Vanessa Carlton - Be Not Nobody

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, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abe Laboriel, Jr. Drums Al Hershberger Violin Alan Grunfeld Violin Alan Silfen Photography Alex Al Electric Upright Bass Anatoly Rosinsky Violin Armen Garabedian Violin Armen Ksadjikian Cello Barbara Porter Violin Becky Bunnell Violin Berj Garabedian Violin Bill Schnee Engineer Bob Adcock Cello Brian Dembow Viola Brian Vibberts Assistant Engineer Bruce Dukov Violin Bryan Cook Assistant Engineer Cecilia Tsan Cello Charlie Bisharat Violin Chris Steffen Assistant Engineer Chris Wonzer Assistant Engineer Chuck Berghofer Bass (Upright) Cindy Ellis Woodwind Clayton Haslop Violin Dan Higgins Woodwind, Recorder David Low Cello David Shostac Woodwind Dmitri Boviard Viola Drew FitzGerald Illustrations, Art Direction Eddy Schreyer Mastering Elisa Yastic A&R Emil Richards Vibraphone Erik Reichers Assistant Engineer Eun Mee Ahn Violin Franklyn d'Antonio Violin Gayle Levant Harp Hugh Padgham Mixing J.D. Andrew Assistant Engineer Jack Joseph Puig Mixing Jacqueline Brand Violin James "Big Jim" Wright Photography Jay Goin Assistant Engineer Jeff Rothschild Assistant Engineer Jim Danis Assistant Engineer Joel Derouin Violin John Goux Dulcimer, Sitar, Guitar John Wittenberg Violin Karen Elaine Bakunin Viola Karen Van Sant Viola Katia Popov Violin Keith Grezen Viola Ken Yerke Violin Kirstin Fife Violin Kurt Iswarienko Photography Larry Corbett Cello Leland Sklar Bass Luis Conte Percussion Margaret Wooten Violin Mario Diaz de Leon Violin Mark Robertson Violin Marlo Fisher Viola Mathew Cooker Viola Michael C. Ross Mixing, Engineer Michael Valerio Double Bass Natalie Leggett Violin Nico Abandolo Double Bass Paul Cohen Viola Phillipe Levy Violin Randy Kerber Arranger, Conductor Rene Mandel Violin Robin Olson Violin Ron Fair Producer, Orchestral Arrangements, Organ, Arranger, Conductor, Executive Producer, Vibraphone, Harmonica, A&R Rose Corrigan Woodwind Sara Parkins Violin Sheridon Stokes Woodwind Sid Page Violin Simon Oswell Viola Stephanie Woolf Stylist Stephen Erdody Cello Susan Greenberg Woodwind Suzie Katayama Cello Tal Herzberg Digital Editing, Engineer Tamara L. Hatwan Violin Tiffany Hu Violin Timothy Landauer Cello Tommy Morgan Harmonica Trey Henry Double Bass Vanessa Carlton Executive Producer, Piano, Arranger, Vocals