarinet, bass harmonica, clay flute