# Useful Music

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Useful_Music.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_Music
> Source revision: 1306410912
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Useful Music
| type       = studio
| artist     = [Josh Joplin Band](/source/Josh_Joplin_Band)
| cover      = JoshJoplin_Useful.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = May 25, 1999
| recorded   = Orphan Studios and Southern Living At Its Finest, [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta), [GA](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state))<br />NG Studios, [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [NY](/source/New_York_(state))<br />New Reflections, [Nashville](/source/Nashville), [TN](/source/Tennessee)<br />Chicky World, [Austin](/source/Austin%2C_Texas), [TX](/source/Texas)
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [Folk rock](/source/Folk_rock), [Americana](/source/Americana_music)
| length     =
| label      = SMG, [Artemis](/source/Artemis_Records)
| producer   = [Shawn Mullins](/source/Shawn_Mullins)
| prev_title = Boxing Nostalgic
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [Josh Joplin Group](/source/Josh_Joplin_Group)
 | type       = studio
 | prev_title =
 | prev_year  =
 | title      = Useful Music
 | year       = 2001
 | next_title = [The Future That Was](/source/The_Future_That_Was)
 | next_year  = 2002
}}
{{Singles
 | name        = Useful Music
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = Camera One
 | single1date = February 6, 2001
 | single2     = Gravity
 | single2date = June 19, 2001
 | single3     = I've Changed
 | single3date = December 11, 2001
}}
}}

'''''Useful Music''''' is a studio album initially released in May 1999 under the SMG Records label by [Josh Joplin Band](/source/Josh_Joplin_Band), and again in January 2001 through [Artemis Records](/source/Artemis_Records) after the band had renamed itself [Josh Joplin Group](/source/Josh_Joplin_Group) following a change in its line-up.  While the album did not enjoy widespread commercial success, it peaked at #22 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' [Independent Albums](/source/Independent_Albums) chart and spawned a moderate hit with its first single, "Camera One", which quickly reached #1 on the [Triple A](/source/Adult_album_alternative) airplay chart, the highest position ever achieved by an independent release at that point (February 2001). Featuring a more rock-edged, radio-friendly sound than most of the other material on ''Useful Music,'' the song was also featured in an episode of the comedy series ''[Scrubs](/source/Scrubs_(TV_series))'' (season 1, episode 7, "[My Super Ego](/source/My_Super_Ego)").

==Track listing==
===Original release (1999)===
All songs written by [Josh Joplin](/source/Josh_Joplin).
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Track
! Title
! Producer
! Engineer
! Mixer
! Mastering
! Length
|-
| 1
| "Matter"
| [Jerry Harrison](/source/Jerry_Harrison)
| Karl Derfler
| [Tom Lord-Alge](/source/Tom_Lord-Alge)
| [Ted Jensen](/source/Ted_Jensen)
| 4:13
|-
| 2
| "Gravity"
| [Shawn Mullins](/source/Shawn_Mullins)
| Russ Fowler, Alex Lowe
| Phil Nicolo
| Greg Calbi
| 3:04
|-
| 3
| "Here I Am"
| Rob Gal, Mullins
| Fowler
| Matt Chiaravalle
| Calbi
| 4:18
|-
| 4
| "Far Away"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Fowler
| Calbi
| 2:54
|-
| 5
| "Undone"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Nicolo
| Calbi
| 4:09
|-
| 6
| "I've Changed"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Nicolo
| Calbi
| 4:13
|-
| 7
| "Trailways"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Chiaravalle
| Calbi
| 3:59
|-
| 8
| "Who's Afraid of Thomas Wolfe?"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Fowler
| Calbi
| 4:01
|-
| 9
| "Phil Ochs"
| Allan Broyles, Josh Joplin
| [Charles “Chicky” Reeves](/source/Charles_%E2%80%9CChicky%E2%80%9D_Reeves)
| Fowler
| Calbi
| 3:12
|-
| 10
| "Superstar"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Chiaravalle
| Calbi
| 3:33
|-
| 11
| "Human"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Fowler
| Calbi
| 4:25
|-
| 12
| "Dutch Wonderland"
| Mullins
| Fowler
| Fowler
| Calbi
| 3:54
|}

===Re-release (2001)===
All credits are the same as the original release except where noted.
# "Matter"
# "Gravity"
# "Here I Am"
# "Undone"
# "Camera One" – 4:33
#* Producer: Jerry Harrison
#* Engineer: Karl Derfler
#* Mixer: Tom Lord-Alge
#* Mastering: Ted Jensen
# "I've Changed"
# "Trailways"
# "Who's Afraid of Thomas Wolfe?"
# "Phil Ochs"
# "Superstar"
# "Human"
# "Dutch Wonderland"
# "I've Changed (alternate version)" – 4:21
#* Producer: [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(record_producer))
#* Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
#* Mastering: Greg Calbi

