Rufus Wainwright
May 19, 1998 |
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Long before the release of his self-titled, debut album, Rufus was touring with his mother and aunt, Kate & Anna McGarrigle. After making his way around the music circuits of Montréal and New York City, Rufus was ready to conquer the recording industry. He compiled a demo tape and gave it to his father, Loudon Wainwright III, who was able to spark the interest of DreamWorks executive Lenny Waronker.
Once signed to DreamWorks, Rufus went to work with Pierre Marchand, Jon Brion, and Van Dyke Parks to construct an album like no other. Creating a genre of his own, Rufus Wainwright received critical acclaim in both the United States and Canada. Rolling Stone not only considered the album one of the best of 1998, but also named Rufus the "Best New Artist" for the year.
Rufus Wainwright is somewhat of a thematic album, with several tracks being written about Danny, one of Rufus' first loves. Another motif heard throughout the album is the pain and fear associated with drug use. Both "In My Arms" and "Baby" tell the story of a lost love, who happened to be a "junkie" that eventually committed suicide. In addition, "Barcelona" reveals a haunting concern about the AIDS epidemic which swept through the gay community when Rufus was a teenager. Coming out of the closet around the same time of this vicious spread of HIV, Rufus often associated death with homosexuality, a great concern for many years. On a lighter note, "Beauty Mark" is a beautiful homage to his mother, Kate McGarrigle, and "Millbrook" recalls his experiences at a music school in New York.
All songs produced by Jon Brion, courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp., except for 3 tracks. "In My Arms" was produced, recorded, and mixed by Pierre Marchand at WildSky Studio in Morin Heights, Québec. "Millbrook" and "Baby" were produced by Jon Brion and Van Dyke Parks. The executive producer for Rufus Wainwright was Lenny Waronker, and tracks were mixed by Bob Clearmountain. The cover photo was taken by David Gahr, and all insert collages were constructed by Rufus Wainwright. Copyright: 1998 SKG Music, released under DreamWorks Records.
Thanks to all my family and friends. A very special thanks to Mr. Van Dyke Parks from The Montréal Kid. This record is dedicated to my grandparents, whom I hope are watching from the best seats in the sky |
