Book & a Cover

"Book & a Cover" is a song by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, which was released in 1998 as a single from her compilation album Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega. The song was written by Vega, and produced by Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake.

"Book & a Cover"
Single by Suzanne Vega
from the album Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega
ReleasedNovember 3, 1998[1]
Length3:49
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Suzanne Vega
Producer(s)
Suzanne Vega singles chronology
"Birth-day"
(1997)		 "Book & a Cover"
(1998)		 "Rosemary (Remember Me)"
(1999)
Music video
"Book & a Cover" on YouTube

Background

"Book & a Cover" was one of two new songs to be recorded in 1998 and included on Vega's Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega compilation album.[2] The song was recorded and mixed at the Magic Shop, New York City.[3] "Book & Cover" was released as the first single from Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega in November 1998,[1] followed by the other new song, "Rosemary (Remember Me)", in 1999.

For the 40th week in 1998 (September 28 to October 4), "Book & a Cover" was one of eleven tracks identified by Music & Media as being the "most added" to radio playlists across Europe.[4] In the UK, BBC Radio 2 added the song to their B-List.[5] The song reached No. 5 on the Music & Media "Major Market Airplay" chart for Poland in October 1998.[6]

Speaking of the song's message in 1998, Vega described it as "fairly obvious" and "about not judging people by their appearance".[7] The song's music video was directed by Geoff Moore and produced by Frank Linkoff for Black Dog Films.[8]

Critical reception

Paul Sexton of Music & Media described "Book & a Cover" as "accessible".[2] In a review of Tried & True: The Best of Suzanne Vega, Ted Mills of AllMusic praised the song as a "quality entry in Vega's songbook".[9] Mike Devlin of the Times Colonist noted, "By including 15 of her best songs along with two new tracks, 'Book & a Cover' and 'Rosemary', this fine songstress shines strictly for the masses this time out."[10] Diego Perugini of the Italian newspaper l'Unità described "Book & a Cover" and "Rosemary" as "two fresh, essential, melodic pieces".[11]

Track listing
CD single
  1. "Book & a Cover" – 3:49
  2. "Tom's Diner" – 2:09
  3. "As Girls Go" – 3:26
  4. "Cracking" – 2:47
CD single (German release)
  1. "Book & a Cover" – 3:49
  2. "Tom's Diner" – 2:09
CD single (UK promo)
  1. "Book & a Cover" – 3:49

Personnel

Book & a Cover

Production

  • Mitchell Froom – producer on "Book & a Cover" and "As Girls Go"
  • Tchad Blake – producer on "Book & a Cover", recording and mixing on "Book & a Cover" and "As Girls Go"
  • Lenny Kaye – producer of "Tom's Diner" and "Cracking"
  • Steve Addabbo – producer and engineer on "Tom's Diner" and "Cracking"
  • Rod O'Brien – engineer on "Tom's Diner"
  • Shelly Yakus – mixing on "Tom's Diner"

References
  1. "Book & A Cover - Suzanne Vega". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  2. Sexton, Paul (September 19, 1998). "Album spotlight". Music & Media. p. 15.
  3. The Best of Suzanne Vega: Tried and True (CD). A&M Records. 1998. 540 945-2.
  4. "Airplay: Most added". Music & Media. October 3, 1998. p. 17.
  5. "Radio Two Playlists". Music Week. October 3, 1998. p. 18.
  6. "Airplay: Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. October 24, 1998. p. 29.
  7. "Articles and Interviews: 1998". The Official Suzanne Vega Website. Archived from the original on November 11, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  8. Retrospective - The Videos of Suzanne Vega [Book & a Cover] (DVD). A&M Records. 2005. B0004369-09.
  9. Mills, Ted. "The Best of Suzanne Vega: Tried and True - Suzanne Vega". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  10. Devlin, Mike (November 10, 1998). "Christmas is time for CDs". Times Colonist. p. B5.
  11. Perugini, Diego (October 30, 1998). "Suzanne Vega: Ricomincio da me". l'Unità. p. 23.
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