If I Left the Zoo

Infobox Album | Name = If I Left The Zoo
Type = Album
Artist = Jars of Clay


Released = November 9, 1999
Recorded = Sweet Tea Studio in Oxford, MS, Battery Studios in Nashville, TN, The Bennett House in Franklin, TN
Genre = Pop, Folk rock
Length = 42:54
Label = Essential Records
Producer = Dennis Herring
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:86620rjau48v~T1 link]
*Cross Rhythms rating-10|10 [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Jars_Of_Clay/If_I_Left_The_Zoo/1511/ link]
*Jesus Freak Hideout Rating|3|5 [http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/LefttheZoo.asp link]
*SputnikMusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1663 link] | Last album = "Stringtown"
(1998)
This album = "If I Left The Zoo"
(1999)
Next album = "Front Yard Luge"
(1999)
Misc = Singles
Name =
If I Left The Zoo
Type = Studio
single 1 = Unforgetful You
single 1 date = 1999
single 2 = Collide
single 2 date = 2000
single 3 = No One Loves Me Like You
single 3 date = 2000
single 4 = I'm Alright
single 4 date = 2000
single 5 = Hand
single 5 date = 2000
single 6 = Can't Erase It
single 6 date = 2000

"If I Left The Zoo" is the third album of the band Jars of Clay. It was released November 9, 1999 by Essential Records.

The band's third album brought about another stylistic shift, away from the lush sound of "Much Afraid" and into more of a raw and quirky pop/rock sound with occasional folk overtones. Keyboard player Charlie Lowell was featured much more prominently on this album. Due to the influence of producer Dennis Herring and drummer Ben Mize, this album had more of a Counting Crows influence.

This album produced several Christian radio singles, most notably "Unforgetful You", which also appeared in the soundtrack to the 1999 film "Drive Me Crazy".

The band found a picture in a stock book of an elephant whom they have affectionately named Agnes. They bought the picture for the album cover and then had to come up with a title. Before landing on the name "If I Left The Zoo", the band tried working the titles "Already, Not Yet" and "If I Ran The Zoo" for the album. However, the latter title ran into copyright issues with a Dr. Seuss title of the same name.

The song "Headstrong", which appears on the compilation album "Roaring Lambs", is an outtake from the "If I Left The Zoo" recording sessions. The song was set to be released on "If I Left The Zoo" since it appeared as the album's eleventh track on several internet sites before its release. The version that appears on "Roaring Lambs" is the version that would have made the album cut as it was also produced by Dennis Herring. The demo version of "Headstrong" appears on "The White Elephant Sessions".

The name of the recording sessions for "If I Left The Zoo" was called the "Tweed Horse Sessions". Many of the songs that made the final track listing were recorded in raw form during these sessions. However, only "Collide" and "Can't Erase It" appears on "The White Elephant Sessions".

This album was their second in a row to earn a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

Track listing

Note: All songs written by Dan Haseltine, Matt Odmark, Stephen Mason, Charlie Lowell; except "Grace" by Dan Haseltine, Matt Odmark, Stephen Mason, Charlie Lowell, Mark Hudson & Greg Wells
# "Goodbye, Goodnight" - 2:53
# "Unforgetful You" - 3:20
# "Collide" - 4:46
# "No One Loves Me Like You" - 3:48
# "Famous Last Words" - 3:26
# "Sad Clown" - 4:27
# "Hand" - 3:36
# "I'm Alright" - 3:40
# "Grace" - 4:31
# "Can't Erase It" - 3:35
# "River Constantine" - 4:48

Personnel

Main band

* Dan Haseltine - vocals and percussion
* Matt Odmark - Acoustic guitars
* Stephen Mason - Electric guitars
* Charlie Lowell - Pianos and keyboards

Additional musicians

* Ben Mize - drums
* Joe Porter - drums on "Collide"
* Aaron Sands - bass guitar
* Ned Henry - violin on "Goodbye, Goodnight"
* David Henry - cello on "Goodbye, Goodnight"
* Clay Jones - mandolin, acoustic guitar on "No One Loves Me Like You"
* Dennis Herring - acoustic guitar on "No One Loves Me Like You"
* Ben Egan - lap steel in "Sad Clown"
* Jonathan Noel - background vocals in "Hand"

*Gospel Choir in "I'm Alright":
** Sherrie Kibble
** Darwin Hobbs
** LeAnne Palmore
** Gale Mayes West
** Duawne Starling
** Angela Y. Primm

Production and technical

* Dennis Herring - producer
* Robert Beeson - executive producer
* Michael Tedesco - executive producer
* Bob Ludwig - mastering
* Clay Jones - mixer
* Rich Hasal - engineer
* Rob Cooper - second engineer
* Ted Gainey - second engineer
* Lee Groitzsch - second engineer
* Shawn McLean - second engineer

Charts & RIAA Certifications