Suzanne Vega (album)

Suzanne Vega
Studio album by
Suzanne Vega
ReleasedMay 1, 1985
RecordedNovember 1984 – March 1985
StudioCelestial Sound (New York City)
GenreFolk[1]
Length35:37
LabelA&M
Producer
Suzanne Vega chronology
Suzanne Vega
(1985) 		Solitude Standing
(1987)
Singles from Suzanne Vega
  1. "Marlene on the Wall"
    Released: 1985 (re-release in 1986)
  2. "Knight Moves"
    Released: 1985 (Germany)
  3. "Small Blue Thing"
    Released: 1986 (UK)

Suzanne Vega is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was released on May 1, 1985 through A&M Records. The album was primarily recorded at Celestial Sound in New York City and was produced by Steve Addabbo and Lenny Kaye.

The album's folk style and stripped-back arrangements deviated from the prevailing trends of the time, and helped to usher in a new era of singer-songwriters. Suzanne Vega was a critical success and helped Vega's rise to popularity.[2] The album surpassed sales expectations by selling over 200,000 copies in the US[3] and was certified platinum in the UK for sales of over 300,000 copies.

"Marlene on the Wall", "Small Blue Thing" and "Knight Moves" were released as singles to promote the album, with the former becoming a top 30 hit in the UK upon a re-release in 1986. The album itself reached the top 20 in the UK. It would later be placed at number 80 in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Best Albums of the Eighties".[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Allmusic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Suzanne Vega: A Life in Music". Official Community of Suzanne Vega. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  3. ^ Huey, Steve. "Suzanne Vega Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Azerrad, Michael; DeCurtis, Anthony (November 16, 1989). "The 100 Best Albums of the Eighties: 80 | Suzanne Vega, 'Suzanne Vega'". Rolling Stone. No. 565. p. 53. Retrieved November 20, 2011.