Beth Sorrentino
Encyclopedia
Beth Sorrentino is an American
pianist
and singer-songwriter
from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
.
. The band was signed by spinART Records
, which released two EPs
(Spokesmodel, El Presidente), produced by Sean Slade
, and a self-titled debut album. In 1992, the band was featured on the cover of College Music Journal
. Suddenly, Tammy! subsequently signed with Warner Bros. Records
, for whom they recorded the album We Get There When We Do
, which was produced by Warne Livesey and released in 1995. A follow-up album, Comet, was recorded and completed, but the band was dropped from the label in late 1996 and the album was shelved. The trio disbanded in 1997. (Comet was released digitally
by an independent label in 2010.)
and became a music teacher. She has taught at several schools on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, as well as being a private piano and vocal instructor.
Sorrentino recorded a series of demos between 2002–2003, produced by Irwin Chusid
and engineered by Peter Katis
at Tarquin Studios, in Bridgeport, Connecticut
. The material mostly consisted of new original compositions, with cover versions of two Leonard Cohen
songs. After sporadic returns to public performance in New York clubs, Sorrentino approved the demos for digital release in 2006 under the title Nine Songs, One Story. In 2008, two live solo sessions performed and recorded in 2001 at radio station WFMU
were released digitally. These sets included a number of Suddenly, Tammy! songs, as well as new original material.
In 2010, Sorrentino reunited with producer Sean Slade, and in 2011 recorded a collection of songs composed by the late Sunshine Pop
progenitor Curt Boettcher
. The completed album, entitled Would You Like To Go, is projected for 2012 release.
Sorrentino recorded a theme song for WFMU
radio's weekly conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay
. The composition is an adaptation of the Johnny Rivers
hit "Secret Agent Man,"
with new lyrics and retitled "Andy Breckman
Man" (after one of the show's co-hosts). In 2011, Sorrentino began serving (on keyboards) as the show's instrumental accompanist on an intermittent basis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
.
Suddenly, Tammy!
In the early 1990s, Sorrentino, her brother Jay (drums), and high school friend Ken Heitmueller (bass) formed the music trio Suddenly, Tammy!Suddenly, Tammy!
Suddenly, Tammy! was an indie pop band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Notable for its guitarless, piano-centric lineup, the band released a self-titled album in 1993 on spinART Records and a second album, We Get There When We Do on Warner Bros. Records in 1995...
. The band was signed by spinART Records
SpinART Records
spinART Records is a now-defunct New York City-based independent record label that released recordings by artists such as The Apples in Stereo, Clem Snide, Frank Black and Michael Penn....
, which released two EPs
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
(Spokesmodel, El Presidente), produced by Sean Slade
Sean Slade
Sean Slade is a record producer, engineer, and mixer. He has worked with artists including Hole, Radiohead, Warren Zevon, Juliana Hatfield, Dinosaur Jr., Uncle Tupelo, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Boo Radleys, Sebadoh, Lush, the Go-Go's, and The Dictators among others. In 2005 he produced The...
, and a self-titled debut album. In 1992, the band was featured on the cover of College Music Journal
College Music Journal
College Music Journal, commonly known as CMJ, is a music events/publishing company which hosts an annual festival in New York City, the CMJ Music Marathon, as well as a weekly magazine of and for the music industry and college radio stations in the United States and Canada. It publishes top 30...
. Suddenly, Tammy! subsequently signed with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, for whom they recorded the album We Get There When We Do
(We Get There When We Do.)
We Get There When We Do, stylised as , is a 1995 album by Suddenly, Tammy!-Track listing:#"Hard Lesson"#"The Big Guys Are Coming"#"Mark Of Man"#"Get Off The Ground"#"Flemen"#"Snowman"#"Not That Dumb"#"Funky"...
, which was produced by Warne Livesey and released in 1995. A follow-up album, Comet, was recorded and completed, but the band was dropped from the label in late 1996 and the album was shelved. The trio disbanded in 1997. (Comet was released digitally
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
by an independent label in 2010.)
