Mary Chapin Carpenter’s newest release, Sometimes Just The Sky, is out today following an exclusive debut at Folk Alley, who proclaims, “As an artistic statement, the album is a feat.” A celebration of her acclaimed 30-year recording career, the landmark record features new versions of some of Carpenter’s most beloved songs plus one newly penned track. Album purchase available here.
Already receiving critical acclaim, the album’s first single, “Heroes and Heroines” premiered at Billboard, who praises “…the new rendition features not only different flavors and textures created by the players but also a deeper meaning within the lyrics, which hold up 30 years later.” The Tennessean recently debuted the title track “Sometimes Just The Sky”—the only song Carpenter wrote originally for the album.
In celebration of the release, Carpenter will embark on an extensive nationwide tour this summer including stops at Pittsburgh’s Byham Theatre, Aspen’s Belly Up, Durham’s Carolina Theater and Charleston’s Charleston Music Hall among many others. Tickets are on-sale now. See below for complete details.
Produced by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Paul McCartney, Ray LaMontagne), the 13-track album was recorded entirely live at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios outside Bath, England. Joined by long-time collaborator Duke Levine on guitar and a handpicked band of Johns’ favorite musicians, Carpenter reimagined one song from each of her twelve studio albums along with “Sometimes Just The Sky.” See below for complete track list.
Over the course of her acclaimed career, Carpenter has sold over 14 million records. With hits like “Passionate Kisses” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has won five Grammy Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards, two Academy of Country Music awards and is one of only fifteen female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Most recently, in 2016, Carpenter released The Things That We Are Made Of. Produced by Grammy Award winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton), the album features eleven new songs and was released to overwhelming critical praise. The Associated Press called it, “…an evocative collection of songs,” while The HuffPost declared, “…Carpenter is now at the height of her musical career, painting a compelling, relevant piece of art tinged with mixed feelings of grief and joy, all without preaching or darkening our minds with sadness.”
Previously, in 2014, Carpenter released her acclaimed debut orchestral album, Songs From The Movie. Arranged and co-produced by six-time Grammy winner Vince Mendoza, the record is comprised of ten previously recorded compositions including “Between Here and Gone” and “Come On Come On.” Since its release, Carpenter has performed alongside the New York Philharmonic, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the London Concert Orchestra, the L.A. Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra among many others.
SOMETIMES JUST THE SKY TRACK LIST:
1. Heroes and Heroines
2. What Does It Mean To Travel
3. I Have A Need For Solitude
4. One Small Heart
5. The Moon and St. Christopher
6. Superman
7. Naked To The Eye
8. Rhythm of the Blues
9. This is Love
10. Jericho
11. The Calling
12. This Shirt
13. Sometimes Just The Sky
