Pickin' Up the Pieces (album)

This article is about the album by Fitz and The Tantrums. For the 1969 album by Poco, see Pickin' Up the Pieces.

Pickin' Up the Pieces
Studio album by Fitz and The Tantrums
Released	August 24, 2010
Recorded	Early 2010 at Dillon Street Studios in Los Angeles, California
Genre	Indie pop, neo soul
Length	36:13
Label	Dangerbird
Producer	Chris Seefried
Fitz and The Tantrums chronology
Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 (2009) Pickin' Up the Pieces (2010) Santa Stole My Lady (2010)

Pickin' Up the Pieces is the debut studio album by American soul group Fitz and The Tantrums. Produced by Chris Seefried and vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick, the album was first released on August 24, 2010 in the United States on independent label Dangerbird Records. After the success of their home-recorded debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 and touring, Dangerbird signed the group, who immediately began work on Pieces.

The group drew inspiration from various musical tastes, among those Motown records and soul music. Instead of recording a "carbon copy" of their influences, the group pushed the music further, incorporating elements of funk and hip hop. Fitzpatrick created a juxtaposition between the angry, biting lyricism of the album with the fun, carefree sound of its music. The musicians recorded the album at Fitzpatrick's living room, which Fitzpatrick dubbed Dillon Street Studios.

The album has reached the number 1 position on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart and received positive reviews from music critics.

Background

Michael Fitzpatrick, vocalist, founded the group shortly after a break-up.^[1] Having a hard time after the breakup, Fitzpatrick came to the conclusion that he needed to release the energy through creativity and get a focus and direction, for the sole purpose of distracting him from the discomfort.^[2] In late 2008, he received a call from the same ex-girlfriend, who demanded a rigid "no-talking" policy to tell him about a neighbor who needed to unload a church organ for $50.^[1][2] Thanks to some "shady Russian piano movers," Fitzpatrick had the organ installed in his apartment that night.^[1] By morning, he had already written "Breakin' the Chains of Love". "I immediately knew it was the best song I'd written," said Fitzpatrick in 2011. "I could astral plane out and hear myself, like, 'wow!' Not bad!"^[1] Fitzpatrick knew he wanted a horn section, and he called college friend and saxophonist James King, and the two immediately began working on early versions of the songs.^[3] Fitzpatrick envisioned a full band, in suits, with a female vocalist.^[1] King recommended vocalist Noelle Scaggs.^[4] Five phone calls later, the Tantrums were assembled, out of college contacts of Fitzpatrick and King.^[1][2] They played their first rehearsal a week later, and instantly clicked.^[3] "We could have played a show that same night," recalled Fitzpatrick.^[1]

They performed their first show at Hollywood's Hotel Café in December 2008, which Fitzpatrick booked one week after their first rehearsal.^[4] The group recorded their debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1, at Fitzpatrick's home in Los Angeles, which he dubbed Dillon Street Studios.^[1] Fitzpatrick used his technical skills he honed to engineer the EP himself.^[2] Formerly a studio engineer, Fitzpatrick spent the bulk of his professional career behind the scenes, working with producer Mickey Petralia, who produced Beck, Ladytron, Flight of the Conchords, and The Dandy Warhols.^[4] The band began to constant airplay on Los Angeles public radio station KCRW.^[3] The group had many notable early promoters. "Adam Levine from Maroon 5 was in New York to get a tattoo and his favorite tattoo artist had downloaded the record after hearing us on KCRW," explained Fitzpatrick. "He told Adam, 'you gotta hear this band.'" A week and a half later, Fitz & The Tantrums were opening for Maroon 5 on their college tour.^[1] Daryl Hall, of Hall & Oates fame, invited the band to perform on his popular web-series Live from Daryl's House. "I walked back into the kitchen of his big old house in upstate New York and his mother was there," recalled Fitzpatrick. "She said, 'Fitz, come over here. You sound just like my son!'"^[1]

The entire foundation of the band from the start was a do it yourself approach. "Nobody was really giving us the time of day in any shape or form," recalled Fitzpatrick. "We just honed our own road, started playing before we even had songs to play, and developed our own fan base organically."^[5] The ethic was running out of steam by the time they became one of the major buzz bands at 2010's SXSW, where they ran out of money and resources amid congratulations from fans. However, their last SXSW gig was a show for Dangerbird Records. The following morning, the label's president called a meeting.^[5] In April 2010, Dangerbird signed the group, who immediately announced the album title, Pickin' Up the Pieces, and a promise that it would deliver "a burst of effervescent swingers."^[6] “The label is literally around the block from my house,” Fitzpatrick said.^[7]

Recording and production

The band recorded the entire debut in Fitzpatrick's living room, as they couldn't afford to go into a studio. The band did not soundproof the room, instead desiring to "just go with it," which produced a sense of familiarity. "It let us have this more family, laid-back approach, and to be able to really take the time to do what we wanted in the way that we wanted," said Fitzpatrick.^[8]

