Last Man on Earth (album)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2018) |
| Last Man on Earth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 24, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | Shinebox Studios | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 37:45 | |||
| Label | Red House | |||
| Producer | Stewart Lerman | |||
| Loudon Wainwright III chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Robert Christgau |  link |
| PopMatters | favorable link |
Last Man on Earth is the sixteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, released on September 24, 2001 on Red House Records. Recorded in the wake of Wainwright's mother's death and the collapse of a romantic relationship, the album thematically addresses feelings of grief and loneliness. In 2012, Wainwright noted, "Last Man on Earth was written right after my mother died, so a lot of the material on that record has to do with that momentous event. The life circle was present on a lot of those songs."[1]
Portions of the album also reflect upon Wainwright's troubled relationship with his father, Loudon Wainwright, Jr., a subject that has populated many of his earlier recordings. Last Man on Earth can be seen as a companion piece to his 1992 album, History, written after the death of his father.
Background[edit]
In 1997, following his mother's funeral, Wainwright stayed in her home in Katonah, Westchester County for eighteen months. During this time, Wainwright wrote much of the album's material.[2]
Last Man on Earth was released four years after Wainwright's mother's death. The working title for the album was Missing You, named after the album's opening track.[3] However, the album's title ultimately became Last Man on Earth, a song written in Suffolk County following Wainwright's eventual move from his mother's old home.[4]
Track listing[edit]
- "Missing You" – 3:29
- "Living Alone" – 2:37
- "White Winos" – 2:59
- "Fresh Fossils" – 1:50
- "I'm Not Gonna Cry" – 2:06
- "Out of Reach" – 2:57
- "Bridge" – 1:43
- "Surviving Twin" – 3:41
- "Donations" – 2:02
- "Graveyard" – 2:13
- "Bed" – 2:53
- "Last Man on Earth" – 5:01
- "Homeless" – 4:14
Personnel[edit]
The following people contributed to Last Man on Earth:[5]
Musicians[edit]
- Loudon Wainwright III – vocals, guitar, five-string banjo
- Stewart Lerman – guitars, bass, organ, Wurlitzer, percussion
- Dick Connette – piano, spinet, celeste, harmonium, percussion, arrangements
- Steuart Smith – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, organ, Wurlitzer, accordion, bass, harmonica
- David Mansfield – fiddle, viola, mandolin, dulcimer, guitar, percussion, string arrangements on "White Winos"
- Sammy Merendino – drums, percussion
- Mary Rowell – violin, viola
- Marshall Coid – violin
- Dorothy Lawson – cello
- Brian Stanley – bass ("Living Alone")
- Johnny Gale – vocals and vocal arrangements ("Bridge")
- Little Isidore – vocals ("Bridge")
- Suzzy Roche – vocals ("Bed" and "Last Man on Earth")
Recording personnel[edit]
- Stewart Lerman – producer, recording, mixing
- Scott Lehrer – additional engineering ("Bed" and "Missing You")
- Dominick Maita – mastering
Artwork[edit]
- Deborah Feingold – inlay photograph
- Patti Perret – beach photos
- Don Stettner – back cover painting
- Hugh Brown – layout and design
Release history[edit]
- CD: Red House 158
- CD: Evangeline 4025
- CD: Evangeline 4076
References[edit]
- ^ Rabin, Nathan. "Set List: Loudon Wainwright III | The A.V. Club". theavclub.com. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ Last Man On Earth liner notes
- ^ [1] Archived August 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Last Man On Earth liner notes
- ^ Last Man On Earth liner notes
External links[edit]
- "Album biography" taken from the Rosebud Agency website.
