Nighswonger Sings Nilsson
A Tribute for Nilsson Lovers with the BIG EGO treatment
Long Beach, CA - Available March 30, 2020, songwriter Alyssandra Nighswonger and producer Chris Schlarb have joined forces to create Nighswonger Sings Nilsson; a tribute to Harry Nilsson. The album, recorded at Long Beach studio BIG EGO, features 9 songs, including “Think About Your Troubles”, “Without Her”, “One, “He Needs Me”, “Me and My Arrow”, “Are You Sleeping?”, “P.O.V. Waltz”, “Good Old Desk”, and “The Puppy Song”. The album has been pressed to a translucent, orange vinyl with a cover design that has been meticulously cross-stitched.
“All those Nilsson records are classic studio creations that really showcase the magic of getting great songs and musicians into the same room together,” waxed Psychic Temple frontman Schlarb, who has produced the likes of Mike Watt, Terry Reid, Swamp Dogg, and frequent Nilsson collaborator Jim Keltner. “We’ve cultivated our own little ‘Wrecking Crew’ of musicians and brought in drummer Danny Frankel, pianist R. Scott Dibble, bassist Anthony Shadduck, and George Madrid on pedal steel as the core band. We hired Philip Glenn and Matthew Proffitt to write the string and horn arrangements and tracked everything in three straight days.”
“I always wanted to record a Nilsson tribute album,” reflected Nighswonger. “His songs make me feel like I belong somewhere… like that line from The Point!, ‘if everything has point, well then I must have one too!’" Nighswonger is no stranger to an ambitious project; in 2012, she completed a 1,450-mile music tour via bicycle down the West Coast. She added, "With Nilsson’s wide vocal range, I thought his melodies translate well to the range of a female vocalist, like me. With all the care that went into this session, I think we created something that Nilsson lovers will really get a kick out of.”
The album cover is a collaboration with Nighswonger’s mother, Jill. The impressive intricate 200-stitches-per-square-inch design features a whale inspired by “Think About Your Troubles”. Nighswonger recalls, “We stitched in cafes and bars, on boats and airplanes, late at night, early in the morning, until the last stitch was stitched, 9 months later.”
The record will be available for purchase and streaming on March 30th, but the first chance to get a record will be the release show on March 29th at Elinor in Long Beach. The space will be transformed into the land of Point and an album will be included with admission.
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For more information, a digital preview link, promo request or to arrange an interview, contact: George Madrid, montebrerecords@gmail.com 562.714.7177
Credits
Track List:
1. Think About Your Troubles
2. Without Her
3. One
4. He Needs Me
5. Me and My Arrow
6. Are You Sleeping?
7. P.O.V Waltz
8. Good Old Desk
9. The Puppy Song
Produced by Chris Schlarb and Alyssandra Nighswonger
Recorded at Big Ego Studios in Sunny Long Beach, California
Executive Producer George Madrid
Engineered by Jon O’Brien
Mixed by Chris Schlarb
Mastered at Golden Mastering by JJ Golden
String Arrangements by Philip Glenn
Brass Arrangements by Matthew Proffitt
Alyssandra Nighswonger - Lead Vocals, Guitar - All Tracks
R. Scott Dibble - Piano - All Tracks
Anthony Shadduck - Bass - All Tracks
Danny Frankel - Drums - All Tracks
George Madrid - Pedal Steel, Guitar - Track 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9
Philip Glenn - Violin - Track 4,7,8
Chris McCarthy - Cello - Track 4,7,8
Matthew Proffitt - Trombone - Track 1,6,9
Matt Kalin - Baritone Sax - Track 1,6,9
Danny T. Levin - Trumpet - Track 1,6,9
Jesse Wilder - Guitar, Organ - Track 1,3,5,6
Benj Clarke - Guitar, Vocals - Track 4,6,8
Heather Sommerhauser - Vocals - Track 1,3,5,6,7,9
Ellen Warkentine - Clarinet - Track 2, 9
Maryanne Stewart - Tap Dance - Track 4
All Songs Written by Harry Nilsson
Publisher: Warner- Tamerlane Pub OBO Golden Syrup Music (Track 1,2,3,5,6,7,8)
Walt Disney Music Co, Sony/ATV Harmony (Track 4)
Unichappell Music, Inc (Track 9)