Carry On is the second solo studio album by Chris Cornell. It was released on May 28, 2007, in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007, in the United States. This album is Cornell‘s second after Euphoria Mourning in 1999, and his first since leaving his former band Audioslave. As of September 4, 2007, the album has sold 121,000 copies in the US and 300,000 copies worldwide.
Carry On was produced by Steve Lillywhite. Among the artists who accompanied Cornell on his second solo release was friend Gary Lucas, who contributed acoustic guitar to some of the tracks. Cornell has stated that he is always writing, and that there are some songs that he was not able to put onto an Audioslave album.
While recording his second solo album, Cornell was involved in a motorcycle accident. He was apparently “rear-ended by a truck in L.A.’s Studio City while riding his motorcycle” and “catapulted 20 feet into the air.” He was able to walk away from the accident, but had severe cuts and bruises. He returned to the studio later that day.
The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200, selling 37,000 copies in the United States. Carry On received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album features fourteen tracks, including the first album appearance of You Know My Name, the theme song for Casino Royale, the 2006 installment in the James Bond franchise. The album also features a cover of Michael Jackson‘s hit song from Thriller, Billie Jean.
Tracklist:
- No Such Thing
- Poison Eye
- Arms Around Your Love
- Safe and Sound
- She’ll Never Be Your Man
- Ghosts
- Killing Birds
- Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
- Scar on the Sky
- Your Soul Today
- Finally Forever
- Silence the Voices
- Disappearing Act
- You Know My Name (Cornell, David Arnold)
Bonus tracks - Today (Target digital download, UK & Japanese bonus track)
- Roads We Choose (UK & Japanese bonus track)
- Thank You (Live from Stockholm) (Japanese bonus track)
- Call Me a Dog (Live from Stockholm) (Target digital download bonus track)
Musicians
Chris Cornell: lead vocals (all tracks), guitar (all tracks), keyboard (track 12)
Gary Lucas: guitar (tracks 3–14)
Jamie Muhoberac: keyboards (tracks 2, and 5–9)
Miles Mosley: bass guitar (tracks 1–7, 9–12, and 14), upright bass (tracks 8 and 13)
Nir Zidkyahu: drums (all tracks)
Cameron Greider: guitar (tracks 3–6, and 8–13)
Brian Ray: guitar (tracks 1, 2, 7, 9, and 10)
Dimitri Coats: guitar (tracks 2, 7, and 10)
Steve Lillywhite: piano (track 10)
Joe Sublett: tenor saxophone (track 4)
Darrell Leonard: trumpet (track 4)
Dave Cobb: horn arrangements (track 4)
Production
Steve Lillywhite: production, mixing
Todd Parker: recording, mixing
David Colving: additional engineering
Stephen Marcusson: mastering
Cindi Peters: production coordination
D. Sardy: mixing (track 14)
Ryan Castle: engineering (track 14)
Cameron Barton: additional engineering (track 14)
Chris Cornell (July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017)