Post-band career
Following the breakup of the band, Sorrentino moved to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and became a music teacher. She has taught at several schools on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, as well as being a private piano and vocal instructor.
Sorrentino recorded a series of demos between 2002–2003, produced by Irwin Chusid
Irwin Chusid
Irwin Chusid is a journalist, music historian, radio personality and self-described "landmark preservationist." His stated mission has been to "find things on the scrapheap of history that I know don't belong there and salvage them." Those "things" have included such previously overlooked but...
and engineered by Peter Katis
Peter Katis
Peter Katis is an American record producer, engineer, mixer and musician.Working primarily out of his own residential studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Katis is best known for producing alternative and indie rock bands, especially for Fat Cat Records.-Biography:Katis attended New Canaan Country...
at Tarquin Studios, in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. The material mostly consisted of new original compositions, with cover versions of two Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
songs. After sporadic returns to public performance in New York clubs, Sorrentino approved the demos for digital release in 2006 under the title Nine Songs, One Story. In 2008, two live solo sessions performed and recorded in 2001 at radio station WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
were released digitally. These sets included a number of Suddenly, Tammy! songs, as well as new original material.
In 2010, Sorrentino reunited with producer Sean Slade, and in 2011 recorded a collection of songs composed by the late Sunshine Pop
Sunshine pop
Sunshine pop is a subgenre of pop music originating in the United States, mainly the state of California, in the mid-1960s. Sunshine pop, by nature, is cheerful and upbeat music which is characterised by warm sounds, prominent vocal harmonies, as well as sophisticated productions...
progenitor Curt Boettcher
Curt Boettcher
Curt Boettcher was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer from Wisconsin. His career spanned 1964 to 1983...
. The completed album, entitled Would You Like To Go, is projected for 2012 release.
Sorrentino recorded a theme song for WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
radio's weekly conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay
Seven Second Delay
Seven Second Delay is a radio show broadcast on radio station WFMU. It has been hosted by Ken Freedman and Andy Breckman since the early 1990s. Will Baum and David Newgarden were Andy's cohosts of the show previous to Ken but David only did a handful of shows and Will did maybe a dozen at the most...
. The composition is an adaptation of the Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
hit "Secret Agent Man,"
Secret Agent Man (song)
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
with new lyrics and retitled "Andy Breckman
Andy Breckman
Andy Breckman is a television and film writer and a radio personality. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning television series Monk on the USA Network, and is co-host of WFMU radio's long-running conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay...
Man" (after one of the show's co-hosts). In 2011, Sorrentino began serving (on keyboards) as the show's instrumental accompanist on an intermittent basis.
Albums
(compositions by Sorrentino except where noted)- Nine Songs, One Story (2006)
- Amazing
- Such a Beautiful Day
- What I'm On
- Very Bad Today
- Child
- Tighten My Grip
- Wave
- Famous Blue RaincoatFamous Blue Raincoat"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. It is the sixth track on his third album, Songs of Love and Hate, released in 1971.-Summary:...
(CohenLeonard CohenLeonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
) - One Condition
- Hiding Out (2011)
- Care of Cell 44Care of Cell 44"Care of Cell 44" is a single by The Zombies, from their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle. It was featured on Pitchfork Media's 200 Best Songs of the 1960s list, and has since been covered by modern artists including Elliott Smith and Of Montreal.-Content:...
(ArgentRod ArgentRod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
) - Constellation
- 100,000 Fireflies (MerrittStephin MerrittStephin Merritt is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles , best known as the principal singer and songwriter in the band The Magnetic Fields...
) - We Are the Girls
- I Want You In My Life (MooreR. Stevie MooreRobert Steven Moore is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. In addition to having numerous albums released on labels around the world, the prolific Moore has self-released over 400 cassette and CD-R albums since 1968, as well as dozens of home videos, mostly through the R. Stevie Moore...
) - Hiding Out
- You Never KnowWilco (The Album)Wilco is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock group Wilco which was released June 30, 2009. Prior to release, Wilco streamed the album on their website...
