Street Language is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Rodney Crowell. It was released in 1986 (see 1986 in country music) by Columbia Records, his first release on that label. It peaked at #38 on the Top Country Albums chart. The songs, "Let Freedom Ring", "When I'm Free Again", "She Loves the Jerk" and "Looking for You" were released as singles but they all failed to chart within the top 20. This album was co-produced by R & B artist Booker T. Jones and features a blend of soul and country music.

Street Language
Studio album by
Released1986
GenreCountry, rock[1]
Length39:23
LabelColumbia
ProducerRodney Crowell
Booker T. Jones
Rodney Crowell chronology
Rodney Crowell
(1981)
Street Language
(1986)
Diamonds & Dirt
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

In 1984, Crowell recorded what was to be a new album for Warner Bros., Street Language.[3] That album, a pop-sounding effort co–produced by David Malloy, was rejected by Warner Bros, and was never released. The label requested a more Nashville-friendly record, but Crowell negotiated a release from his contract and moved to Columbia Records.[3] He then he brought in Booker T. Jones as co-producer and re-recorded a more rock and roll/electric-sounding Street Language in 1986.[3]

The song "Looking for You" was co-written with Crowell's then wife, Rosanne Cash. "She Loves the Jerk" was written and first recorded by John Hiatt in 1983 and was included on his album, Riding with the King. It would later be covered by Elvis Costello.

Crowell's version of "I Don't Have to Crawl" was recorded for the Warner Bros. release, but did not make it onto the final Columbia album.[3] That track was released in 1989 on the Rodney Crowell Collection.[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let Freedom Ring"Rodney Crowell, Keith Sykes4:29
2."Ballad of Fast Eddie"Crowell, Emory Gordy Jr.3:48
3."When I'm Free Again"Crowell, Will Jennings3:48
4."She Loves the Jerk"John Hiatt3:35
5."When the Blue Hour Comes"Crowell, Jennings, Roy Orbison4:13
6."Oh King Richard"Crowell4:15
7."Looking for You"Rosanne Cash, Crowell4:33
8."Stay (Don't Be Cruel)"Crowell, Sykes3:49
9."The Best I Can"Crowell, Hank DeVito, Gordy2:41
10."Past Like a Mask"Crowell4:12

Personnel

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Choir performed by 'Catch a Rising Choir' and brass ensemble is 'Uptown Horns'

Chart performance

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Album

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Chart (1986) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 38
U.S. Billboard 200 177

Singles

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Year Single Peak positions
US Country
1986 "Let Freedom Ring"
"When I'm Free Again" 38
1987 "She Loves the Jerk" 71
"Looking for You" 59

Sources

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  1. ^ "Rodney Crowell Focuses On Performing" (PDF). Billboard. November 1, 1986.
  2. ^ AllMusic review
  3. ^ a b c d e Bill DeYoung. The Ballad of Rodney Crowell" at About the Arts. May 27, 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2018.