The music of the album is Motown and soul-influenced indie pop.^[3] Focusing on strong songwriting as his influences did, Fitzpatrick desired to achieve a collective energy with the new group, and set a goal to capture "even just a little bit" of the magic of Motown and Stax recordings.^[3] He also credits the organ's esoteric properties for the band's sound.^[7] Fitzpatrick has described Motown as "the greatest period of songwriting in music ever," but used it as a jumping off point.^[3] The band's eclectic musical tastes are reflected in the music of the album. Fitzpatrick, also a fan of Radiohead and Jeff Buckley, desired not to make a "carbon copy" of the soul sound, but instead give it their own spin.^[8] "We wanted to see if we could capture the way those records sounded and at the same time push it forward," said Fitzpatrick. Many of the arrangements and instrument choices are "possibly out of the norm," and the group wanted to give some tracks hip hop feel.^[8] Also weaved into the music are 1980s influences, from The Jam to Talking Heads to The Style Council.^[4]

Fitzpatrick wanted to create a juxtaposition between the fun sound of the music and angry, biting lyrics.^[2] In place of guitar, the saxophone takes the place as lead instrument.^[8]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Michael Fitzpatrick, Chris Seefried unless noted. 

Pickin' Up the Pieces
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Breakin' the Chains of Love" (Fitzpatrick)	2:51
2.	"Dear Mr. President"	2:59
3.	"Pickin' Up the Pieces" (Fitzpatrick, Noelle Scaggs)	2:45
4.	"MoneyGrabber"	3:09
5.	"L.O.V."	3:40
6.	"News 4 You" (Fitzpatrick, Seefried, Jeremy Ruzumna)	3:57
7.	"Don't Gotta Work It Out"	4:09
8.	"Rich Girls"	3:14
9.	"Winds of Change"	4:09
10.	"Tighter" (Fitzpatrick, Seefried, Ruzumna, James King, John Wicks, Ethan Philips)	4:56
Total length:		36:16

Personnel

Fitz and The Tantrums Michael Fitzpatrick – vocals, keyboards, percussion, production, engineering Noelle Scaggs – vocals, percussion James King – saxophone, flute Ethan Philips – bass guitar Jeremy Ruzumna – keyboards John Wicks – drums, percussion Additional musicians/touring musicians Maya Azucena – backing vocals Sebastian Steinberg – bass guitar Matt Cooker – cello Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – violin Stewart Cole – Trumpet Josh Brauchhausen – drums Scott Ellis – drums Jen Kuhn – cello Maya Sykes – backing vocals Tay Strathairn – piano

Production Chris Seefried – producer, guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards Stephen Kaye – mixing David Benitez – Additional engineering on "Rich Girls" and "Tighter" Lisa Nupoff – management Brian Klein – management Bernie Grundman – mastering Artwork Piper Ferguson – photography Simon McLaughlin – design, layout Jeff Nicholas – design, layout

Chart history

Chart (2010)	Peak position
US Billboard Top Heatseekers[9]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog	Ref.
United States	August 24, 2010	Dangerbird	CD	DGB051	[10]
			LP	DGB051V

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Andy Greenwald (April 12, 2011). "Band to Watch: Fitz and the Tantrums Put a Modern Spin on Motown". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/band-to-watch-fitz-and-the-tantrums-put-a-modern-spin-on-motown-20110412. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Tony Sclafani (December 31, 2009). "Dance Dance Resolution: Fitz & the Tantrums". Express Night Out. http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/12/fitz-and-the-tantrums-930-club.php. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Matthew Wikening (March 12, 2010). "Fitz and the Tantrums Interview: SXSW 2010". Spinner. http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/12/sxsw-2010-fitz-and-the-tantrums/. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Korina Lopez (February 13, 2011). "On the verge: Fitz & the Tantrums channel the Motown spirit". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2011-02-13-fitz-otv_N.htm. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Andrea Warner (April 6, 2011). "Fitz and the Tantrums dig the retro vibe". Charleston City Paper. http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/fitz-and-the-tantrums-dig-the-retro-vibe/Content?oid=3248307. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
6. ^ Chris Martins (April 27, 2010). "Fitz and the Tantrums Sign to Dangerbird, Tour with Dap-Kings, Plan Spaceland Residency". LA Weekly. http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2010/04/fitz_and_the_tantrums_sharon_jones_spaceland.php. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Fitz and the Tantrums want to get the crowd moving". Press-Register. April 14, 2011. http://blog.al.com/entertainment-press-register/2011/04/fitz_and_the_tantrums_want_to.html. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Melissa Breor (December 9, 2010). "Skipping a few decades, Fitz and the Tantrums bring soul-infused music to Northampton". The Smith College Sophian. http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2010/12/09/Arts/Skipping.A.Few.Decades.Fitz.And.The.Tantrums.Bring.SoulInfused.Music.To.Northamp-3966418.shtml. Retrieved April 18, 2011. 
9. ^ Pickin' Up the Pieces at Allmusic. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
10. ^ "Fitz and The Tantrums - Pickin' Up the Pieces - Versions". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/Fitz-And-The-Tantrums-Pickin-Up-The-Pieces/master/323330. Retrieved April 18, 2011.