Editing Marshall Crenshaw (section)

===1970s–1985===
After launching a trio in New York with brother Robert on drums and Chris Donato on bass, Crenshaw recorded his debut single, "Something's Gonna Happen," for [[Alan Betrock]]'s Shake Records in 1981. He then signed to [[Warner Bros. Records]], crediting its welcoming environment as instrumental in his decision.<ref name="huffpo">{{cite web |last1=Ragogna |first1=Mike |title=Thirty Years Of Sublime Rock 'n' Roll: A Conversation With Marshall Crenshaw, Plus Chatting With Petra Haden, Cory Mon and Wes Kirkpatrick |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ragogna/thirty-years-of-sublime-p_b_847876.html |website=Huffington Post |date=12 April 2011 |access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref>

Crenshaw's [[Marshall Crenshaw (album)|eponymous first album]] reached number 50 on the American album charts in 1982 and included his signature US hit, "[[Someday, Someway]]". Neo-rockabilly musician [[Robert Gordon (musician)|Robert Gordon]] had recorded the song in 1981, reaching number 76; Crenshaw's own version made number 36 the next year, becoming his only solo ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' top 40 hit; the single would also reach number 31 on the ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' charts and number 25 on the ''Billboard'' [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock]] chart. Other songs from the album, including "[[There She Goes Again (Marshall Crenshaw song)|There She Goes Again]]," "[[Cynical Girl]]," and "[[Mary Anne (song)|Mary Anne]]," have since become fan favorites. Crenshaw himself later expressed a dislike for the album's production, though the album saw critical acclaim and was ranked by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' as one of the top 100 albums of the 1980s.<ref name="rs top 100">{{cite magazine |last1=Portwood |first1=Jerry |title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-150477/marshall-crenshaw-marshall-crenshaw-61761/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=8 June 2020 |date=16 November 1989}}</ref>

His second album, ''Field Day'', was released in June 1983 with a bigger production courtesy of producer [[Steve Lillywhite]] that divided opinion at the time. Despite positive critical reception,<ref name="christgau">{{cite web | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Marshall+Crenshaw | title = Robert Christgau: CG: Marshall Crenshaw | access-date = June 17, 2010 | last = Christgau | first = Robert}}</ref> the album was a commercial disappointment, charting lower than his debut at number 52. Despite Crenshaw's enthusiasm for the song, lead single "[[Whenever You're on My Mind]]" failed to reach the Hot 100, peaking third on the [[Bubbling Under]] charts. Crenshaw later defended the album's production, criticizing the UK-released ''U.S. Remix'' EP of watered-down alternate mixes of the album tracks "[[Our Town (Marshall Crenshaw song)|Our Town]]", "For Her Love" (in standard and extended versions) and "Monday Morning Rock."

Due to the commercial decline of ''Field Day'', Crenshaw's relationship with Warner Bros. began to deteriorate and he sought to change his sound on his third album. 1985's ''[[Downtown (Marshall Crenshaw album)|Downtown]]'' featured a rootsier sound and was stewarded by producer [[T Bone Burnett]] (except for "[[Blues Is King (song)|Blues Is King]]", produced by [[Mitch Easter]]). The album reached number 110 on the Billboard chart.