The Scrolls
Encyclopedia
Works Progress Administration, formerly known under the working title The Scrolls, is an American
supergroup
led by Sean Watkins
, Glen Phillips
, and Luke Bulla. They recorded their debut album with Benmont Tench
(piano
), Sara Watkins
(fiddle
), Greg Leisz
(various instruments), Pete Thomas
(drums
), and Davey Faragher
(bass
). These members gained notoriety in other musical projects such as Nickel Creek
, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Fiction Family
, and Toad the Wet Sprocket
.
The project started in September 2007, when W.P.A began to record songs for an upcoming album release. In Sara Watkins
' December 2007 MySpace
blog, she said "we're hoping to nearly (finish) the record in the next few days. We're tracking live and trying to get as much down at one time as possible. It is a very satisfying way to record".
Their self-titled released debuted on August 28, 2009. Some of the tracks from the self titled debut include the Phillips-penned tracks "Rise Up", "You Will Always Have My Love", and "End This Now", as well as a Luke Bulla/Glen Phillips collaboration entitled "Cry For You." "Not Sure", one of three Sean Watkins track that is featured, was originally released on the Fiction Family
album. The Works Progress Administration version features Luke Bulla giving a rich voice to the melody as well as the fuller orchestration.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
led by Sean Watkins
Sean Watkins
Sean Charles Watkins is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is a member of the contemporary folk band Nickel Creek, the duo Fiction Family and the supergroup Works Progress Administration.-Nickel Creek:...
, Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.-Personal life:...
, and Luke Bulla. They recorded their debut album with Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
(piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), Sara Watkins
Sara Watkins
Sara Ullrika Watkins is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1989 as the fiddler of the progressive bluegrass group Nickel Creek, which consisted of herself, her elder brother Sean, and mandolinist Chris Thile. As a band, they are notable for three wide-released albums:...
(fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
), Greg Leisz
Greg Leisz
Greg Leisz is an American multi-instrumentalist, playing lap and pedal steel guitars, guitar, mandolin, and bass.- Biography :Leisz was influenced early on by the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, especially pedal steel player "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow...
(various instruments), Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
(drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), and Davey Faragher
Davey Faragher
Davey Faragher is an American bass guitarist from Redlands, California. Faragher's career took off and received critical notice as a founding member of the nineties band, Cracker, and his following work with The Imposters, the backing band for Elvis Costello since 2001.Faragher is an accomplished...
(bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
). These members gained notoriety in other musical projects such as Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek was an American progressive acoustic music trio consisting of Chris Thile , Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins . The band was founded in 1989 and released 6 albums between 1993 and 2006...
, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Fiction Family
Fiction Family
Fiction Family is a musical collaboration between Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman and Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins. The duo's self-titled, full-length album was released on January 20, 2009....
, and Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band enjoyed chart success in the 1990s with the singles "Walk on the Ocean," "All I Want,"...
.
The project started in September 2007, when W.P.A began to record songs for an upcoming album release. In Sara Watkins
Sara Watkins
Sara Ullrika Watkins is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1989 as the fiddler of the progressive bluegrass group Nickel Creek, which consisted of herself, her elder brother Sean, and mandolinist Chris Thile. As a band, they are notable for three wide-released albums:...
' December 2007 MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
blog, she said "we're hoping to nearly (finish) the record in the next few days. We're tracking live and trying to get as much down at one time as possible. It is a very satisfying way to record".
Their self-titled released debuted on August 28, 2009. Some of the tracks from the self titled debut include the Phillips-penned tracks "Rise Up", "You Will Always Have My Love", and "End This Now", as well as a Luke Bulla/Glen Phillips collaboration entitled "Cry For You." "Not Sure", one of three Sean Watkins track that is featured, was originally released on the Fiction Family
Fiction Family
Fiction Family is a musical collaboration between Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman and Nickel Creek guitarist Sean Watkins. The duo's self-titled, full-length album was released on January 20, 2009....
album. The Works Progress Administration version features Luke Bulla giving a rich voice to the melody as well as the fuller orchestration.
Discography
WPA – by Works Progress Administration – Released August 28, 2009- "Always Have My Love" 04:12 – G. Phillips
- "Good As Ever" 03:08 – G. Phillips
- "Cry For You" 04:02 – L. Bulla and G. Phillips
- "Rise Up" 04:05 – G. Phillips
- "Paralyzed" 02:29 – Sean Watkins
- "Remember Well" 04:55 - L. Bulla
- "End This Now" 03:08 – G. Phillips
- "Already Gone" 03:48 – Sean Watkins
- "I Go To Sleep" 03:16 – Ray Davies
- "Not Sure" 03:07 – Sean Watkins
- "A Wedding or a Wake" 02:24 – G. Phillips
- "The Price" 04:23 – B. Tench
External links
- Works Progress Administration
- Works Progress Administration collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive