Rites of Passage is the fourth studio album by American folk rock duo the Indigo Girls, released on May 12, 1992, by Epic Records.

Background and music

Rites of Passage was recorded in four months, twice longer than the previous record. The duo invited Siouxsie and the Banshees members to take part to the sessions, drummer Budgie, cello player Martin McCarrick and percussionist Talvin Singh, Singer and guitarist Amy Ray later commented on their choice: "we had dreams with who we wanted to play" adding, that "Budgie is one of my favourite drummers". Other instruments include acoustic guitars, mandolin and world-folk elements.

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2Score =

| rev3 = Down Beat

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| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4Score = B−

| rev5 = Q

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The Washington Post wrote that "the arrangements ... are more colorful and punchy, and every now and then the duo even manages to inject a little welcome humor into its otherwise dreary musings."

Track listing

Personnel

;Indigo Girls

  • Amy Ray – vocals, guitars
  • Emily Saliers – vocals, guitars (all tracks except 7)

;Additional personnel

  • Sara Lee – bass (1–5, 8, 9, 11–13 & bonus 1 & 2)
  • Budgie – drums and percussion (1, 9), marimba and claves (8)
  • Lisa Germano – fiddle (1, 2, 11, 12)
  • Ronan Browne – uilleann pipes (1, 13), low whistle (12)
  • Dónal Lunny – bouzouki and bodhran (1, 13)
  • Jerry Marotta – drums (2, 3, 6, 9, 11–13 & bonus 1, 2) percussion (2, 3, 6, 9–13 & bonus 1, 2), piano (2)
  • Talvin Singh – percussion (2, 6, 11, 12)
  • Martin McCarrick – cello and accordion (2, 8, 11, 12)
  • Jackson Browne and David Crosby – backing vocals (2, 12)
  • John Jennings – electric guitar (3, 9, 12), slide guitar (13)
  • Simone Simonton – cymbals and sidestick (3)
  • Jai Winding – piano (3)
  • Michael Kamen – string arrangements, conductor (3)
  • Kenny Aronoff – drums and percussion (4)
  • Benmont Tench – organ (4)
  • Edgar Meyer – acoustic bass (6, 8, 9)
  • Maggie Roche – backing vocals (8, 10), piano (10)
  • Terre Roche and Suzzy Roche – backing vocals (8, 10)
  • Michael Lorant – backing vocals (9)
  • Sandy Garfinkle – harmonica (11)
  • Nollaig Ní Chathasaigh (also known as Nollaig Casey) – Irish fiddle (12, 13)
  • Uncredited – harmonica (9)
  • Jane Scarpantoni – cello (bonus 1, 2)
  • Scarlet Rivera – violin (bonus 1, 2)

Charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

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! scope="col"| Chart (1992)

! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)

| 110

|-

|}

Certifications

References