On August 28, 2001, “Capitol” label released “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the third Sparklehorse studio album. It was recorded 2000 – 2001, and was produced by Mark Linkous, Dave Fridmann and John Parish.

Personnel:

• Mark Linkous – voice, backwards high pitched voice, optigan, chamberlin, sampler, Wurlitzer piano, guitar, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, e-bow guitar, Casio keyboard, mellotron, drum machine, Prophet 5 synthesizer, drums, percussion, Magic Genie organ, Moog synthesizer, wire recorder
• Dave Fridmann – bass, Wurlitzer piano, mellotro, piano, chamberlin, glockenspiel, vibraphone
• Polly Jean Harvey – voice, electric guitar, piano, guitar,
• Sophie Michalitsianos – voice, bass
• Bob Rupe – bass
• Scott Minor – drums, orchestron, electronic birds, electronics, Russian satellite, chamberlin, filtered drums, percussion, Korg MS-20 keyboard, harmonium
• John Parish – bass, Casio keyboard, piano
• Margaret White – bass, violin
• Rex L. White—pedal-steel guitar
• Nina Persson – voice
• Miguel Rodriguez – drums
• Adrian Utley – Dictaphone, bass, Kitty-Cat guitar, fuzzy-ending bass
• Tom Waits – voice, big seed pod, metal things, train, piano
• Joan Wasser – violin, Wurlitzer piano
• Jane Scarpantoni – cello
• Alan Weatherhead – orchestron, mellotron, chamberlin, lap steel guitar
• Joel Hamilton – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Mark Linkous, except where noted.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life
2. Gold Day
3. Piano Fire
4. Sea of Teeth
5. Apple Bed
6. King of Nails
7. Eyepennies
8. Dog Door – Mark Linkous, Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits
9. More Yellow Birds
10. Little Fat Baby – Mark Linkous, Vic Chesnutt
11. Devil’s New
12. Comfort Me
13. Babies on the Sun (The track Babies on the Sun ends at 4:37. After 3 minutes of silence, at 7:37 begins the hidden song Morning Hollow.)