==Album credits==
===Personnel===
* [Kenny Aronoff](/source/Kenny_Aronoff) – [drums](/source/Drum_kit)
* Allen Broyles – [backing vocals](/source/Backing_vocalist), [piano](/source/piano), [trumpet](/source/trumpet), [organ](/source/Organ_(music)), [accordion](/source/accordion), [harmonium](/source/Pump_organ), [keyboards](/source/Keyboard_instrument), [Wurlitzer electric piano](/source/Wurlitzer_electric_piano)
* Jason Buecker – [percussion](/source/Percussion_instrument), drums, backing vocals
* Ani Cordero – backing vocals
* Deb Davis – [electric guitar](/source/electric_guitar) <small>("Trailways")</small>
* Joe Gore – electric guitar
* Carl Herrgesell – electric guitar
* Danny Howes – electric guitar
* Clay Johnson – backing vocals
* [Josh Joplin](/source/Josh_Joplin) – [lead](/source/Lead_vocalist) and backing vocals, [Rhodes electric piano](/source/Rhodes_electric_piano), [harmonica](/source/harmonica), [acoustic guitar](/source/acoustic_guitar)
* David Kostiner – drums
* Diana Mangano – backing vocals
* Geoff Melkonian – backing vocals, [electric bass](/source/Bass_guitar), [double bass](/source/double_bass), [viola](/source/viola)
* [Shawn Mullins](/source/Shawn_Mullins) – guitar, piano, backing vocals
* Pamela Sixfin – [violin](/source/violin)
* Eric Taylor – drums <small>("Camera One")</small>
* Kris Wilkinson – string [arrangement](/source/arrangement)

===Production===
* John Bentham – [photography](/source/Photographer)
* Chris Bilheimer – [art direction](/source/art_direction)
* Allen Broyles – [producer](/source/Record_producer) <small>("Phil Ochs")</small>
* Greg Calbi – [mastering](/source/Audio_mastering) <small>(all tracks except "Matter" and "Camera One")</small>
* Matt Chiaravalle – [mixer](/source/Audio_mixing_(recorded_music)) <small>("Here I Am", "Trailways", and "Superstar")</small>
* [Peter Collins](/source/Peter_Collins_(record_producer)) – producer <small>("I've Changed (alternate version)")</small>
* Karl Derfler – [engineer](/source/Audio_engineering) <small>("Matter" and "Camera One")</small>
* Russ Fowler – engineer <small>(all tracks except "Matter", "Camera One", and "I've Changed (alternate version)")</small>, mixer <small>("Far Away", "Phil Ochs", "Who's Afraid of Thomas Wolfe?", "Human", and "Dutch Wonderland")</small>
* [Daniel Glass](/source/Daniel_Glass) – executive producer
* [Jerry Harrison](/source/Jerry_Harrison) – producer <small>("Matter" and "Camera One")</small>
* J. Reid Hunter – [legal](/source/Music_law)
* [Ted Jensen](/source/Ted_Jensen) – mastering <small>("Matter" and "Camera One")</small>
* Josh Joplin – producer <small>("Phil Ochs")</small>
* Matt Lively – [illustration](/source/Illustrator)
* [Tom Lord-Alge](/source/Tom_Lord-Alge) – mixer <small>("Matter" and "Camera One")</small>
* Alex Lowe – engineer <small>("Gravity")</small>
* Shawn Mullins – producer <small>(all tracks except "Matter", "Phil Ochs", "Camera One", and "I've Changed (alternate version)")</small>
* Phil Nicolo – mixer <small>("Gravity," "Undone," and "I've Changed")</small>
* [Charles “Chicky” Reeves](/source/Charles_%E2%80%9CChicky%E2%80%9D_Reeves) – engineer <small>("Phil Ochs")</small>
* [Anthony J. Resta](/source/Anthony_J._Resta) – drum and keyboard programmer
* F. Reid Shippen – engineer <small>("I've Changed (alternate version)")</small>

==Sources==
*{{Cite magazine
  | last = Jenkins
  | first = Daniel
  | title = Josh Joplin Group Serves Up "''Useful Music''" on Artemis Set
  | magazine = [Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))
  | volume = 112
  | issue = 51
  | pages = 20
  | publisher = [Nielsen Company](/source/Nielsen_Company)
  | location = New York
  | date = December 16, 2000
  | url = http://www.billboard.com/features/josh-joplin-group-serves-up-useful-music-1314583.story
  | issn = 0006-2510}}
*{{Cite magazine
  | last = Aiese
  | first = Eric
  | title = Reviews & Previews – Singles (Rock Tracks): 'Gravity'
  | magazine = Billboard
  | volume = 113
  | issue = 25
  | pages = 24
  | publisher = Nielsen Company
  | location = New York
  | date = June 23, 2001
  | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=926065
  | issn = 0006-2510
  | access-date = July 7, 2010
  | archive-date = September 29, 2012
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929082744/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=926065
  | url-status = dead
  }}
*{{Cite magazine
  | last = Taylor
  | first = Chuck
  | title = Reviews & Previews – Singles (Pop): 'I've Changed'
  | magazine = Billboard
  | volume = 113
  | issue = 50
  | pages = 25
  | publisher = Nielsen Company
  | location = New York
  | date = December 15, 2001
  | url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1166409
  | issn = 0006-2510
  | access-date = July 7, 2010
  | archive-date = September 29, 2012
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120929082749/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1166409
  | url-status = dead
  }}
*{{Cite web
  | last = Thelen
  | first = Christopher
  | title = Album Reviews – ''Useful Music''
  | publisher = The Daily Vault
  | date = March 14, 2001
  | url = http://www.dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=3993
  | access-date = July 6, 2010}}
*{{Cite web
  | last = Warburg
  | first = Jason
  | title = Album Reviews – ''Useful Music''
  | publisher = The Daily Vault
  | date = February 15, 2002
  | url = http://www.dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=1827
  | access-date = July 6, 2010}}

==External links==
* ''[http://www.discogs.com/Josh-Joplin-Group-Useful-Music/release/1574057 Useful Music]'' at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)
* ''[http://m.billboard.com/album/josh-joplin-group/useful-music/362472 Useful Music]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}'' at Billboard.com

{{Authority control}}

Category:Josh Joplin albums
Category:1999 albums
Category:Artemis Records albums
Category:Albums produced by Shawn Mullins
Category:Albums produced by Jerry Harrison

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Useful Music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_Music) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_Music?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.