Rocktrospectiva: The Lovely And Expressive "Days Of Open Hand" Turns 35

Released on 10 April 1990 "Days Of Open Hand" was the third studio album by Suzanne Vega. The album was the follow-up to the successful Solitude Standing (1987). It was produced by Vega and Anton Sanko, who also co-wrote six of the album's eleven tracks. Recording took place across multiple studios throughout New York from late 1989 to early 1990.

Days of Open Hand combines Vega's established folk-rock style with more varied instrumentation such as the ney and dumbek and experimental arrangements. High-profile contributors to the album include Philip Glass, Shawn Colvin, and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants. The album saw greater use of synthesizers and samplers than Vega's previous studio albums

Althought Days of Open Hand did not match the success of its predecessor, stalling at number 50 in the US and failing to spawn a hit single. It was more successful in the UK, where it reached the top 10. The album spawned three singles "Book Of Dreams", "Tired Of Sleeping" & "Men In A War". Despite the album did surpass sales of a million copies and reviews were generally positive. Days of Open Hand was nominated for Best Contemporary Folk Recording and won the award for Best Recording Package at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards.

While Vega's previous studio album Solitude Standing was a major success worldwide, spawning the hit song "Luka" and placing within the top 10 of the album charts in twelve countries (alongside a number 11 peak in the US). The album also contained "Tom's Diner" which would achieve further success after being remixed by DNA in 1990. But with the follow-up studio album, Vega went in a more experimental direction, featuring elements of various genres and many high-profile collaborators. Songs such as "Institution Green" and "Fifty-Fifty Chance" place heavy emphasis on atmosphere; the latter features string arrangements done by Philip Glass. Even thought the charm and smooth "Book Of Dreams" the most succesful single of the set peaked at No. 66 in the UK and No. 8 on the US Modern Rock Charts, unfortunately the second and third singles "Tired Of Sleeping" and "Men In A War" failed to see any chart success.  Six of the album's eleven songs feature music written by Sanko while all lyrics were written solely by Vega.

Days of Open Hand did not achieve the sales of its predecessor upon release, but was still successful in many territories. While the album stalled at number 50 in the US, it was a top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number 7. Additionally, it reached the top 20 in five other countries throughout Europe. 

The album received generally positive reviews from critics, the album was considered as the one with their loveliest music especially on the trio of songs "Men in a War", "Institution Green" and "Fifty-Fity Chance" as a "suite of songs astonishing for their cleareyed gaze at pain", this earned to Vega, comparisons with poets Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath and Stevie Smith. 

 

Days Of Open Hand Track List: 

 

1. Tired Of Sleeping

2. Men In A War

3. Rusted Pipe

4. Book Of Dreams

5. Institution Green

6. Those Whole Girls ( Run In Grace)

7. Room Off The Street

8. Big Space

9. Predictions

10. Fifty-Fifty Chance 

11. Pilgrimage