Beyond Elysian Fields

Summary

Beyond Elysian Fields is the sixth studio album by Hugh Cornwell, released by Invisible Hands Music on 4 October 2004[1] in the UK, with a worldwide release in 2005.[2] It was produced by Tony Visconti and Danny Kadar.

Beyond Elysian Fields
Studio album by
Released4 October 2004
Recorded2003
StudioLooking Glass, New York
Truck Farm, New Orleans
Genre
Length43:29
LabelInvisible Hands Music
Producer
Hugh Cornwell chronology
In the Dock
(2003)
Beyond Elysian Fields
(2004)
Hooverdam
(2008)

The album title refers to Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans.[3]

Critical reception edit

Beyond Elysian Fields
Review scores
SourceRating
Uncut     [3]

Adam Morton of The Age complimented Cornwell's "clipped, dry delivery" on the songs "Under Her Spell" and "Beauty on the Beach", but added that "melodies wane and lyrics become laboured on later tracks" such as "24/7".[4] Helen Wright of musicOMH described the album as "something like a cross between [Bob] Dylan and Dire Straits at their best ... with a dash of the Traveling Wilburys for good measure." Wright also cautioned, "If you preferred the early Stranglers you'll probably hate this album."[5] Graham Rockingham The Hamilton Spectator wrote, "Beyond Elysian Fields doesn't contain the in-your-face attitude of Stranglers' songs like "Peaches", "Grip" or "Hangin' Around" ... but it does contain that sardonic sense of humor and unmistakable voice. Cornwell's songwriting ventures into all sorts of unexpected territory."[6]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Hugh Cornwell

No.TitleLength
1."Land of a Thousand Kisses"4:55
2."Cadiz"4:13
3."Do Right Bayou"4:21
4."Under Her Spell"3:13
5."Beauty on the Beach"3:41
6."The Story of Harry Power"4:17
7."24/7"3:47
8."Mr.Big"2:53
9."Picked Up by the Wind"3:10
10."I Don`t Mind"3:01
11."Henry Moore"6:01

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[2]

  • Hugh Cornwell - vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards (1, 9), toy piano (11), handclaps (5)
  • Steve Lawrence - bass, organ (3, 7), piano (10)
  • Windsor McGilvray - drums, percussion
  • Tony Visconti - recorder (2, 11), castanets (2), handclaps (5)
  • Scott Bourgeois - flute (5, 6)
Technical
  • Tony Visconti - producer, mixing (Looking Glass, New York)
  • Danny Kadar - producer, engineer (Truck Farm, New Orleans), cover photography
  • Mario J. McNulty - engineer (Looking Glass, New York)
  • Chris Goulstone - mastering
  • Ra - design, artwork
  • Steve Double - cover photography
  • Hugh Cornwell - sleeve concept

Beyond Acoustic Fields edit

Beyond Acoustic Fields (2007), is a limited edition CD, only available on tour, performed by Cornwell with acoustic guitar and vocal only and was recorded by Tony Visconti at his New York studio Looking Glass in 2003, to give Visconti an idea of the songs before producing the full album with the band.[1]

Track listing:

  1. "Cadiz"
  2. "Beauty on the Beach"
  3. "The Land of a Thousand Kisses"
  4. "24/7"
  5. "Henry Moore"
  6. "The Story of Harry Power"
  7. "Picked Up by the Wind"
  8. "Do Right Bayou"
  9. "Under Her Spell"

References edit

  1. ^ a b "History: 2003-2004". hughcornwell.com. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Beyond Elysian Fields - Versions". Discogs. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Hugh Cornwell – Beyond Elysian Fields". Uncut. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  4. ^ Morton, Adam (9 June 2006). "Beyond Elysian Fields - CD Reviews". The Age. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  5. ^ Wright, Helen (4 October 2004). "Hugh Cornwell - Beyond Elysian Fields - Album Reviews". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  6. ^ Rockingham, Graham (2 June 2005). "Polished Punk; Stranglers Frontman Led 1970s Sound Invasion". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 4 June 2011.