(TweedyJeff TweedyJeffrey Scot "Jeff" Tweedy is an American songwriter, musician and leader of the band Wilco. Tweedy joined rockabilly band The Plebes with high school friend Jay Farrar in the early 1980s, but Tweedy's musical interests caused one of Farrar's brothers to quit...
) - Back in Kind
- Andy BreckmanAndy BreckmanAndy Breckman is a television and film writer and a radio personality. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning television series Monk on the USA Network, and is co-host of WFMU radio's long-running conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay...
Man - Wishlist
- A Rose For EmilyOdessey and OracleOdessey and Oracle is the third studio album by British pop rock band The Zombies, released on 19 April 1968 by Date Records. It is among the most critically acclaimed albums of popular music.-Album information:...
(ArgentRod ArgentRod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
) - Snowday
- Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)"Lay Down " was the second single from Melanie's 1970 album Candles in the Rain. The song proved to be her breakthrough hit in the United States, climbing to #6 on the U.S. Billboard charts and #3 on the U.S...
(SafkaMelanie SafkaMelanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk is an American singer-songwriter. Known professionally as simply Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Lay Down ".-Early career:...
) - Hounds of LoveHounds of LoveHounds of Love is a 1985 album by the British singer Kate Bush. It was Bush's fifth studio album, and her second no. 1. It has since been certified Double Platinum in the UK...
(BushKate BushKate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
) - End of Another Day
- Care of Cell 44
- Would You Like To Go: A Curt Boettcher Songbook (scheduled release 2012)
- Would You Like To Go (Boettcher/Alexander)
- I Just Want to Be Your Friend (Boettcher)
- The Island (Boettcher)
- I'm Not Living Here (Boettcher)
- You Know I've Found a Way (Boettcher/MalloryLee MalloryLee Mallory was a singer, songwriter and guitarist who was part of such projects as The Millennium and Sagittarius. His most successful single was a cover of the Phil Ochs/Bob Gibson song "That's The Way It's Going To Be". The song, produced by Curt Boettcher, reached #86 on the charts and was a...
) - Baby Please Don't Go (trad. arr. Boettcher)
- Another Time (Boettcher)
- Along Comes MaryAlong Comes Mary"Along Comes Mary" is a song composed by Tandyn Almer, originally recorded in 1966 by The Association, and released on their debut album And Then... Along Comes the Association. It was their first hit and reached number seven on the U.S. charts. It has been covered by several artists, most notably...
(AlmerTandyn AlmerTandyn Almer is a musician, composer, lyricist, and record producer, most famous for writing the song "Along Comes Mary", the 1966 hit by the Association...
) - Prelude (Rhodes/Edgar)
- The Know-It-All (Boettcher)
- There Is Nothing More To Say (Boettcher/FennellyMichael FennellyMichael Fennelly is an American musician known for his work as a singer and songwriter in the 1960s and 1970s, notably in The Millennium and Crabby Appleton....
/Mallory) - Wearing Levi's (Boettcher)
External links
- Official website
- http://vimeo.com/26947706Trailer for Rik CorderoRik CorderoFredric Joseph "Rik" Cordero is an award winning independent music video, commercial, and film director of Filipino descent. He was born and raised in Queens, New York and is known for applying unusual, non-traditional shooting methods in his work...
's 2011 film Starla], with Beth Sorrentino's recording of Curt BoettcherCurt BoettcherCurt Boettcher was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer from Wisconsin. His career spanned 1964 to 1983...
's "You Know I've Found a Way" - Swingin' Single — two-track single released under the Creative Commons licenseCreative Commons licensesCreative Commons licenses are several copyright licenses that allow the distribution of copyrighted works. The licenses differ by several combinations that condition the terms of distribution. They were initially released on December 16, 2002 by Creative Commons, a U.S...
by Comfort Stand Records - Suddenly, Tammy! Discography and News About Beth Sorrentino
- Interview with Beth Sorrentino from TRND (Germany), June 2006
- Review of We Get There When We Do, by Jonathan Cohen
- We Get There When We Do at AllMusic Guide