A Man Called E is Mark Oliver Everett's 1992 major-label debut album, and the first on which he used the pseudonym "E". (As Mark Everett, he had previously self-released the limited edition LP Bad Dude in Love in 1985.)
"Hello Cruel World" was released as a one-track single in 1992. "Nowheresville"/"Strawberry Blonde" was released in March of that year.
Background
In 1987, Everett moved from his family home in Virginia and resettled in California. There, in 1991, he signed a contract with Polydor Records and released A Man Called E under the name E a year later. The single "Hello Cruel World" was a minor success. Touring to support the album, E opened for Tori Amos.
Everett became known as "E" because there were several people in his life at the time who had the same first name. While it may have caused some confusion in record stores and radio stations, the single-letter name gave the press a playful handle. This playfulness was evident in a review of the album by the eminent writer Daniel Levitin which began: "Excellent eponymous effort, energizingly eclectic. Early enthusiasm effectively ensures E's eminence."
Everett released one further solo album, 1993's Broken Toy Shop, before forming the band Eels in 1995.
Track listing
All songs written by E, except where noted
"Hello Cruel World" (E, Parthenon Huxley) – 3:50
"Fitting In with the Misfits" – 3:09
"Are You & Me Gonna Happen" – 3:00
"Looking Out the Window with a Blue Hat On" – 2:17
"Nowheresville" (E, Huxley) – 3:21
"Symphony for Toy Piano in G Minor" – 0:34
"Mockingbird Franklin" – 3:03
"I've Been Kicked Around" – 3:24
"Pray" – 2:46
"E's Tune" – 2:53
"You'll Be the Scarecrow" – 3:21
Personnel
E – lead & background vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, piano, Hammond B-3, keyboards, harmonica, accordion, drums, percussion, melodica, toy piano, programming
Additional musicians
Parthenon Huxley – acoustic & electric guitars, bass guitar, percussion, fingersnaps, programming Jennifer Condos – bass guitar Jim Lang – accordion, Hammond B-3, piano, keyboards, cuckoo clock, programming Eric Williams – mandolin ("Nowheresville") Danny Davis Jr. – electric guitar ("Are You & Me Gonna Happen") Rockenspiel – glockenspiel