Franklin Bruno - A Cat May Look At A Queen (2002) [Absolutely Kosher Records, AK019]

Franklin Bruno - A Cat May Look At A Queen (2002) [Absolutely Kosher Records, AK019, CD]

1. Dashboard Issues
2. Lies On Your Lips
3. Janet Shaw
4. I Blame You
5. Tired Of The West
6. Threadbare
7. A Cat May Look At A Queen
8. Bulk Removal Truck
9. Callous
10. Dossier
11. Love's Got A Ghetto
12. Two Purple Shadows
13. Blue's The Only Color

Some interesting personnel notes before the formal roundup:

This record features Nothing Painted Blue alumni Kyle Brodie and Joey Burns, but not on the same track—bummer!
Joey Burns is better known for his involvement in Calexico now, and appears here alongside frequent Calexico collaborators Jacob Valenzuela and Craig Schumacher.
Joey Burns also spun off to work with Giant Sand, which released a 7" on Jupa Records. Tommy Larkins and Winston Watson, who contribute percussion to this record, are also alumni of Giant Sand.
Refrigerator bassist Daniel Brodo also plays bass on this record, appearing on most tracks.
Peter Hughes provides design, while longtime Shrimper design contributor Bill Magdziarz contributes synth settings to track 1.
An "Amy Dominguez" is credited but seems to be cellist Amy Domingues, who has worked with Jenny Toomey of The Human Hearts a few times.
Stefan George, of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, resided in Tucson where this record was recorded. He can be heard on lap steel on "Callous". Mr. George passed away in 2015.

Full summary of personnel on deck for this record, sourced from the booklet:

Daniel Brodo: double bass (tr.1-6, 9-12)
Kyle Brodie: percussion tr.7, shaker tr.8
Joey Burns: nylon-string guitar tr.1-3, 9, 11; baritone guitar tr.2; shaker tr.4, cello tr.5, 12, bowed bass tr.5, vibes tr.11
Amy Dominguez: cellos tr.7-8
Bill Magdziarz: synth settings tr.1
Stefan George: dobro tr.2; lap steel tr.9
Tommy Larkins: drumkit tr.1-5, tr.9, tr.11-12
Jacob Valenzuela: trumpet tr.4
Craig Schumacher: harmonica tr.9; harmony vocal tr.12
Winston Watson: bongos tr.11
Franklin Bruno: tr.1 electric & leslie guitars, roland synth, piano; tr.2 electric guitar; tr.3 electric guitar, organ, tapes; tr.4 nylon-string guitar, organ; tr.5 electric guitar; tr.6 guitars, keyboards; tr.7 piano, sampled accordion & tympani, synth; tr.8 guitars; tr.9 steel-string guitar; tr.10 guitar, piano; tr.11 electric guitar, organ; tr.12 guitar, wurlitzer, vibes; tr.13 grand piano.

Direct from booklet credits:

Design and typography by Peter Hughes

Front cover incorporates The Ego-Centrics: 1940
by Clarence John Laughlin

Additional photography Franklin Bruno,
Cindy Frantz, Peter Hughes,
George Willard, Unknown

Thanks beyond measure to Daniel, Joey, Craig,
David, and all participating musicians

Additional thanks to Bree Benton, Kristi Engle,
Hotel Congress

1-5, 9, 11-12 recorded & mixed at Wavelab Studios, Tucson
by Craig Schumacher (assisted by Nick Luca)

6-8, 10, 13 recorded & mixed at Kingsize Sound Labs, Los Angeles
by David Trumfio (assisted by Michael Krassner)

additional piano recorded in Los Angeles at Mad Hatter (7, 13) and Villa Roma (10)

Mastered by David Trumfio at Kingsize

All songs written by FJB © 2002 Stopgap Measures Music (BMI)
except "Two Purple Shadows" written by D. Sanford/S. Mysels, pub. Odette Music

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