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Atlantic Records released Y Kant Tori Read in July 1988. The album was preceded by the single
The Big Picture released one month earlier in June. Y Kant Tori Read was
released in all three formats: LP, CD and cassette. The name of the album was Tori's ambiguous reference to her days at The Peabody Conservatory
when she refused to read music; although she was thoroughly capable of doing so. The band consisted of
studio musicians thrown together by producer Joe Chiccarelli, who had previously produced
Pat Benatar. Tori sang, played piano and wrote all the tracks except for co-writing four tracks with ex-Poco member
Kim Bullard and one track with Brad Cobb. The album was produced and recorded by
Joe Chiccarelli at Hollywood Sound Studio in Los Angeles. At this point in her career Tori was not yet calling the shots
and worked with whomever Atlantic Records saw fit to throw into the mix. The band included
Steve Caton, who would continue to work with Tori on her four solo albums and accompany
her on the Dew Drop Inn '96, Plugged '98,
and 5 � Weeks Tours. Also included were Matt Sorum (who
would go on to play drums in Guns & Roses and The Cult), Steve Farris (Mr. Mister)
and Kim Bullard. Photography for the album was by Aaron Rapoport.
Putting aside the severe metal-babe image projected on the cover and the seriously pouting vixen on the back of the album,
Y Kant Tori Read actually contained a few non-lethal tracks. The Etienne Trilogy
would not be too far out of place on Little Earthquakes, and The Big Picture as well as
Cool On Your Island have a certain edge to them (although it helps to listen to The Big Picture if you are watching the
video at the same time).
Unfortunately, the rest of the album is a tough listen at best. Most copies of the LP that are found today are promotional copies because
the album sold poorly. Because of this, commercial (non-promotional) cassettes appear more frequently than commercial copies. The CD is
practically non-existent and commands a price that has climbed into the hundreds of dollars. The CD has been bootlegged
in several different versions. Finding an original Atlantic CD sealed in a long box is virtually impossible.
Tori has been asked frequently about the re-release of Y Kant Tori Read and has stated that
"It's not going to happen." The only possibility for an official Atlantic re-issue might be if Tori were to change labels
at some point in the future and Atlantic would miraculously resurrect this "lost" album. However, that situation seems highly unlikely at best.
-- from Tori Amos: Collectibles
"It was a different time; I was in a different place. Everything was over the top -- the high hair, everything. I was shopping at Retail Slut." If you ever hear the album, though, skip to Cool on Your Island. She likes that one....As seen on the cover of Y Kant Tori Read, Amos used to wield an old-fashioned saber. "I was taking lessons. I was really into the whole New Romantic lifestyle. Could I still handle it? I'd have to spend a long time brushing up."
-- Tori; Blender Magazine, Nov 2002
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