Kindness

Album: Ashes & Fire (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In early 2009 Ryan Adams announced that he was quitting his band the Cardinals and taking a break from music. The major reason for Adams' temporary retirement was his struggles with Ménière's disease, a disorder of the inner ear that wrecks havoc on hearing and balance. Adams resumed performing in October 2010, and released his thirteenth studio album, Ashes & Fire, which was produced by Glyn Johns, on October 11, 2011.
  • Adams explores what it is to be kind on this gently strummed soft rock tune. Longtime friend and collaborator Norah Jones was certainly kind to Adams, lending her vocal, piano and songwriting talents to three of the 11 tracks on Ashes & Fire, including this one. She described the recording process to Billboard: "It had been a long time since Ryan was in the studio," she said, "which is a big deal for him, because he's made so many records. This was the first period where he has really not done that for a few years. I could tell he was really excited. Especially working with Glyn, who's like our uncle, [saying things] like, 'Come on, kids, get to work,' in his stern voice [while at the same time] telling a dirty joke."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.