The Letter/Neon Rainbow


The Letter/Neon Rainbow is the debut album by American rock band the Box Tops, released in 1967. Following "The Letter" reaching number one on the singles charts, The Letter/Neon Rainbow was quickly assembled for a follow-up.

History

Most of the backing tracks were performed by session musicians; however the original group played the hit "The Letter". The session musicians likely consisted of Reggie Young and Bobby Womack, Tommy Cogbill, Bobby Emmons, and Gene Chrisman.
Although lead singer Alex Chilton had already written a number of songs, none were included on the Box Tops' debut LP, perhaps due to his relative inexperience with songwriting. Chilton later had a significant songwriting role in the cult power pop band Big Star, and after the dissolution of the group continued to develop his career as a solo artist.
The Letter/Neon Rainbow was re-released on CD in 2000 on the Sundazed label with four additional tracks. These included the mono single versions of "The Letter" and "Neon Rainbow"; the 1969 single "Turn on a Dream"; and the previously unreleased track "Georgia Farm Boy".

Chart performance

The album peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Top LPs in 1968, during a fifteen-week run on the chart.
On Cash Box the album peaked at No. 37.

Reception

Writing for AllMusic, music critic Richie Unterberger notes Chilton's strong vocals but called the album "a spotty affair showing every indication of having been assembled very quickly in the wake of "The Letter" soaring to number one".
In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, contributor Greg Kot writes, the "debut album is steeped in Memphis soul, with touches of country and blues, an approach that would remain intact on subsequent releases".

Track listing

  1. "The Letter" – 1:55
  2. "She Knows How" – 3:08
  3. "Trains and Boats and Planes" – 3:48
  4. "Break My Mind" – 2:29
  5. "Whiter Shade of Pale" – 4:34
  6. "Everything I Am" – 2:20
  7. "Neon Rainbow" – 3:04
  8. "People Make the World" – 2:31
  9. "I'm Your Puppet" – 2:54
  10. "Happy Times" – 1:46
  11. "Gonna Find Somebody" – 3:02
  12. "I Pray for Rain" – 2:26

CD bonus tracks

  2. "Turn on a Dream" – 2:50
  3. "The Letter" – 1:58
  4. "Neon Rainbow" – 3:00
  5. "Georgia Farm Boy" – 3:48

Personnel

;The Box Tops
with:

Production notes