Raisins in the Sun

Raisins in the Sun is an unlikely all-star collective of veteran players that came together in Tucson, AZ, to make a self-titled roots rock/pop debut that came out in 2001 on Rounder Records. The group consists of Chuck Prophet, known as a solo artist and alumnus of vaunted roots-rockers Green on Red; as well as Jim Dickson, who produced albums for Big Star and the Replacements (to name a few) and whose piano graces the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." Also on board is Jules Shear, who -- besides his solo work -- has written hits for Cyndi Lauper and the Bangles (and who inspired ex-girlfriend Aimee Mann to pen a bitter song cycle about him in the form of 1993's Whatever). The rhythm section consists of drummer Winston Watson and bassist Harvey Brooks. The latter played on two of the most important albums of the '60s, Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited and Miles Davis' Bitches Brew. Rounding out the unit are Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie, who are known for co-production on the first two seminal albums from alt-country godfathers Uncle Tupelo (No Depression and Still Feel Gone), as well as for studio work with artists such as Hole and Radiohead. Perhaps taking a cue from Dylan and the Band's Basement Tapes, Raisins in the Sun took a keep-the-tape-running-with-no-preconceptions-or-rules approach to recording their debut album, and all of the songwriting and production is credited to the collective rather than the individuals. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide