Little Ship (album)

Little Ship is the fourteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, released on October 6, 1997 on Virgin Records/Charisma Records. According to Wainwright, the album "focuses primarily on the theme of a relationship. In terms of the other records, I don't know how or why I would place it somewhere except that it's the newest."^[1]

Track listing

1. Breakfast in Bed – 3:05
2. Four Mirrors – 2:55
3. Mr. Ambivalent – 3:44
4. OGM – 2:55
5. Our Own War – 3:50
6. So Damn Happy – 2:25
7. Primrose Hill – 4:47
8. Underwear – 1:30
9. The World – 1:49
10. What Are Families For? – 4:26
11. Bein' a Dad – 3:41
12. The Birthday Present ll – 3:51
13. I Can't Stand Myself – 2:41
14. Little Ship – 3:33
15. A Song – 3:05

Personnel

The following people contributed to Little Ship:^[2]

Musicians

• Loudon Wainwright III - vocals, guitars, banjo, ukulele, "Bein' a Dad" chorus
• John Leventhal - guitars, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, harmonium, lap steel, mandolin, bass, drums, "Bein' a Dad" chorus
• Tony Garnier - bass ("Breakfast in Bed", "Mr. Ambivalent", "Our Own War", "Primrose Hill", "Bein' a Dad", "I Can't Stand Myself" and "Little Ship")
• Shawn Pelton - drums ("Breakfast in Bed", "Mr. Ambvivalent", "Our Own War", "Bein' a Dad", "I Can't Stand Myself" and "Little Ship")
• Rick DePofi - tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet ("What Are Families For?" and "I Can't Stand Myself")
• Brian Mitchell - organ ("Mr. Ambivalent" and "I Can't Stand Myself")
• Shawn Colvin - background vocals ("Mr. Ambivalent" and "Our Own War")
• Larry Campbell - pedal steel ("Our Own War")
• Sandra Park - violin leader ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Sharon Yamanda - violin ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Richard Sortomme - violin ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Carol Webb - violin ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Lisa E. Kim - violin ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Daniel F. Reed - violin ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Sue Pray - viola ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Robert Rinehart - viola ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Alan J. Stepansky - cello ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Maria Kitsopoulos - cello ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• John Patitucci - bass ("Breakfast in Bed" and "A Song")
• Chris Botti - trumpet ("Our Own War" and "The Birthday Present II")
• Robert Carlisle - trumpet ("Our Own War" and "The Birthday Present II")
• Jim Hynes - trumpet, fugelhorn ("Our Own War" and "The Birthday Present II")
• Michael Davis - trombone ("Our Own War" and "The Birthday Present II")
• Steve Addabbo - "Bein' a Dad" chorus

Arrangements

• Stephen Barber - string arrangement ("A Song") and horn arrangement ("Our Own War")
• Rick DePofi - horn arrangements ("What Are Families For?" and "I Can't Stand Myself")
• John Leventhal - horn arrangements ("What Are Families For?", "I Can't Stand Myself" and "The Birthday Present II")

Recording personnel

• John Leventhal - producer, recording, mixing
• Loudon Wainwright III - producer
• Mike Kappus - executive producer
• Joe Blaney - recording
• Scott Ansell - additional recording
• Tom Shick]- recording assistant
• John Reigart - recording assistant
• Aaron Keane - recording assistant
• Ken Feldman - recording assistant
• Steve Addabbo - mixing ("Bein' a Dad", "I Can't Stand Myself", "Mr. Ambivilant" and "Our Own War")
• Ted Jensen - mastering

Artwork

• Hugh Brown - art direction, photography
• Ellie Kompare - "Family" illustration
• Katsushika Hokusai - "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa"

Release history

• CD: Virgin CDV2844

References