Can You Fly

Can You Fly is the second album by singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston released in 1992 on Bar/None Records.^[8]

Can You Fly
Studio album by Freedy Johnston
Released	April 14, 1992
Recorded	January–December 1991
Genre	Alternative rock alternative country[1]
Length	49:42
Label	Bar/None
Producer	Graham Maby, Knut Bohn
Freedy Johnston chronology
The Trouble Tree (1990) Can You Fly (1992) This Perfect World (1994)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Chicago Tribune	[3]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	A+[4]
Q	[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	10/10[7]

Overview

In order to finance the recording of the album, Johnston sold some farmland that he inherited from his grandfather. This decision is mentioned in the opening lines of the first track, "Trying to Tell You I Don't Know".^[9]

"California Thing" appeared on the soundtrack of the film Heavy, starring Liv Tyler and Deborah Harry.

"The Lucky One" was also covered by Mary Lou Lord on her 1998 album Got No Shadow.

Critical reception

Kristi Coulter of Allmusic wrote, "A giant step forward from his likeable but ragged debut, Freedy Johnston's Can You Fly is a stunningly accomplished and coherent album that recalls the raw lyricism of such quintessentially American writers as Raymond Carver and Richard Hugo."^[2]

Andy Gill of the Independent hailed the album saying, "Can You Fly is full of Costelloid little depictions of uncertainty. He has a gift, too, for odd verbal juxtapositions, searching for new expression rather than employing the re- arrangement of old cliches. A small gem."^[10]

Track listing

All songs written by Freedy Johnston.

1. "Trying to Tell You I Don't Know" – 4:24
2. "In the New Sunshine" – 2:45
3. "Tearing Down This Place" – 4:10
4. "Remember Me" – 2:54
5. "Wheels" – 3:18
6. "The Lucky One" – 3:09
7. "Can You Fly" – 4:34
8. "Responsible" – 5:28
9. "The Mortician's Daughter" – 3:56
10. "Sincere" – 4:18
11. "Down in Love" – 3:04
12. "California Thing" – 3:03
13. "We Will Shine" – 4:39

Personnel

• Freedy Johnston – vocals, guitar, bass
• Graham Maby – bass, electric guitar, background vocals
• Brian Doherty – drums, percussion
• Alan Bezozi – drums, tambourine, wind chimes, percussion, keyboard
• Knut Bohn – guitar, organ, percussion, background vocals
• Kevin Salem – guitar, background vocals
• Jared Michael Nickerson – bass
• Bob Rupe – guitar
• Jimmy Lee – guitar
• Marshall Crenshaw – guitar, bass
• Chris Stamey – electric guitar
• Dave Schramm – lap steel
• James MacMillan – bass
• Jane Scarpantoni – cello
• Kenny Margolis – accordion
• Syd Straw - vocals