Beauty & Crime
Encyclopedia
Beauty & Crime is the seventh studio album release by New York-based singer/songwriter and musician Suzanne Vega
. It is her first album of new material since 2001's Songs in Red and Gray
and is also her first for Blue Note Records
. It was released on July 17, 2007. Beauty & Crime won the Grammy Award
for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, on February 11, 2008.
and Songs in Red and Gray
, A&M Records
ended their lengthy contract with Vega (she had signed in 1983) with the release of the more commercially successful hits package Retrospective in 2003.
Between then and 2006, Vega embarked on a hectic and extensive touring schedule and performed a number of the songs from Beauty & Crime, in their early forms, during concerts, including "Unbound," "(Edith Wharton's) Figurines," and "New York is a Woman."
The album was recorded in New York City between November 10-November 27, 2006, with further recording work commencing in England in January 2007.
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
. It is her first album of new material since 2001's Songs in Red and Gray
Songs in Red and Gray
Songs in Red and Gray is the sixth studio album release by New York-based singer/songwriter and musician Suzanne Vega. The album was Vega's final album for A&M Records and also marks the divorce with her husband and producer Mitchell Froom...
and is also her first for Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
. It was released on July 17, 2007. Beauty & Crime won the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, on February 11, 2008.
Development
Following lukewarm commercial success for her last two albums, 1996's Nine Objects of DesireNine Objects of Desire
Nine Objects of Desire is Suzanne Vega's fifth studio album, released September 10, 1996. It peaked at number 92 in the Billboard 200. The single "Caramel" is featured in the soundtrack for The Truth About Cats & Dogs and the trailer for the film Closer...
and Songs in Red and Gray
Songs in Red and Gray
Songs in Red and Gray is the sixth studio album release by New York-based singer/songwriter and musician Suzanne Vega. The album was Vega's final album for A&M Records and also marks the divorce with her husband and producer Mitchell Froom...
, A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
ended their lengthy contract with Vega (she had signed in 1983) with the release of the more commercially successful hits package Retrospective in 2003.
Between then and 2006, Vega embarked on a hectic and extensive touring schedule and performed a number of the songs from Beauty & Crime, in their early forms, during concerts, including "Unbound," "(Edith Wharton's) Figurines," and "New York is a Woman."
The album was recorded in New York City between November 10-November 27, 2006, with further recording work commencing in England in January 2007.
Track listing
All songs written by Suzanne Vega.- "Zephyr & I" - 3:10
- "Ludlow Street" - 3:16
- "New York Is a Woman" - 2:54
- "Pornographer's Dream" - 3:23
- "FrankFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
& AvaAva GardnerAva Lavinia Gardner was an American actress.She was signed to a contract by MGM Studios in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew attention with her performance in The Killers . She became one of Hollywood's leading actresses, considered one of the most beautiful women of her day...
" - 2:38 - "Edith WhartonEdith WhartonEdith Wharton , was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer.- Early life and marriage:...
's Figurines" - 2:23 - "Bound" - 4:43
- "Unbound" - 3:34
- "As You Are Now" - 2:20
- "Angel's Doorway" - 2:55
- "Anniversary" - 2:57
- "Obvious Question" (Bonus Track) - 1:50
Personnel
- Suzanne Vega - acoustic guitar, vocals (all tracks)
- Mike Visceglia - bass (4)
- Dougie Yowell - drums (4,6), percussion (4,6)
- Gerry Leonard - electric guitar (1,2,5 to 11), acoustic guitar (4,5,10)
- Graham Hawthorne - drums (1,3,5,6,9 to 11), live drums (2,7,8)
- Tony Shanahan - bass (1,5,9,10)
- Sam Dixon - bass (2,3,6,11) live bass (8)
- Martin SlatteryMartin SlatteryMartin Slattery is a British multi-instrumentalist best known as a member of Joe Strummer's backing band The Mescaleros. He played there amongst others electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, saxophone, and flute. He is currently in the band The Hours alongside Antony Genn.- References :...
- piano (3,4,7,10), flute (9), brass (3), reeds (3) - Lee RanaldoLee RanaldoLee M. Ranaldo is an American singer, guitarist, writer, record producer, and visual artist, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth...
- electric guitar (1,2,10) - Jimmy Hogarth - percussion (1 to 5,10,11) electric guitar (1), acoustic guitar (11)
- Philip Shepard - cello (1,6,7)
- Matthew Ward - violin (1,7)
- KT TunstallKT TunstallKate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
- background vocals, vocal arrangements (1,5) - Ruby Froom - background vocals (2,8)
- Beccy Byrne - background vocals (8)
- Emily Singer - background vocals (8)
- Anthony Genn - background vocals (11)
- London Studio Orchestra - strings (2,4,7,9) led by Perry Montague-Mason
- Pete Davis - programming (2,4,7,8,10)
- Jimmy Hogarth - producer
- Emery DobynsEmery DobynsEmery Dobyns is an American record producer, engineer mixer and songwriter, based in Manhattan in New York City.Dobyns has recorded and mixed for the likes of Patti Smith, Antony & The Johnsons and Battles. More recently, he has produced, recorded and mixed albums by Noah & The Whale, Travis, Mt....
- engineer
Album
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... (U.S.) |
129 |
| Top Internet Albums (U.S.) | 24 |
| Billboard Comprehensive Albums Billboard Comprehensive Albums Billboard Comprehensive Albums was established in 2003 and was a weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine that ranked the biggest selling albums in the United States regardless of the product's age or method of sales.... (U.S.) |
140 |
| United Kingdom | 127 |
| Belgium Albums Top 50 | 31 |
| Czech Republic | 37 |
| Estonia | 9 |
| Finland Albums Top 40 | 13 |
| France Albums Top 150 | 52 |
| Germany | 81 |
| Italy | 74 |
| Poland | 49 |
| Swiss Albums Top 100 | 79 |