Verities & Balderdash
1974 studio album by Harry Chapin
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Verities & Balderdash is the fourth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1974. (see 1974 in music). "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's highest-charting single, finishing at number 38 for the year on the 1974 Billboard year-end Hot 100 chart. The follow-up single, "I Wanna Learn a Love Song," charted on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart at number 44, and Billboard Adult Contemporary at number 7. A promotional single, "What Made America Famous?", was released to radio stations as a 45 rpm single. The album was certified Gold on December 17, 1974.[3]
| Verities & Balderdash | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1973–74 | |||
| Studio | Connecticut Recording Studios, Bridgeport, Connecticut | |||
| Length | 43:49 | |||
| Label | Elektra 7E-1012 | |||
| Producer | Paul Leka | |||
| Harry Chapin chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Verities & Balderdash | ||||
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The album was advertised with the slogan: "As only Harry can tell it."[4]
Track listing
All tracks written by Harry Chapin, except where noted.[5]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cat's in the Cradle" (Written by Sandy Chapin and Harry Chapin) | 3:44 |
| 2. | "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" | 4:19 |
| 3. | "Shooting Star" | 4:02 |
| 4. | "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" | 5:45 |
| 5. | "She Sings Songs Without Words" | 3:31 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "What Made America Famous?" | 6:53 |
| 2. | "Vacancy" | 4:00 |
| 3. | "Halfway to Heaven" | 6:10 |
| 4. | "Six String Orchestra" | 5:25 |
Personnel
Band
- Harry Chapin - guitar, lead vocals
- John Tropea - acoustic guitar, sitar
- Don Payne - bass
- Allan Schwartzberg - drums
- Don Grolnick - piano, electric piano, harpsichord
- Ron Bacchiocchi - synthesizer
- Tom Chapin - banjo
- Irving Spice - concertmaster
- George Simms - background vocals
- Frank Simms - background vocals
- Dave Kondziela - background vocals
- Zizi Roberts - female vocals
Production
- Ron Bacchiocchi - recording engineer
- Grant Ames - recording engineer
- Paul Leka - mixing
- Fred Kewley - mixing
- Glen Christensen - art direction
- Bill Hofman - illustration
- Ruth Bernal - photography
- Shiah Grumet - design
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2× Platinum | 2,500,000 |
| Canada | 2× Platinum | 200,000 |