Misplaced Pages

Breakdown
Studio album by Melissa Etheridge
Released	October 5, 1999
Recorded	1998–1999
Studio	A&M Studios, Los Angeles, California Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Rock
Length	53:50
Label	Island
Producer	Melissa Etheridge, John Shanks
Melissa Etheridge chronology
Your Little Secret (1995) Breakdown (1999) Skin (2001)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly	C+
Rolling Stone
Uncut
USA Today

Breakdown is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on October 5, 1999. A critical and commercial success, the album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, went Gold, and earned four Grammy Award nominations. A Limited-Edition version of the album was simultaneously released featuring three bonus tracks.

"Scarecrow" is dedicated to the memory of Matthew Shepard, and his family and friends. "Into the Dark" appeared in episodes of Haven and Night Visions.

Accolades

Track listing

All songs by Melissa Etheridge, except where noted

1. "Breakdown" – 3:54
2. "Angels Would Fall" (Etheridge, Shanks) – 4:39
3. "Stronger Than Me" – 4:08
4. "Into the Dark" – 4:59
5. "Enough of Me" – 4:39
6. "Truth of the Heart" (Etheridge, Shanks) – 4:31
7. "Mama I'm Strange" – 4:29
8. "Scarecrow" – 5:21
9. "How Would I Know" – 4:15
10. "My Lover" – 5:45
11. "Sleep" – 7:10 / 4:39
12. "Touch and Go"* – 4:36
13. "Cherry Avenue"* – 4:29
14. "Beloved"* – 7:54

* Limited Edition bonus tracks

Personnel

• Melissa Etheridge – acoustic guitar, vocals
• Kenny Aronoff – drums, marimba, shaker
• Jon Brion – guitar
• Mark Browne – bass guitar
• Matt Chamberlain – drums
• Steve Ferrone – percussion, drums
• Rami Jaffee – keyboards
• Jim Keltner – drums
• Greg Leisz – guitar, mandolin, lap steel guitar, pedal steel guitar
• Brian MacLeod – percussion, drum loop
• Pino Palladino – bass guitar
• John Shanks – dulcimer, guitar, harp, marimba, background vocals
• Patrick Warren – keyboards
• Gota Yashiki – programming

Production

• Producers: Melissa Etheridge, John Shanks
• Engineers: Marc DeSisto, Greg Goldman
• Assistant engineers: John Aguto, Tom Nellen, Geoff Walcha
• Mixing: Bob Clearmountain, Tom Lord-Alge, Chris Lord-Alge
• Mastering: Bob Ludwig
• studio technician: Brett Allen
• Art direction: Scott Denton Cardew
• Artwork: Scott Denton Cardew
• Photography: Barbara Green, Rocky Schenck
• Hair stylist: Bernhard Tammé

Charts

Certifications

Notes

1. AllMusic review
2. Entertainment Weekly review
3. Rolling Stone review
4. Album reviews at CD Universe
5. USA Today review
6. "Winners of the 11th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. Archived from the original on July 11, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
7. "Melissa Etheridge". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
8. "Australiancharts.com – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown". Hung Medien.
9. "Austriancharts.at – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown" (in German). Hung Medien.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
12. "Swisscharts.com – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown". Hung Medien.
13. "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
14. "Image : RPM Weekly" (PDF). Bac-lac.gc.ca. October 18, 1999. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
15. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 16, no. 45. November 6, 1999. p. 21. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
16. "American album certifications – Melissa Etheridge – Breakdown". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 17, 2020.

• Melissa Etheridge albums
• 1999 albums
• Albums produced by John Shanks
• Island Records albums