Sheryl Crow “My Favorite Mistake” released

My Favorite Mistake Sheryl Crow

Writer(s): Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott (see lyrics here) Released: August 31, 1998 First Charted: September 4, 1998 Peak: 20 BB, 9 BA, 6 RR, 2 A40, 15 AA, 26 MR, 9 UK, 6 CN, 87 AU, 7 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 25.7 video, 30.23 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: After Sheryl Crow’s success with debut album Tuesday Night Music Club she had a falling out with most of the collective behind the album. For her sophomore self-titled release, she was largely back to square one working with a new group of people. One of them was songwriter Jeff Trott, who returned as a co-songwriter for four songs on Crow’s third album, The Globe Sessions, including lead single “My Favorite Mistake.” Billboard’s Larry Flick called it “a simple rock song with smart, heartfelt lyrics” WK that “displays a laudable degree of growth.” WK The song showcased a different direction for Crow. Unlike the narrative songs of her first two albums, the songs for The Globe Sessions were written in the first person. Crow said she struggled with the honesty of the lyrics so much that she considered cancelling the album. However, she delayed the album’s release and wrote some new songs. WK “My Favorite Mistake,” which was “about a philandering ex-boyfriend,” WK was one of the song’s that invited speculation about Crow’s personal life. There was widespread speculation that the song was about Eric Clapton. The two were briefly linked romantically despite a 17-year age gap. Crow says, however, that the song is older than their relationship PP and that she can’t look at the relationship with Clapton as a mistake. SF Trott said he never asked her about it, but thought it could be Jakob Dylan from the Wallflowers. SF She compared the song to Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” a dig at a narcissistic ex who Simon refused to reveal for years. Crow said, “I’m the only person who will ever really know” WK although she has acknowledged that when she began the writing process for The Globe Sessions she was “really raw” from an aborted engagement. PP Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Sheryl Crow PP People (11/3/2023). “Sheryl Crow Admits ‘My Favorite Mistake’ Is Her ‘You’re So Vain’ Moment: ‘I Carly-ed It’ (Exclusive)” by Rachel DeSantis SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 2/8/2024.

Sheryl Crow “If It Makes You Happy” charted

If It Makes You Happy Sheryl Crow

Writer(s): Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott (see lyrics here) Released: September 3, 1996 First Charted: August 31, 1996 Peak: 10 BB, 10 CB, 3 RR, 5 A40, 11 AA, 37 AR, 6 MR, 9 UK, 11 CN, 20 AU, 7 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.2 UK, 1.27 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.4 radio, 63.7 video, 140.06 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: After Sheryl Crow’s first aborted attempt at an album in 1992, she roared back with Tuesday Night Music Club. The album thrust Crow into the spotlight with “All I Wanna Do” and “Strong Enough,” both top-5 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She was also a Grammy darling taking home Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (the latter two for “All I Wanna Do”). Her fame also brought with it a certain amount of controversy. The collective of Los Angeles-based musicians with whom she crafted her blockbuster album felt overlooked and Crow stumbled into her second outing having to prove herself all over again without the aid of most of the group that helped her gain her fame. She produced her self-titled sophomore effort herself, but did turn to Jeff Trott for some songwriting assistance. He co-wrote seven songs on the album, including the lead single, “If It Makes You Happy.” The song featured lyrics inspired by Trott’s break-up with his girlfriend Quinn in 1994. The lines “We went searching through thrift-store jungles / Found Geronimo’s rifle / Marilyn’s shampoo / And Benny Goodman’s corset and pen” referenced what he called his “treasure hunts with Quinn.” MM Crow said “If It Makes You Happy” was the first song they worked on for the new album. She contributed to the second verse and wrote the third with Trott. She played some Wurlitzer electric piano and played two electric guitars. Crow said, “Jeff was my alter ego” MM and says the song is “empowering and tells me to be as great as I can be.” MM For Jeff, the song had huge significance as well. He reached out to Quinn to tell her she was the inspiration for the song and they got back together and married in 2005. MM The song won Crow another Grammy – this time for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Billboard’s Larry Flick said the song was a “straight-ahead rocker that has far more bit than anything on her Grammy-lavished debut.” WK Slant magazine said the song “was a pointed departure from the gin-soaked roots-pop of Tuesday Night Music Club.” WK Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Sheryl Crow MM Marc Myers (12/6/2022). Anatomy of 55 More Songs. Grove Press: New York, NY. Pages 361-6. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 2/8/2024.