Necessary Angels is the third album by the American singer-songwriter Sara Hickman, released in 1994 (see 1994 in music).
After Hickman was dropped by her label, Elektra Records, her fans contributed to allow her to buy back the unreleased tapes that made up the album.
Critical reception
AllMusic called the album Hickman's "boldest, most mature, and most musically sophisticated offering to date." New York called it an "enormously rich album." Billboard wrote that Hickman "eschews some of her earlier wordplay for lyrics that are cleaner and sharper ... Lovely."
Track listing "Pursuit of Happiness" (Hickman) – 4:55 "Shadowboxing" (Hickman) – 4:24 "The Best of Times" (Hickman) – 4:41 "Sister and Sam" (Hickman) – 5:33 "Time Will Tell" (Hickman) – 1:59 "Eye of the Storm" (Hickman) – 6:15 "Oh, Daddy" (Hickman, David Batteau) – 4:24 "Room of One's Own" (Hickman, Gerald O'Brien) – 5:26 "Tiger in a Teacup Town" (Hickman) – 4:32 "Slippery" (Hickman) – 4:10 "Joy" (Hickman) – 5:23 "The Place Where the Garage Used to Stand" (Hickman) – 4:06
Personnel Sara Hickman – acoustic guitar, flute, guitar, percussion, electric guitar, vocals, background vocals, choir, harmony vocals Amy Atchley – choir David Batteau – guitar, background vocals Adrian Belew – acoustic guitar, guitar, mandolin, calliope, electric guitar, background vocals Jim Cocke – organ, keyboards Mike Daane – bass guitar Carl Finch – accordion Glenn Fukunaga – bass guitar Rafael Gayol – drums Mark Hallman – percussion, background vocals, choir, shaker, tambo drums Ethridge Hill – trumpet Bradley Kopp – electric guitar Danny Levin – cello Tony Levin – bass guitar Mitch Marine – drums Jerry Marotta – percussion, drums Darcy Matthews – background vocals, choir Dominic Matthews – choir Genevieve Matthews – choir Ian Matthews – choir Kris McKay – choir Brad McLemore – electric guitar Pamela Miller – choir Paul Pearcy – percussion, drums Pierce Pettis – acoustic guitar Mark Rubin – upright bass David Sancious – piano, keyboards Chris Searles – percussion, sound effects, tambourine, noise Tommy Taylor – drums Richard Weiss – choir Morgan Wommack – choir Brad Young – background vocals
Production Producers: Sara Hickman, Paul Fox, Mark Hallman Engineers: Mark Hallman, Marty Lester, Kevin Smith, Ed Thacker Assistant engineers: Marty Lester, Allan Queen, Mike Reiter Arranger: Sara Hickman, Paul Fox String arrangements: Sara Hickman, Danny Levin Mixing: Sara Hickman, Mark Hallman, Marty Lester, Kevin Smith, Ed Thacker Remixing: Sara Hickman, Mark Hallman, Marty Lester, Kevin Smith Mastering: Joe Gastwirt Art direction: Sara Hickman Illustrations: Sara Hickman Photography: Lynn Sugarman Hair stylist: Tony Fielding Make-up: Tony Fielding Clothing/wardrobe: Cyndy Goodman
References