Personnel: Jimmy Webb (vocals, piano, keyboards, tambourine); Beth Nielsen Chapman (guitar, background vocals); Dean Parks, Lisle Leete, Jeffrey Mironov (guitar); Elena Barere, Katherine Livolsi Stern (violin); Vincent Lionti (viola); Jeanne LeBlanc (cello); Rob Mathes (strings); Robin Siegel (conch shell, French horn); William Galison (harmonica); Jim Hynes (trumpet, flugelhorn); David Paich (keyboard); Matthew McCauley (synthesizer); Lee Sklar, Don Sanbeg (bass guitar); Jay Dittamo, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Chris Irwin (percussion); Susan Webb (background vocals).
While Jimmy Webb is a songwriter of the highest order, having penned countless pop/country classics--including "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"--he has never been known as a performer. This, as it turns out, is for good reason, since Webb is a decent pianist, but a rather sub-par singer. For better or worse, 2005's TWILIGHT OF THE RENEGADES features both Webb's piano playing and singing, resulting in an album that presents compelling songs, solid instrumental work, and lackluster vocals. Although diehard fans may be interested in this disc, listeners looking for the best renditions of Webb's songs should seek out late-1960s recordings by Glen Campbell and Richard Harris, two of his finest interpreters.
What the critics say...
Rolling Stone (No. 984, p.154) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...The album has the haunting autumnal tone of a midlife progress report... Some of the most recent copyrights here are among the most impressive..."
