Release the Stars
His most commercially successful album: Berlin sessions, Neil Tennant as executive producer, and a number 2 in the UK.
Rufus Wainwright, 2007
- Released
- 15 May 2007
- Studio
- Second Story, Legacy and Brooklyn Recording (New York); Saal 4 (Berlin); Strongroom and Angel Recording Studios (London)
- Label
- Geffen
- Producer
- Rufus Wainwright
- Length
- 55:09
Wainwright first planned a record of piano and voice, but a visit to Berlin pushed him toward a lusher sound. Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys advised him and served as executive producer, and Marius de Vries and Andy Bradfield mixed it. The sessions took in studios in New York, Berlin and London. Guests include Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle, Joan Wasser and Siân Phillips, who speaks on Between My Legs. The cover and booklet images come from the gigantomachy frieze of the Pergamon Altar in Berlin, photographed by Wainwright.
It entered the UK chart at number 2 and the Billboard 200 at 23, and charted in 13 countries. It went gold in the UK and Canada. The singles were Going to a Town, Rules and Regulations and Tiergarten. A tour ran from May 2007 to February 2008 and ended at Radio City Music Hall.
Pitchfork scored it 6.7 and thought Going to a Town the highlight. Alexis Petridis of the Guardian called it a wonderful album packed with stunning melodies and brilliant lyrics, though he called it lavish.
Track listing
- Do I Disappoint You4:40
- Going to a Town4:06
- Tiergarten3:26
- Nobody's Off the Hook4:27
- Between My Legs4:26
- Rules and Regulations4:05
- Not Ready to Love5:51
- Slideshow6:21
- Tulsa2:20
- Leaving for Paris N° 24:52
- Sanssouci5:16
- Release the Stars5:20
Personnel
- Rufus Wainwright vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, string arrangements, producer
- Neil Tennant executive producer, backing vocals, keyboards
- Marius de Vries programming, conducting, mixing
- Andy Bradfield mixing
- Richard Thompson guitar
- Teddy Thompson backing vocals
- Martha Wainwright backing vocals
- Kate McGarrigle piano
- Joan Wasser backing vocals, guitar, violin
- Siân Phillips spoken word
- Jeff Hill bass
- Matt Johnson drums
- Jack Petruzzelli guitar
More from Rufus Wainwright
Rufus Wainwright (1998), Poses (2001), Want One (2003), Want Two (2004), Out of the Game (2012)
Sources
- Release the Stars, Wikipedia
- Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars, Pitchfork (2007-05-17)
- Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars, The Guardian (2007-05-11)