Maps of Music

1989 (2014)

Where the lyrics of 1989 take you, and where it was really made.

Titled after Swift's birth year, this album marked her move from country to pop.

Key places

Recorded at Conway in Los Angeles (2014)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — This Los Angeles studio is listed among the studios where 1989 was recorded. The studios were in the United States, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Jungle City in New York (2014)

Recording site Jungle City Studios — Jungle City in New York City is listed among the studios where 1989 was recorded. The studios were in the United States, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Lamby's House in Brooklyn (2014)

Recording site Rough Customer — Lamby's House in Brooklyn is listed among the recording locations of 1989. The point is placed at the city centre, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at MXM in Stockholm (2014)

Recording site Master Plan — MXM in Stockholm is listed among the studios in Sweden where 1989 was recorded. The point is placed at the city centre, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Pain in the Art in Nashville (2014)

Recording site Nashville — Pain in the Art in Nashville is listed among the recording locations of 1989. The point is placed at the city centre, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Elevator Nobody in Gothenburg (2014)

Recording site Studio Willow-Valley — Elevator Nobody in Gothenburg is listed among the studios in Sweden where 1989 was recorded. The point is placed at the city centre, not the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

'Clean' recorded at Hideaway Studio in London (2014)

Recording site The Hideaway — The track 'Clean' was completed after two takes in one day at Imogen Heap's Hideaway Studio in London. Heap helped finish the track with her instruments and backing vocals. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• 1989: fifth studio album by Taylor Swift
• Released October 27, 2014 through Big Machine Records
• Titled after Swift's birth year as a symbolic rebirth
• Shifted her artistic identity from country to pop
• Synth-pop production with dense synthesizers and programmed drum machines
• Seven singles, including three US Billboard Hot 100 number ones

Background

• Swift had identified as a country musician up until her fourth album, Red (2012)
• Red incorporated pop and rock styles alongside its country pop sound
• In 2013, her relationship with Harry Styles received extensive tabloid coverage
• March 2014: relocated from Nashville, Tennessee to New York City
• The geographical pivot, media scrutiny, and single status informed the songwriting
• Swift began writing in mid-2013 during the Red Tour
• Inspirations included 1980s synth-pop, Annie Lennox, and Peter Gabriel

Recording

• Producers: Max Martin, Shellback, Jack Antonoff, Ryan Tedder, Nathan Chapman, Imogen Heap
• Recorded at studios in Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom
• 'Clean' was completed after two takes in one day at Heap's Hideaway Studio in London
• Mastered by Tom Coyne in two days at Sterling Sound Studio in New York City
• Nathan Chapman co-produced 'This Love', the only 1989 song Swift wrote by herself

Cover

• Swift served as creative director for the packaging
• Photographs taken with a Polaroid instant film camera
• The photographic duo Lowfield shot over 400 Polaroid photographs
• Cover portrait of Swift's face cut off at the eyes
• Billboard ranked the cover 50th in '100 Best Album Covers of All Time' in 2023

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born December 13, 1989, in West Reading, Pennsylvania.
• Named after singer-songwriter James Taylor.
• Moved to Nashville area at 14 to pursue a country music career.
• Signed with Big Machine Records in 2005.

Career

• Debut album Taylor Swift (2006) peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200.
• Fearless (2008) spent eleven weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 and was the best-selling album of 2009 in the US.
• Shifted from country to pop with 1989 (2014), which spent eleven weeks at number one.
• Released Folklore and Evermore (2020), indie folk albums that debuted at number one.
• Re-recorded her first six albums after a dispute over her master recordings.
• The Eras Tour (2023–2024) became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time.
• Holds 14 Grammy Awards, including a record four Album of the Year wins.
• Named Time Person of the Year in 2023.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Initial reviews generally praised the production and Swift's songwriting
• Some critics argued the synth-pop production undermined her singer-songwriter identity
• Positive reviews found the lyrics mature and free of the naivete of her past songs
• Pitchfork's Vrinda Jagoda described Swift's persona as more self-reliant and confident
• Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield characterized it as a 'deeply weird, feverishly emotional, wildly enthusiastic' record
• AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine summed it up as 'a sparkling soundtrack to an aspirational lifestyle'
• The Observer's Kitty Empire said it was not as 'unequivocally great' as 'I Knew You Were Trouble'
• Metacritic weighted average: 76 out of 100 based on 29 reviews
• AnyDecentMusic?: 7.4 out of 10 based on 28 reviews

Reappraisal

• Philosopher Alison Stone argued the critical reaction reflected both rockism and sexism
• Retrospective reviews consider it an artistically accomplished album and a modern classic
• The Ringer's Nora Princiotti placed it on par with Thriller and Abbey Road
• In 2026, the Library of Congress selected it for the National Recording Registry

Records

• Debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 1.287 million
• Spent 11 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200
• Swift became the first artist with three albums each selling one million copies in their first week
• RIAA certified it 14-times platinum in September 2025
• Sold 14 million copies worldwide
• Won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Swift announced 1989 via a Yahoo live streaming sponsored by ABC News on August 18, 2014.
• Her 'Secret Sessions' listening parties were held at her properties in Los Angeles, New York City, Nashville, Rhode Island, and London in September–October 2014.
• Big Machine removed Swift's discography from Spotify on November 3, 2014.
• Each CD copy includes a packet of 13 random Polaroid photos, made up from 65 different photos.
• The deluxe CD includes three voice memos recorded on Swift's phone.
• Swift's previous two albums, Speak Now and Red, each sold over one million copies within one week.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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