ROOM FOR SQUARES

'''Room for Squares''' is the first major-label album by John Mayer, released commercially on September 18, 2001.

Contents

History

Chart positions and certifications

USA

Australia

Track listing

Aware release

Columbia re-release

Bonus disc

References

History

All songs from the album were written by Mayer, however three of the songs, "No Such Thing", "Neon" and "Love Song For No One" were all co-written with Clay Cook, with whom Mayer had a duo group known as The LoFi Masters. As the duo, they also wrote other notable songs performed by Mayer such as "Man On The Side" (from ''Any Given Thursday'') and "Comfortable" (from ''Inside Wants Out''). The album's title is an inside joke/reference to Hank Mobley's ''No Room for Squares'' album.
In early 2001, Mayer released an internet-only version of ''Room for Squares'' through Aware Records. During that time, Aware formed a deal with Columbia Records which gave Columbia first priority for signing Aware artists. Through this partnership, in September of the same year, Columbia remixed and re-released ''Room for Squares'' (for which the artwork was commercialised, as well as adding "3x5", which didn't appear on the original as the recording wasn't yet complete at the time). This full length debut included several of the songs that had been previously released on Mayer's previous EP, ''Inside Wants Out''. The album was relatively unknown at its time of release, however, it became more well known through John's touring and word of mouth.
By the end of 2002, ''Room for Squares'' had spawned several radio hits, including "No Such Thing," "Your Body Is a Wonderland," and, ultimately, "Why Georgia" was also released as a CD single six weeks before the followup album ''Heavier Things'' was released in 2003.
In 2003, he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Your Body Is a Wonderland." In his acceptance speech, he remarked, "This is very, very fast, and I promise to catch up."^[1]

Chart positions and certifications

USA

★ Chart peak position: #8

★ 4x Platinum

Australia

★ Chart peak position: #5

★ 2x Platinum

Track listing

All songs written by John Mayer, except where noted otherwise.

Aware release

This release was produced and packaged by Aware Records and released June 5, 2001, however months later, through a joint deal by Aware Records and Columbia Records, this release was to be re-mixed and re-produced and was then released jointly three months later in September 2001 with the addition of "3x5", a song that wasn't yet complete when the Aware version was released.
# "No Such Thing" (John Mayer, Clay Cook) – 3:51
# "Why Georgia" – 4:28
# "My Stupid Mouth" – 3:45
# "Your Body Is a Wonderland" – 4:09
# "Neon" (Mayer, Cook) – 4:22
# "City Love" – 4:00
# "83" – 4:50
# "Love Song For No One" (Mayer, Cook) – 3:21
# "Back To You" – 4:01
# "Great Indoors" – 3:36
# "Not Myself" – 3:36
# "St. Patrick's Day" – 5:21

Columbia re-release

The album was released on Columbia Records on September 18, 2001. This release, in contrast to the initial release, has the triskaidekaphobic (i.e. fear of the number 13) omission of track thirteen and also includes the song "3x5". Another difference is that the cover (as indicated in the information box to the right) was redesigned predominantly in white with a wider shot of Mayer with his guitar in the background.
# "No Such Thing" (John Mayer, Clay Cook) – 3:51
# "Why Georgia" – 4:28
# "My Stupid Mouth" – 3:45
# "Your Body Is a Wonderland" – 4:09
# "Neon" (Mayer, Cook) – 4:22
# "City Love" – 4:00
# "83" – 4:50
# "3x5" – 4:50
# "Love Song For No One" (Mayer, Cook) – 3:21
# "Back To You" – 4:01
# "Great Indoors" – 3:36
# "Not Myself" – 3:36
# (blank) – 0:00
# "St. Patrick's Day" – 5:21

Bonus disc

A bonus disc for ''Room for Squares'' was released along with the Columbia re-release. It was released in the U.S., but wasn't released internationally. Internationally, the two songs were included as B-sides on the singles from the album.
# "Lenny" (Stevie Ray Vaughan) (Live at the X Lounge)
# "The Wind Cries Mary" (Jimi Hendrix) (Live at the X Lounge)

References

1. Bream, Jon (2007). "Win or lose, John Mayer says his work keeps him happy" MercuryNews.com (accessed February 23, 2007)