Warming Up to the Ice Age

Background and recording

The album was produced by Norbert Putnam, and recorded at the Bennett House in Franklin, Tennessee. During the recording of the album Hiatt was still doing drugs and drinking which, he felt, diminished the quality of the album and also meant he was short on material. "The wholeness got dissipated by my personal problems, and I think that kind of showed up on 'Warming Up to the Ice Age'. I was drinking and drugging a lot and eventually I was consumed by it. After 'Ice Age' I got sober." Influencing Hiatt's decision to become sober was the birth of his daughter Lilly in 1984. Shortly after giving birth to Lilly, Hiatt's estranged wife committed suicide, leaving him a single father. Hiatt remained sober throughout the "Warming Up to the Ice Age" tour, which he called a "scary experience".

Release

Warming Up to the Ice Age was released by Geffen Records in January 1985. The album failed to reach the Billboard 200, but it did peak at number 210 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart. "She Said The Same Things to Me", and "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" were released as singles. A music video was made for "Living a Little, Laughing a Little". Hiatt supported the album with a tour of the US, Canada and Europe.

Reception

Glenn O'Brien at Spin wrote, "It's back-to-basics, straight-ahead R&B, but it's also subtle and energetic. Hiatt enunciates up a storm with words that are patently, as they say, clever." William Ruhlmann of AllMusic highlights the tracks "The Usual" and "She Said the Same Things to Me." Billboard called the album "another superb set."

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Hiatt, except where noted.

Personnel

• John Hiatt – guitar, vocals
• Jesse Boyce – bass guitar, rhythm guitar on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Larrie Londin – drums
• Randy McCormick – keyboards with:
• Willie Green, Jr. – bass vocals on "The Crush" and "She Said The Same Things to Me"
• Bobby King – additional vocals on "The Crush"
• Elvis Costello – additional vocals on "Living a Little, Laughing a Little"
• Jon Goin – guitar on "Living a Little, Laughing a Little", "Zero House" and "Warming Up to the Ice Age"
• Mac Gayden – rhythm guitar on "She Said The Same Things to Me"
• Frieda Woody – vocals on "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" and "She Said The Same Things to Me"
• Jerry Hey – trumpet on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Gary Grant – trumpet on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Chuck Findley – trombone on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Larry Williams – saxophone on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone on "The Usual" and "The Crush"
• Anita Baugh, Dianne Davidson, Tracy Nelson – backing vocals on "Living a Little, Laughing a Little" and "Number One Honest Game"

References

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "John Hiatt Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine".
2. (February 2, 1985). "RPM - Albums".
3. (June 16, 1984). "Studio Track".
4. John Schinder, 2001 liner notes for "John Hiatt Anthology", Hip-O
5. "Warming Up to the Ice Age - John Hiatt {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic".
6. (February 16, 1985). "Bubbling Under".
7. Smith, Jerry. (January 26, 1985). "Singles".
8. (March 30, 1985). "Single Releases".
9. (March 30, 1985). "Reviews".
10. (April 13, 1985). "Video Track".
11. (June 15, 1985). "Hiatt tours behind latest Geffen album".
12. {{AllMusic. link. William. Ruhlmann
13. (January 18, 1985). "Albums Of The Week".
14. "Consumer Guide, John Hiatt reviews". [[Robert Christgau]].
15. (2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". [[Simon & Schuster.
16. O'Brien, Glenn. (May 1985). "John Hiatt – Warming Up to the Ice Age".
17. (January 19, 1985). "Reviews".