Free-for-All (Michael Penn album)

Free-for-All was singer-songwriter Michael Penn's second full-length record, released in 1992 on RCA. There were no big hit singles of the strength of his only top 40 hit, 1989's "No Myth", but the album did feature two songs that reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock Charts: "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" peaked at number 14, while the second single, "Seen the Doctor", reached nine spots higher, for a number 5 placing. The album led to a bitter battle between Penn and his record company, leading him to forgo releasing a follow-up until 1997.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
allmusic	[1]

In his review for allmusic, reviewer Stewart Mason gave the recording four and a half stars (out of a possible five), saying that it was the record which proved to critics that Penn was no one-hit wonder, calling "Long Way Down" a "dark and pained opening to an album that was hardly pop-star material."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Michael Penn.

1. "Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug In)" 3:52
2. "Free Time" 4:12
3. "Coal" 3:33
4. "Seen the Doctor" 3:12
5. "By the Book" 3:46
6. "Drained" 3:59
7. "Slipping My Mind" 2:36
8. "Strange Season" 3:51
9. "Bunker Hill" 4:39
10. "Now We're Even" 4:55

Personnel

• Michael Penn: Vocals, Guitars
• Chris Hickey, Steven Soles, Glenn Tilbrook, Keith Wilkinson: Backing vocals
• Bennett Chesne: Guitars, Backing vocals
• Gurf Morlix: Pedal Steel & Steel Guitar, Backing vocals
• Tony Berg: Harmonica, Percussion
• Patrick Warren: Keyboards
• Joel Hirsch: Djembe, Udu
• Wendy Melvoin: Trombone
• Ron Leonard: Cello
• John Pierce: Bass
• Kenny Aronoff, D.J. Bonebrake, Jim Keltner, Ian McHandel Lepine, Pat Mastelotto: Drums, Percussion

Production

• Arranged by Michael Penn
• Produced by Michael Penn & Tony Berg
• Engineered by Greg Goldman (also assistant engineer), Chris Lord-Alge & Susan Rogers, with assistance by Paul Dieter & Ken Jordan
• Mixed by Bob Clearmountain
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig

References