The Way It Is (Valerie Carter album)
The Way It Is is Valerie Carter's third solo album. This album features background vocals by James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett, Phoebe Snow, David Lasley, Arnold McCuller and Kate Markowitz.[3]
| The Way It Is | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 2, 1996[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 40:52 | |||
| Label | Pony Canyon | |||
| Producer | Eddie Offord[2] | |||
| Valerie Carter chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Critical reception
Rob Caldwell of AllMusic gives the album 3 out of 5 stars and writes, "Following the pattern of her debut, it featured a fine selection of songs and a fine array of guest performers."[1]
Charles Donovan of Pop Matters had this to say of the album, "Wild Child marked the end of Carter's time with Columbia. Busy with backing vocals and some songwriting here and there in the 1980s, she wouldn't re-emerge as a solo artist until 1996, when she cut The Way It Is for the Japanese Pony Canyon label. It was a tremendous return."[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Way It Is" |
| 4:01 |
| 2. | "Love Needs a Heart" |
| 3:43 |
| 3. | "Sea of Stars" |
| 3:43 |
| 4. | "Into the Mystic" | Van Morrison | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Birds" | Neil Young | 3:42 |
| 6. | "Who Is She (And What Is She to You)" |
| 3:29 |
| 7. | "I Say Amen" |
| 3:51 |
| 8. | "When the Blues Come to Call" | Tom Snow | 4:32 |
| 9. | "I Wonder Why" | Tom Snow | 4:38 |
| 10. | "Whistle Down the Wind" | Tom Waits | 5:05 |
| Total length: | 40:52 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "That's The Way of the World" |
| 6:11 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Way It Is" |
| 4:01 |
| 2. | "Love Needs a Heart" |
| 3:43 |
| 3. | "That's The Way of the World" |
| 6:11 |
| 4. | "Blessing in Disguise" | Tom Snow | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Into the Mystic" | Van Morrison | 4:08 |
| 6. | "Birds" | Neil Young | 3:42 |
| 7. | "I Say Amen" |
| 3:51 |
| 8. | "Who Is She (And What Is She to You)" |
| 3:29 |
| 9. | "When the Blues Come to Call" | Tom Snow | 4:32 |
| 10. | "I Wonder Why" | Tom Snow | 4:38 |
| 11. | "Sea of Stars" |
| 3:43 |
| 12. | "Whistle Down the Wind" | Tom Waits | 5:05 |
| Total length: | 50:39 | ||
Track information verified from the album's liner notes[5] and cross referenced with 45 Worlds.[2]
Personnel
- Lead Vocals – Valerie Carter
- Backing Vocals – Arnold McCulier, David Lasley, Edwin McCain, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Kate Markowitz, Linda Ronstadt, Lyle Lovett, Phoebe Snow, Sweet Pea Atkinson
- Bass – Kevin McCormick
- Drums – Mauricio Lewak
- Guitar – James Harrah
- Guitar, Accordion, Keyboards – Mark Goldenberg
- Percussion – Debra Dobkin
- Piano, Keyboards – Scott Plunkett
- Saxophone – Joe Sublette
- Viola – Novi Novog
- Producer – Mark Goldenberg
- Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Eddy Offord
References
- Caldwell, Rob. The Way It Is at AllMusic
- "CD Album". 45worlds.com. 45 Worlds. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- Stegman, Laura. "JTO Feature: Valerie Carter". james-taylor.com. James Taylor Online. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- Donovan, Charles (11 February 2019). "The Voice of an Angel: A Tribute to Valerie Carter". popmatters.com. Pop Matters. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- The Way It Is (liner notes). Valerie Carter. Pony Canyon. 1996.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Valerie Carter - Wild Child". discogs.com. Valerie Carter. Discogs. 1996.CS1 maint: others (link)