Vanessa Carlton Be Not Nobody CD

Personnel: Vanessa Carlton (vocals, piano); John Goux (guitar, dulcimer, sitar); Ron Fair (harmonica, organ, vibraphone); Alex Al (electric upright bass); Chuck Berghofer (upright bass); Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).
Recorded at IGA Studios, Santa Monica, California, Henson Studios, Hollywood, California and Royaltone Studios, Burbank, California.
"A Thousand Miles" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Vanessa Carlton (vocals, piano); John Goux (guitar, dulcimer, sitar); Gayle Levant (harp); Eun Mee Ahn, Al Hershberger, John Wittenberg, Anatoly Rosinsky, Katia Popov, Tamara L. Hatwan, Robin Olson, Alan Grunfeld, Barbara Porter, Ken Yerke, Rene Mandel, Becky Bunnell, Tiffany Hu, Franklyn d'Antonio, Joel Derouin, Mark Robertson , Sid Page, Jacqueline Brand, Bruce Dukov, Kirstin Fife, Clayton Haslop, Natalie Leggett, Phillipe Levy, Sara Parkins, Margaret Wooten, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Charlie Bisharat, Mario Diaz de Leon (violin); Marlo Fisher, Mathew Cooker, Keith Grezen, Karen Elaine Bakunin, Karen Van Sant, Paul Cohen , Brian Dembow, Simon Oswell, Dmitri Boviard (viola); Timothy Landauer, Bob Adcock, Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett, Stephen Erdody, Armen Ksadjikian, David Low , Cecilia Tsan (cello); Ron Fair (harmonica, organ, vibraphone); Tommy Morgan (harmonica); Dan Higgins (recorder, woodwinds); Susan Greenberg, Cindy Ellis, Rose Corrigan, David Shostac, Sheridon Stokes (woodwinds); Emil Richards (vibraphone); Nico Abandolo, Trey Henry, Michael Valerio (double bass); Chuck Berghofer (upright bass); Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Hugh Padgham; Jack Joseph Puig; Michael C. Ross .
Recording information: Henson Studios, Hollywood, CA; IGA Studios, Santa Monica, CA; Royaltone Studios, Burbank, CA.
Illustrator: Drew FitzGerald.
Photographers: Alan Silfen; Kurt Iswarienko; James "Big Jim" Wright .
Arrangers: Ron Fair; Vanessa Carlton; Randy Kerber.
Vanessa Carlton probably couldn't have happened without Alicia Keys, but that doesn't mean they sound the same. Both artists are preternaturally talented and write on keyboards, sounding much older than their years. The difference is, Carlton pretty much revels in her advanced years, creating a record that recalls the lush ambition of Keys, but also the soul-searching of Fiona Apple and the precise intricacies of Rick Wakeman. Certainly, this wasn't something she planned to evoke, but the end result is pretty impressive all the same, because it's so well crafted, from both Carlton and her producer, Ron Fair, who doesn't stop her from taking leaps that could potentially prove embarrassing. And there are embarrassing moments on her debut, Be Not Nobody, the most notable of those is a ham-fisted, melodramatic cover of the Stones' "Paint It, Black," which for all the world feels like a single dictated by the studio. That's the nadir of the album, but the rest is charmingly ambitious and often quite accomplished. Take the lead single, "A Thousand Miles" -- as it moves from its solo piano opening to bombastic orchestral-backed choruses, the result isn't overwhelming, it's sweet, multi-layered, and appealing. And most of her debut album follows that lead, often overflowing with soaring strings, intimate pianos, crooned vocals, and pretty melodies, yet it all gels because Carlton shows the potential of a songwriter who can convey her emotions through her songcraft. Sure, some of Be Not Nobody is naïve, but much of it's well crafted and nearly all of it is endearing; it's a rare debut that is quite enjoyable in its own right yet is almost more enticing because of what it suggests that she could do next. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Although comparisons to fellow piano-playing chanteuses Fiona ApplQ (10/02, p.102) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Carlton sounds earthier, wiser and in for the long haul..."