From the Choirgirl Hotel
Tori Amos Biography Part 6
Okay, so Little Earthquakes was the diary, Under the Pink was an impressionist painting, and Boys for Pele was the novel/acid-trip. From the Choirgirl Hotel, Tori Amos’ fourth solo album released in 1998, might be one of her most painfully “themed” albums yet…
While on her Dew Drop Inn tour, Tori and sound engineer Mark Hawley hit it off and began a serious courtship…resulting in an exciting pregnancy. The happy couple had decided to take the next year off to focus on family life. Unfortunately, toward the end of her first trimester, Tori miscarried. At 3 months in utero, the baby was already incredibly loved and cherished by Tori and Mark and the miscarriage devastated the couple. While recovering in her summer home in Florida, Tori brought her baby to life through song.
While the finishing touches were being put on the writing, Tori suffered a second miscarriage. The couple then moved to Cornwall, England to record her songs in a barn of all places! (Yeah, its a pretty supped-up barn). Hence, Martian Engineering Studios was born. Tori recorded From the Choirgirl Hotel here, incorporating many more elements of rock, dance, and electronica into her sound.
Nineteen ninety-eight was a better year for Tori and Mark. The couple wed on February 22nd and Choirgirl was released in October. Upon its release, Tori’s fans mourned her miscarriages with her as they listened to “Spark” and “Playboy Mommy.” The album did well and was praised by critics, fans, and even Tori herself for being one of the most polished, engineered, emotionally-stirring albums to date. The album reached #5 on the US charts and 6 in the UK. Q magazine voted From the Choirgirl Hotel as one of the best albums of the year.
From the album Spark, Raspberry Swirl, and Jackie’s Strength were released. The videos for each were very well produced and directed although not often played on the popular music video channels.
The Choirgirl Hotel tour was dubbed “Plugged ‘98,” Tori playing on the fact that, typically, she was “unplugged” but this time, accompanied by bassist Jon Evans, drummer Matt Chamberlain, and friend Steve Caton, she was very much “plugged.”
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