It's a Wonderful Life (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's a Wonderful Life

Studio album by Sparklehorse

Released

August 28, 2001

Recorded

Genre

Rock

Length

53:33

Label

Capitol

Producer

Mark Linkous, Dave Fridmann, John Parish

Professional reviews

Sparklehorse chronology

Good Morning Spider
(1999)

It's a Wonderful Life
(2001)

Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
(2006)

It's a Wonderful Life is the third album by Virginian indie rock group Sparklehorse, released in 2001. The album features appearances by Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, John Parish, Nina Persson and Dave Fridmann.

[edit] Track listing

All tracks by Mark Linkous except where stated.

"It's a Wonderful Life" – 2:59
"Gold Day" – 4:14
"Piano Fire" - 2:43
"Sea of Teeth" – 4:29
"Apple Bed" – 4:54
"King of Nails" – 4:18
"Eyepennies" – 5:27
"Dog Door" (Brennan/Linkous/Waits) – 2:46
"More Yellow Birds" – 4:53
"Little Fat Baby" (Chesnutt/Linkous) – 3:40
"Devil's New" – 3:32
"Comfort Me" – 5:01
"Babies on the Sun"– 4:37
- contains a hidden track called "Morning Hollow".

[edit] Recording History

Mark Linkous recorded his first two albums, Good Morning Spider and Vivadixesubmarinetransmissionplot, in a small room within his Virginia Farm. There he worked by himself, solely providing the instrumentation and vocals for those albums. It’s a Wonderful Life is the first Sparklehorse outing where Mark Linkous doesn’t perform alone in his private studio. Linkous feared working in solitude on his third album would stifle his creativity, and prevent him from delving into new musical territory. He believed he could achieve artistic growth by working with other members of the music business. “I didn't want to play every instrument on every song,” said Linkous, in an interview with Free Williamsburg Online Magazine. “I didn't want to be behind the control console the whole time. I wanted to have other people's brains and input involved.”

Linkous played with a full band while recording It’s a wonderful Life. He also worked with a wide array of guest musicians, including PJ Harvey and the legendary Tom Waits. Linkous was reportedly incredibly nervous about contacting Waits. According to Guardian.co.uk, Linkous had to take five shots of whisky before gaining the courage to call the famous singer-songwriter. During the phone call the two men planned a meeting in California. The meeting was quite unusual and took place inside an SUV as the two men rode down a California highway. Within the car they discussed possible album ideas, their least-favorite animals, and their mutual disgust for turkey vultures. Waits went on to record the song “Dog Door” with Linkous on It’s a Wonderful Life.

It’s a Wonderful Life was recorded years after Linkous’s near fatal overdose on heroin, anti-depressants, and alcohol in a London Hotel room. The incident received a large amount of media coverage, and was documented within several music magazines, including Rolling Stone and Spin. Linkous frequently had to answer questions about his overdose during interviews. He was also chastised by some critics for the exceedingly somber themes in his work. The album’s title track is a melancholy ode to the beauties of life. The chorus has Linkous faintly whispering, “It’s a wonderful life,” over and over, on top of lush orchestration. Linkous declares the song is a “f--ck you” to journalists who can’t forget about his brush with death, or see the beauty hidden within his songs.

[edit] Musicians

Mark Linkous - Voice (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,12,13,14), Optigan (1,2,6,8,12,13), Chamberlin (1,2), Sampler (1,4,5,8), Guitar (2,4,5,6,8,10,12), Wurlitzer Piano (2), Percussion (2), Acoustic Guitar (3), Casio (3), Mellotron (4,13), Drum Machine (5,12), Prophet 5 (6,12), Drums (8), Backwards Midget Voice (8), Magic Genie Organ (9), Moog (12,13), Wire Recorder (13), Baritone Guitar (14), E-Bow Guitar (14)
Dave Fridmann - Bass (2,4,12), Wurlitzer Piano (2,14), Mellotron (2), Piano (4,12), Chamberlin (12,13), Glockenspiel (13), Vibraphone (14)
Polly Jean Harvey - Voice (3,7), Electric Guitar (3), Piano (3), Guitar (7)
Sophie Michelitsianos - Voice (6,10,12,13,14), Bass (6)
Scott Minor - Drums (2,3,4,6,7,10,12,14), Orchestron (2), Electronic Birds (2), Electronics (3,5,12,13), Russian Satellite (4), Chamberlin (4), Filtered Drums (5), Percussion (6,12), Korg MS-20 (12), Harmonium (14)
John Parish - Bass (3), Casio (3), Piano (7)
Nina Persson - Voice (2,5)
Miguel Rodriguez - Drums (9)
Bob Rupe - Bass (5,10)
Jane Scarpantoni - Cello (5,10,14)
Adrian Utley - Dictaphone (2), Bass (7), Kitty Cat Guitar (8), Fuzzy Ending Bass (8)
Tom Waits - Voice (8), Big Seed Pod (8), Metal Things (8), Train (8), Piano (14)
Joan Wasser - Violin (5,10,14), Wurlitzer Piano (10)
Alan Weatherhead - Orchestron (9), Mellotron (9), Chamberlin (9), Lap Steel Guitar (9)
Margaret White - Bass (9), Violin (9)
Rex L. White - Pedal Steel (12)