Theatre of the Unheard
Theatre of the Unheard is the third solo album by American country musician Darrell Scott, released in 2003 by the Full Light label.
Background and recording
While attending Tufts University in the 1980s, Scott produced a demo tape that made its way to Charles Koppelman of SBK Records and, eventually, Scott's first record contract. In 1991, under the direction of producer Norbert Putnam in Memphis, Tennessee, Scott recorded what would have been his debut studio album of 12 songs. The record label, not hearing any hits on the record, chose not to release it, which also prohibited Scott from recording any of the songs on the album for the next seven years.12 years later, having relocated to Nashville, established himself as a session musician, and released two other solo albums, Scott oversaw the re-recording of the material from the unreleased album in his own living room, releasing it as Theatre of the Unheard.
Critical reception
In his review for AllMusic, Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., writes, "It's easy to lump Darrell Scott with other singer/songwriters. His songs certainly give the impression that he's writing out of personal experience, but his tendency to paint with large brush strokes gives his material universal appeal."David Whiteis of The Chicago Reader writes, "His recent Theatre of the Unheard revisits a set of tunes he originally cut 12 years ago for a never-released album. In the interim Scott has changed his musical approach, abandoning the melange of honky-tonk tropes, rock rhythms, and jazz colorings on his early recordings for straight-ahead country-rock bombast."
In early 2005, the album was awarded Album of the Year in the 4th Annual Independent Music Awards.
Musicians
- Darrell Scott – Accordion, Banjo, Banjolin, Bouzouki, Dobro, 12 String Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Baritone Acoustic Guitar, electric guitar, Electric Baritone Guitar, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Percussion, piano, Electric Piano, 2nd Solo, Solo, Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Weissenborn Slide
- Kathy Chiavola – Voice
- Jeff Coffin – Flute, Baritone Sax, Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax
- Dan Dugmore – Guitar, Electric guitar, Electric Rhythm Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel, Solo, 1st & 3rd Solo
- Stuart Duncan – Fiddle
- Jim Hoke – Horn
- Kenny Malone – Drums, Percussion, Tambourine, Spoken Word, The Beast
- Jane Salters – Spoken Word
- Jonell Mosser – Voice of Sally
- Steve Nathan – Organ
- Dirk Powell – Accordion, Fiddle, Yells
- Suzy Ragsdale – Voice, Voice of Myrrah
- John Cowan – Voice
- Rodney Crowell – Voice
- Wayne Scott – Spoken Word Phone Message
- Danny Thompson – Double Bass, Acoustic Bass, Vocal "Zock"
- Kris Wilkinson – Viola
- Andrea Zonn – Violin
- John Catchings – Cello
Production
- Darrell Scott – Producer, Audio Production, Engineer, Mixing, Liner Notes, Photography
- Richard Dodd – Mastering
- Miles Wilkinson – Audio Engineer, Engineer, Mixing
- Stacy Zaferes – Photography
- Sherie René Scott – Photography
- Señor McGuire – Photography
- Maude Gilman Clapham – Art Direction, Design
- Phil Carroll – Settings