1989 Syd Straw – Surprise
Surprise is the debut solo album by the American musician Syd Straw, released in 1989. The first single was “Future 40’s (String of Pearls)”.
Tracks
1 Think Too Hard (Peter Holsapple) 03:07
2 Heart Of Darkness (Anthony Moore; Syd Straw) 04:25
3 Chasing Vapor Trails (His Turn To Cry) (Frank Fuchs; Syd Straw) 04:15
4 Almost Magic (Matthew Auerbach; Syd Straw) 04:15
5 Crazy American (Anthony Moore; Syd Straw) 04:03
6 Hard Times (Stephen Foster) 07:00
7 Future 40’s (String Of Pearls) (Jody Harris; Michael Stipe; Syd Straw) 04:31
8 The Unanswered Question (Peter Blegvad; Syd Straw) 04:33
9 Sphinx (Peter Blegvad; Syd Straw) 06:16
10 Racing To The Ruins (Brook Meggs; Syd Straw) 03:49
11 Golden Dreams (Daniel Lanois; Syd Straw) 02:56
Musicians
1 Think Too Hard
| Bass | Tony Levin |
| Drums | Jerry Marotta |
| Guitar | Eric Ambel |
| Guitar | Jody Harris |
| Acoustic Guitar | Marshall Crenshaw |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
2 Heart Of Darkness
| Bass | Pino Palladino |
| Drums | Jerry Marotta |
| Guitar | Richard Thompson |
| Guitar | Peter Holsapple |
| Acoustic Guitar | Peter Blegvad |
| Organ | Matt Irving |
| Sounds | Anthony Moore |
| Sounds | Syd Straw |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
3 Chasing Vapor Trails (His Turn To Cry)
| Bass | Don Was |
| Drums | Michael Blair |
| Guitar | Marc Ribot |
| Acoustic Guitar | Willie Aron |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
4 Almost Magic
| Guitar | Dave Alvin |
| Acoustic Guitar | John Jorgenson |
| Pedal Steel Guitar | Greg Leisz |
| Piano | Benmont Tench |
| Percussion | Bobbye Hall |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
5 Crazy American
| Chapman Stick | Tony Levin |
| Drums | Jerry Marotta |
| Guitar | Eric Ambel |
| Keyboards | Bernie Worrell |
| Sounds | Anthony Moore |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
6 Hard Times
| Bass | Jorge Calderon |
| Drums | Jim Keltner |
| Acoustic Guitar | Ry Cooder |
| Piano | Van Dyke Parks |
| Harmonica | Tommy Morgan |
| Violin | Sid Page |
| Vocals | John Doe |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
7 Future 40’s (String Of Pearls)
| Bass | Chris Stamey |
| Drums | Anton Fier |
| 12 String Guitar | Peter Blegvad |
| Vocals | Michael Stipe |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
8 The Unanswered Question
| Bass | Chris Stamey |
| Drums | Anton Fier |
| Guitar | Jody Harris |
| 12 String Guitar | Peter Blegvad |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
9 Sphinx
| Bass | Pino Palladino |
| Drums | Neil Conti |
| Guitar | Richard Thompson |
| Acoustic Guitar | Peter Blegvad |
| Organ | Matt Irving |
| Piano | Van Dyke Parks |
| Accordion | Matt Irving |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
10 Racing To The Ruins
| Bass | JD Foster |
| Drums | Davis McLarty |
| Guitar | David Grissom |
| Acoustic Guitar | David Grissom |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
11 Golden Dreams
| Musician | Daniel Lanois |
| Musician | Roger Eno |
| Vocals | Syd Straw |
Liner Notes
Producer – Syd Straw (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Producer – Anthony Moore (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9)
Producer – Van Dyke Parks (Track 6)
Producer – Daniel Lanois (Track 11)
Engineer – Dave Cook (Tracks 1, 5)
Engineer – Julian Wheatley (Tracks 2, 9)
Engineer – Ed Cherney (Track 3)
Engineer – Mark Linett (Track 4)
Engineer – Larry Hirsch (Track 6)
Engineer – Don Christensen (Tracks 7, 8)
Engineer – James Tuttle (Track 10)
Engineer (Mix) – Bob Vogt (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Engineer (Mix) – Paul Du Gré (Track 9)
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Syd Straw
Mixed By – David Tickle (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)
Mixed By – Daniel Lanois, Malcolm Burn, Mark Howard (Tracks 2, 3, 8, 11)
Mixed By – Anthony Moore (Track 9)
Art Direction – Melanie Nissen
Design – Inge Schaap
Photography – Andre Lansel
Mastered At The Mastering Lab
Recorded At Dreamland Recording Studios
Recorded At Strongroom
Recorded At Ocean Way Recording
Recorded At The Sound Factory
Recorded At Living Room Studios
Recorded At The Fire Station
Recorded At Arlyn Studios
Recorded At Brian Eno’s Studio
Phonographic Copyright Virgin Records America
Copyright Virgin Records America