Retrospective: The Best Of Suzanne Vega CD

"The Queen And The Soldier" was recorded live at The Paleo Festival, Nyon, Switzerland, 1991.

Recorded between 1985 & 2001. Includes liner notes by Lenny Kaye.

When Suzanne Vega emerged in the mid-1980s, she heralded the arrival of a new kind of troubadour, one who merged the contemplative singer/songwriter tradition of Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, et al, with a decidedly modernistic outlook influenced by the likes of Lou Reed, David Byrne, and Laurie Anderson. Consequently, she had a huge impact on what singer/songwriters sounded like from then on. Listening to the comprehensive anthology RETROSPECTIVE, it's easy to see why. The artful minimalism of such early songs as "Small Blue Thing" and "Tom's Diner" (the latter subsequently remixed into a huge dance hit) is just as striking decades down the line. And the sophisticated popcraft of later recordings (including those produced by Vega's then-husband Mitchell Froom) melds everything from bossa nova to industrial synth-pop with Vega's arty folk-rock. This compilation is arranged to flow musically rather than chronologically, allowing one to experience the full range of moods present in the work of this compelling and complex songstress.

Personnel: Suzanne Vega (vocals, acoustic guitar); Gerry Leonard (acoustic & electric guitars, dulcimer, mandolin, zither); Tchad Blake (electric guitar, E-bow); Marc Schulman, Frank Christian, Richard Pleasance (electric guitar); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Cecilia Sparacio (flute); Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet); John Linnell (accordion); Dave Douglas (trumpet); Rupert Hine (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, programming); Anton Sanko (Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizert); Mitchell Froom (keyboards); Michael Visceglia, Frank Gravis, Bruce Thomas, Paul Dugan (bass); Pete Thomas (drums, percussion, loops); Stephen Ferrera, Jerry Marotta (drums, percussion); Shawn Colvin (background vocals).

Producers include: Steve Addabbo, Lenny Kaye, Mitchell Froom, Anton Sanko, Suzanne Vega.

Compilation producers: Mike Ragogna, Suzanne Vega.

Personnel: Suzanne Vega (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Jon Gordon (guitar, electric guitar); Steve Addabbo (guitar, background vocals); Gerry Leonard (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, zither); Marc Shulman (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar); Tchad Blake (electric guitar, wah-wah guitar, E-bow); Richard Pleasance, David Hidalgo, Frank Christian, Steve Donnelly (electric guitar); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Rupert Hine (strings, piano, keyboards, drum programming); Cecilia Sparacio (flute); John Linnell (accordion); Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet); Dave Douglas (trumpet); Joe Jackson (piano); Mitchell Froom (keyboards); Anton Sanko, C.P. Roth (synthesizer); Pete Thomas , Steve Ferrera, Jerry Marotta, Sue Evans (drums, percussion); Frank Vilardi, Jay Bellerose (drums); Michael Blair (cymbals, tambourine); Shawn Colvin (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Hugh Padgham; Jay Burnett; Shelly Yakus; Stephen W. Tayler; Tchad Blake.

Liner Note Author: Lenny Kaye.

Recording information: Paleo Festival, Nyon, Switzerland (07/26/1991).

Photographers: Melanie Nissen; Matthew Vega; Marion Ettlinger; Faubel Christensen; Paula Bullwinkel; Geof Kern; Albert Sanchez.

Arranger: Rupert Hine.Mojo (Publisher) (p.121) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]he 10 videos included in this retrospective show a refreshing angle on the female gaze....[T]his is an imaginative mix."