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John Wesley Harding's New Deal [828730040222]

John Wesley Harding
1 disc

1. To Whom It May Concern
2. Other People's Failure
3. Secret Angel, The
4. Kiss Me, Miss Liberty
5. Heart Without a Home
6. God Lives Upstairs
7. Infinite Combinations
8. King Is Dead Boring, The
9. Triumph of Trash, The
10. Cupid and Psycho
11. Still Photo
12. In Paradise
13. Speed of Normal, The
14. When the Beatles Hit America
15. Let Us Now
16. Death of the Ghostwriter
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 00402
Credits

Producer
Engineer
Personnel: John Wesley Harding (vocals, 6- & 12-string guitars, harmonica, Hammond organ, pump organ, percussion, typewriter); Greg Leisz (acoustic, lap steel, electric & baritone guitars); David Phillips (pedal steel); Robert Lloyd (mandolin, accordion, piano, Hammond organ, farfisa); Tammy Rogers (violin, cello); Chris Von Sneidern (bass, snare drum, percussion, tambourine, background vocals); Peter Straus (bass); Bennett Bowman (drums); Denise Stace (bells).
Producers: John Wesley Harding, Chris Von Sneidern.
Engineers: Chris Von Sneidern, Harry Stinson.
Recorded at Ordophon-Upon-Avon and The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California; Sharkbite, Oakland, California; Studio By The Drive, Nashville, Tennessee.
Four years passed since John Wesley Harding's previous long-player, and it seems he spent the time "growing up" a bit, shaking once and for all the image of Elvis Costello's smart-ass kid brother. John Wesley Harding's New Deal (the title presumably referring to his parting of ways with Sire and his new signing to Forward Records) finds a gentler Harding doing some soul-searching on his most introspective outing to date. Continuing the trend set by 1992's Why We Fight, the album's warmer production -- bare-bones arrangements consisting mainly of acoustic guitar with subtle use of violin, cello, Hammond organ, and pedal steel -- creates the appropriate intimate setting for the subject matter. Thankfully, the new John Wesley Harding's songs are still as clever as ever and, in a different way, just as catchy and memorable. ~ Chris Woodstra
Critic Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (2/16/96, p.62) - "...he has an unerring melodic sense and an ability to write bright, witty songs..." - Rating: B
Dirty Linen (4-5/96, p.85) - "Coming across like [Elvis] Costello without the bile, John Wesley Harding offers some nicely torturous, clever wordplay, and a sense of melody that's become more finely honed over the years..."