Tag Archives: Writing

Bill Callahan: Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest

On June 14, 2019, “Drag City” label released “Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest”, the sixth Bill Callahan album (under his own name). It was recorded August 2018 – January 2019, at “Wonder Chamber” in Austin, Texas, and was produced by Bill Callahan.

Personnel:

  • Bill Callahan– vocals, acoustic guitar, Moog synthesizer, percussion, bowed psaltery, bowed banjo, harmonica, Wurlitzer electric piano, Casio SK-1, drum machine, mellotron, piano, kalimba, organ, bells
  • Brian Beattie – upright bass, acoustic bass, electric upright bass, percussion, piano, pump organ, Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer, mellotron, celesta, marimbula, bells
  • Matt Kinsey – acoustic guitar, percussion
  • Gary Newcomb – lap steel guitar
  • Adam Jones – drumkit
  • Dony Wynn – drumkit
  • Hanly Banks Callahan – backing vocals
  • Tori Olds – backing vocals
  • Brian Beattie – recording, mixing
  • JJ Golden – mastering
  • Joanna Skumanich – cover drawings
  • Dan Osborn – layout

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Callahan, except where noted.

  1. Shepherd’s Welcome
  2. Black Dog on the Beach
  3. Angela
  4. The Ballad of the Hulk
  5. Writing
  6. Morning is My Godmother
  7. 747
  8. Watch Me Get Married
  9. Young Icarus
  10. Released
  11. What Comes After Certainty
  12. Confederate Jasmine
  13. Call Me Anything
  14. Son of the Sea
  15. Camels
  16. Circles
  17. When We Let Go
  18. Lonesome Valley
  19. Tugboats and Tumbleweeds
  20. The Beast

Elton John: Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

Elton_John_-_Captain_Fantastic_and_the_Brown_Dirt_Cowboy

On May 19, 1975, “DJM” label released “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy”, the ninth Elton John studio album. It was recorded June–July 1974, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Gus Dudgeon. In 1993, the album was certified 3 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” at number 158 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Elton John– vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, mellotron, ARP String Ensemble synthesizer, harpsichord
  • Davey Johnstone– acoustic, electric and Leslie guitars, mandolin, piano , backing vocals
  • Dee Murray– bass, backing vocals
  • Nigel Olsson– drums, backing vocals
  • Ray Cooper– shaker, congas, gong, jawbone, tambourine, bells, bell  tree, cymbals, triangle, bongos
  • David Hentschel– ARP synthesizer
  • Gene Page– orchestral arrangements
  • Jeff Guercio – engineer
  • Mark Guercio – engineer assistant
  • Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne – remix
  • David Larkham – art direction, graphic concept
  • Bernie Taupin – art direction, graphic concept
  • Alan Aldridge – cover design
  • David Larkham – package design
  • Alan Aldridge – illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

  1. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
  2. Tower of Babel
  3. Bitter Fingers
  4. Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
  5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
  6. (Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket
  7. Better Off Dead
  8. Writing
  9. We All Fall in Love Sometimes
  10. Curtains