"Relish" can be a sharp, bittersweet condiment; it can also suggest a determined gusto to live to the fullest. Combined, these two images provide a good taste of Joan Osborne's major-label debut (the live Soul Show was self-released in 1992). Grounded in blues, soul and gospel, the Kentucky native wields her gritty voice with personality and forceful presence, kind of Melissa Etheridge meets Sophie B. Hawkins with a splash of Jann Arden. Osborne's passion for life oozes from the grooves. There's an uplifting fervor to her material and delivery, as if every second, every note was being individually savored. Key track "One of Us" sets the disc's optimistic tone. It's a simple, direct statement of faith, honest and unadorned, one framed in a near-perfect chorus and delectable Neil Young-ish guitar riff. This isn't one of those sugary, superficial, goody-two-shoes Amy Grant kind of deals. "Right Hand Man" and "Let's Just Get Naked" confirm that Osborne's earthy, enlightened spirituality shares the same bed with sensuality and sexuality. Well-rounded both lyrically and musically, there's also no contradiction in this universe between "Lumina"'s thoughtful balladry and the wailing harp and acoustic slide bursting the seams of "Help Me." ~ Roch Parisien, All Music Guide
Chris Palmaro (Organ), William Wittman (Guitar), Chris Palmaro (Fiddle), Chris Thompson (Design), William Wittman (Guitar (Electric)), Joan Osborne (Illustrations), Andy Kravitz (Percussion), Mark Egan (Bass), Joan Osborne (Guitar (Acoustic)), Rick Chertoff (Producer), Eric Bazilian (Chant), Wade Schuman (Harmonica), Rob Hyman (Mellotron), Rob Hyman (Piano (Electric)), Rob Polhemus (Assistant Engineer), William Wittman (Engineer), Sammy Merendino (Rhythm Collage), Rick Chertoff (Percussion), Andy Kravitz (Drums), Rick DiFonzo (Guitar), Joan Osborne (Percussion), Rob Hyman (Mixing), George Marino (Mastering), Chris Thompson (Illustrations), Rob Hyman (Engineer), Gary Lucas (Guitar), William Wittman (Mixing), Omar Hakim (Drums), Eric Bazilian (Guitar), Catherine Russell (Vocals (Background)), Chris Palmaro (Piano (Electric)), Rob Hyman (Vocals (Background)), Rob Hyman (Organ), Joan Osborne (Vocals), Chris Palmaro (Mellotron), Sammy Merendino (Drums), Rob Hyman (Piano), Eric Bazilian (Mandolin), Eric Bazilian (Saxophone), Rick DiFonzo (Guitar (Acoustic)), Mark Mason (Assistant Engineer), Eric Bazilian (Harmonica), Terry Richardson (Photography), Rob Hyman (Synthesizer), Larry Campbell (Fiddle), Joan Osborne (Vocals (Background)), Sammy Merendino (?)
Relish was nominated for several awards at the 38th Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year ("One of Us"), Song of the Year ("One of Us") and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance ("St. Teresa"). Joan Osborne was also nominated for Best New Artist.
At the 39th Grammy Awards, Osborne was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the song "Spiderweb."
Its biggest hit single, "One of Us", was used as the theme to the 2003-2005 television seriesJoan of Arcadia, although the show used a re-recorded version rather than the original version. "Right Hand Man" is very similar to "Clear Spot", a song by Captain Beefheart on the 1972 album of the same name, and is so credited. "Man in the Long Black Coat" is a cover of the Bob Dylan song from his 1989 album Oh Mercy.
"One of Us" contains an introduction of "The Airplane Ride," a spiritual written by J. S. McConnel and sung by Nell Hampton, under license from Alan Lomax. Used by permission. "Ladder" contains a sample from "Mambo Sun," written by Marc Bolan under license from Straight Ahead Productions Ltd. TRO/Essex Music International (ASCAP) as recorded by T. Rex. Used by permission.
