Undressing Underwater
Encyclopedia
Undressing Underwater is the debut rock
album by Rusty Anderson
, originally released on Anderson's own Oxide Records in late 2003, and re-released on September 13, 2005 through Surfdog Records
.
, Sunset Sound and Henson Studios. The album was self-produced by Anderson, along with David Kahne
, Mudrock and Parthenon Huxley.
The title of the album was picked by Anderson from a boyscout handbook of the early sixties that listed various things to do underwater, including getting undressed.
The leading track "Hurt Myself" features most of the touring Paul McCartney
band, Sir Paul on bass and backing vocals, Abe Laboriel Jr.
on drums, David Kahne
on keyboards and production duties, and Wix Wickens adding additional keyboards.
Anderson stated in an interview that the majority of the recordings "were done in between touring" with Paul McCartney. In that same interview, Anderson mentions that "the songs are mostly about facing one's demons and attempting to bottle them".
However, reviewers noted that the album did not live up to the greatness that was expected, as stated by a reviewer: "The material itself seems somewhat limited... most of them don't seem to reverberate very far". Reviewer Meredith Williams stated that Rusty Anderson "provides the oh-so-common rock-pop appeal of a catchy chorus, with guitar solos echoing in the background — but not always effectively".
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
album by Rusty Anderson
Rusty Anderson
Rusty Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Rusty Anderson grew up in La Habra, California...
, originally released on Anderson's own Oxide Records in late 2003, and re-released on September 13, 2005 through Surfdog Records
Surfdog Records
Surfdog Records is a record label and music publishing company based in Encinitas, California, The United States of America with close ties to the local music and surfing communities. Its roster is diverse and includes artists of the rock, punk, swing, rockabilly, reggae, lounge and alternative...
.
Background
Undressing Underwater was recorded at Oxide Studios in Southern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Sunset Sound and Henson Studios. The album was self-produced by Anderson, along with David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
, Mudrock and Parthenon Huxley.
The title of the album was picked by Anderson from a boyscout handbook of the early sixties that listed various things to do underwater, including getting undressed.
The leading track "Hurt Myself" features most of the touring Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
band, Sir Paul on bass and backing vocals, Abe Laboriel Jr.
Abe Laboriel Jr.
Abe Laboriel Jr. is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and brother of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel....
on drums, David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
on keyboards and production duties, and Wix Wickens adding additional keyboards.
Anderson stated in an interview that the majority of the recordings "were done in between touring" with Paul McCartney. In that same interview, Anderson mentions that "the songs are mostly about facing one's demons and attempting to bottle them".
Track listing
- "Hurt Myself" – 3:21
- "Devil’s Spaceship" – 4:36
- "Electric Trains" – 4:20
- "Damaged Goods" – 4:29
- "Coming Down To Earth" – 4:10
- "Ol’ Sparky" – 4:04
- "Catbox Beach" – 4:28
- "ishmael" -3:45
- "Sentimental Chaos" – 4:14
- "Everybody Deserves An A in This Country" – 3:30
Reception
The reception of Undressing Underwater was generally positive. Gary Glauber of PopMatters stated that the album was "an impressive debut from a startlingly talented musician who has taken a lot of time to get things right". Some reviewers praised Anderson for the number of big-ticket guest stars on the album, from McCartney to Parthenon Huxley. Anderson’s guitar playing ability, experimental views to rock music, and striving to create new combinations of music were mentioned among the positives of the album.However, reviewers noted that the album did not live up to the greatness that was expected, as stated by a reviewer: "The material itself seems somewhat limited... most of them don't seem to reverberate very far". Reviewer Meredith Williams stated that Rusty Anderson "provides the oh-so-common rock-pop appeal of a catchy chorus, with guitar solos echoing in the background — but not always effectively".
Personnel
- Rusty Anderson - Organ, Guitars, Bass, Strings, Tambourine, Vocals, Producer, Engineer, Vibraphone, Cover Art Concept
- Laura Anne - Photography
- Abe Baruck - Drums
- Gregg Bernstein - Design
- Karl BrownAutomatic PilotAutomatic Pilot was a San Francisco, California band. Created in 1980 by members of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, they were described by The Advocate as "a non-official offshoot" of SFGMC along with three official subgroups...
- Piano, Vocals (bckgr) - Paul Bushnell - Bass
- Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
- Percussion - Greg Collins - Mixing
- Scot CooganScot CooganScot Coogan is an American session musician and touring drummer.-Career:Coogan has worked with groups such as Violets Demise, Ednaswap, Parade of Losers, Annetenna, Sinéad O'Connor, Peter Yorn, Vanilla Ice, and Otep...
- Drums - Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
- Drums - Paul DuGre - Engineer
- Ted Falcon - Violin
- Evan Frankfort - Mixing
- Parthenon HuxleyParthenon HuxleyParthenon Huxley is an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer who is known for his solo albums and for his involvement in ELO Part II and The Orchestra, both of which are latter-day offshoots of the 1970s-80s orchestral rock band Electric Light Orchestra...
- Vocals, Producer - David KahneDavid KahneDavid Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
- Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Drum Programming - Anna Kalinka - Design
- John Krovoza - Cello
- Abe Laboriel Jr.Abe Laboriel Jr.Abe Laboriel Jr. is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and brother of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel....
- Drums - Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
- Bass, Guitar (Electric), Vocals - Ofer Moses - Cover Art Concept
- Gene Nash - Engineer
- Clif Norrell - Engineer
- Brian RayBrian RayBrian Thomas Ray is an American session musician, musical director, guitarist and singer–songwriter. He is best known for his work as a guitarist and bassist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Brian Ray grew up...
- Acoustic Guitar - Dusty Rocherolle - Drums
- Wayne Rodriguez - Drum Programming
- Ralf Strathmann - Photography
- Louie Teran - Mastering
- Gordon Townsend - Drums
- Bob Wartenbee - Engineer
- Randy Wine - Engineer, Mixing