Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers

Summary

Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers is the ninth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega, which was released on October 14, 2016.[1] The album is based on the 2011 play Carson McCullers Talks About Love about the life of the writer Carson McCullers, written and performed by Vega.

Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 14, 2016[1]
StudioSneaky Studios
GenreFolk rock
Length33:02[2]
LabelAmanuensis Productions[3]
ProducerGerry Leonard
Suzanne Vega chronology
Close-Up Series
(2014)
Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers
(2016)
An Evening of New York Songs and Stories
(2020)
Singles from Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers
  1. "We of Me"
    Released: July 6, 2016
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Rolling Stone[5]

Background edit

When she was 15, Vega read the books of Carson McCullers and has been fascinated by her ever since.[6]

She wrote eight songs with Duncan Sheik and two with Michael Jefry Stevens.[7] Some writing was done in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[6]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik except "Carson's Blues" and "The Ballad of Miss Amelia" written by Vega and Michael Jefry Stevens

Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Carson's Blues"2:55
2."New York Is My Destination"3:09
3."Instant of the Hour After"3:06
4."We of Me"2:52
5."Annemarie"3:18
6."12 Mortal Men"2:47
7."Harper Lee"3:43
8."Lover, Beloved"3:24
9."The Ballad of Miss Amelia"4:18
10."Carson's Last Supper"3:30
Total length:33:02

Note: "Instant of the Hour After" first appeared on Close-Up Vol. 3, States of Being (2011).

Music video edit

Official music video for a song "We of Me" has been directed by Chuck Moore.[8]

Personnel edit

  • Suzanne Vega – vocals, composer
  • Duncan Sheik – composer, Hammond B3, harmonium, pedal bass, percussion, background vocals
  • Gerry Leonard – arranger, guitar, mandolin, producer, ukulele, vibraphone
  • Roswell Rudd – trombone
  • David Rothenberg – clarinet, bass clarinet
  • Michael J. Merenda Jr. – banjo, banjo-ukelele
  • Jason Hart – piano
  • Will Holshouser – accordion
  • Byron Isaacs – double bass
  • Yuvall Lyon – drums
  • Doug Yowell – percussion
  • David Poe – background vocals
  • Ruby Froom – background vocals
  • The Garrison Gang – background vocals
  • Kevin Killen – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Michael Tudor – engineer
  • Milo Decruz – engineer[9]

Charts edit

Chart performance for Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10] 33
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[11] 58
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 71
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[13] 22
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[14] 1
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] 19

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Suzanne Vega Lover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullers". Nimbit. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Lover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullers". Tidal. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  3. ^ "New album "Lover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullers" Out October 14, 2016". SuzanneVega.com. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  4. ^ Deming, Mark. Review of Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers at AllMusic. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  5. ^ Dwyer, Michael (19 October 2016). "Review of Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b Vega, Suzanne (12 October 2016). "Suzanne Vega on Carson McCullers, civil rights, and British tea!". Mark Goodier sits in (Interview). Interviewed by Mark Goodier. BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. ^ Ayers, Mike (July 6, 2016). "Hear Suzanne Vega's New Song 'We of Me' From Her Upcoming Album Inspired by Writer Carson McCullers (Exclusive)". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Suzanne Vega - We Of Me [Official Video]. YouTube. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Lover, Beloved". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Suzanne Vega – Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Suzanne Vega – Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  13. ^ "Suzanne Vega Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  14. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 11, 2024.

External links edit

  • "Suzanne Vega on Lover, Beloved: Songs From An Evening With Carson McCullers" (video interview of Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik)
  • "Reflection in a Distant Mirror: Themes from Carson McCullers' The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter in the music of Suzanne Vega" (essay)