Studio Albums
(Click here for compilation albums)
YOU ASKED FOR IT
(Eclectus Records/Swing City Productions, 2022; paper sleeve CD)
Laura’s fourth studio LP features a selection of familiar standards requested by her fans. She opted to record her backing band live in the studio give the album the feel of an informal jam session. Laura’s most requested songs “Cry Me A River” and “Over The Rainbow” are featured, as are more unusual recordings such as her dramatic reworking of the James Bond track “Goldfinger.” 8 of the 12 tracks feature the original introductory verses that are in the original sheet music but rarely performed.
Released in Japan as a 12-song mini-LP CD with a foldout poster suitable for framing, liner notes from Laura, full song lyrics, and a warm, vinyl-like remaster from Grammy-nominated engineer Jessica Thompson. 12-song digital edition also available in Japan and South Korea. Released as an 11-song version in the US and internationally on digital and streaming minus Track 6 “As Time Goes By.”
1. Cry Me A River (Arthur Hamilton) (4:07)
2. All The Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) (4:37)*
3. Goldfinger (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley, John Barry) (3:10)
4. Someone To Watch Over Me (Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin) (5:16)*
5. Scotch And Soda (Dave Guard) (3:34)
6. As Time Goes By (Herman Hupfeld) (4:50)* †
7. Isn’t it Romantic? (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) (5:13)*
8. I Can’t Get Started (Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke) (4:44)*
9. What’ll I Do? (Irving Berlin) (3:16)*
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10. Once Upon A Time (Lee Adams, Charles Strouse) (4:37)
11. Love Is Here To Stay (Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin) (7:14)*
12. Over The Rainbow (E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen) (2:41)*
* Includes original introductory verses
† Bonus track for Japan and South Korea
All songs arranged by Brian Piper
Produced by Brian Piper and Laura Ainsworth
Personnel: Laura Ainsworth (v), Brian Piper (p), Rodney Booth (tpt, flh), Chris McGuire (ts), Noel Johnston (g), Young Heo (b), Steve Barnes (ds)
Recorded Crystal Clear Studios and Golden Beetle Studios, Dallas TX [September 2021–January 2022]
Engineers: Kent Stump, Tyler Norris, Robert Bogart
Mastered by Jessica Thompson
Album Layout: Urban Zotel, Bob Gerholdt
Photography: Alan Mercer
Laura’s hair and makeup: Bonnie Swan
Cover image taken in the home of Wyatt Magnum and Lisa Vachon
Consultation: Jeremy Brown
Compilation produced by David Gasten for Swing City Productions
NEW VINTAGE
(Eclectus Records, 2017)
On her multiple award-winning third album, Laura takes a diversion to pay tribute to the underground Vintage Movement. The songs touch on themes such as tiki culture, the Mad Men TV series, swing dance, and nostalgia for more elegant times, while introducing even more rare songs and one self-penned original ("The Man I Love Is Gone.")
1. That’s How I Got My Start (Loesser/Schertzinger) (2:37)
2. I’ll Take Romance (Hammerstein/Oakland) (2:22)
3. Where Did the Magic Go? (Erickson/Weed) (4:42)
4. An Occasional Man (Blane/Martin) (2:48)
5. Wasting My Love On You (Warren/Leslie) (4:51)
6. Nevertheless (I’m In Love With You) (Ruby/Kalmar) (3:59)
7. A Little Jive Is Good For You (Yaw) (3:48)
8. The Man I Love is Gone (Ainsworth/Gagliardi) (4:21)
9. All About You (Fine) (3:11) |
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10. Nothing Can Replace a Man (Fain/Shapiro) (2:58)
11. It’s a Nuisance Having You Around (Mercer/DePaul) (2:53)
12. Long Ago and Far Away (Kern/Gershwin) / You Stepped Out of a Dream (Kahn/Brown) (Medley) (3:24)
13. I Once Knew a Woman (performed as “I Once Knew a Fella”) (Silverstein) (3:38)
Personnel: Laura Ainsworth (v, bgv), Brian Piper (p, kb, v on 7), John Adams (b), Steve Barnes (dms), Chris McGuire (ts, cl), Rodney Booth (tpt), Pete Brewer (fl), Dana Sudborough (vib)
Produced and arranged by Brian Piper
Engineer: Kent Stump
Recorded at Crystal Clear Studios, Dallas
NECESSARY EVIL
(Eclectus Records, 2013)
"A magnificent interpreter of song...Laura Ainsworth has not only met the incredible standard set by her debut recording, but surpassed it ..."
- Eric Harabadian, Jazz Inside magazine
Laura sings of the high and lows of love on her second album, inspired by her favorite movie genre, film noir. Diving deeper into the precedent introduced on Keep It to Yourself Laura presents even rarer gems from the back pages of the Great American Songbook, along with originals in the Porter/Gershwin/Mercer style.
1. Necessary Evil (Evans) (4:06)
2. One More Time (DeSylva/Brown/Henderson) (3:20)
3. The Gentleman is a Dope (Rodgers/Hammerstein) (4:17)
4. Just Give Me a Man (Scott/Greene) (3:18)
5. Love is a Dangerous Thing (Kelley/Friedman) (3:23)
6. My Foolish Heart (Young/Washington) (4:34)
7. The Lies of Handsome Men (Blumenthal) (4:37)
8. Get Out and Get Under the Moon (Shay/Tobias/Jerome) (3:22)
9. Out of This World (Arlen/Mercer) (5:21)
10. Hooray For Love (Arlen/Robin) (3:18)
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11. I’d Give a Dollar For a Dime (Blake/Razaf/Finke) (3:28)
12. Last Train to Mercerville (Kelley) (4:24)
Personnel: Laura Ainsworth (v, bgv), Brian Piper (p, kb, bgv), John Adams (b), Steve Barnes (dms), Chris McGuire (ts on 1, 4, 10, 12, cl on 5, 8), Rodney Booth (tpt on 2, 11), Steve Story (vln on 6), Pete Brewer (fl on 9)
Horn section on 1 and 12: Jay Sounder, Keith Jourdan, Rodney Booth, Peter Calgett (tpt); Carl Murr, Greg Waits, Simon Willate, Eric Swanson (tb); Randy Lee, Jim Pritchard (as); Chris McGuire , Clay Pritchard (ts); Pete Brewer (bar)
Produced and arranged by Brian Piper
Engineer: Kent Stump
Recorded at Crystal Clear Studios, Dallas
Click here to view the one-sheet with more album info.
Click here to read Laura's thoughts on each song on Necessary Evil.
KEEP IT TO YOURSELF
(Eclectus Records, 2011)
Laura’s debut that set the precedent for her recording career. It introduced her trademark mix of fresh takes on standards, revitalized obscurities and Songbook-worthy contemporary songs, two of which bookend the album and transition smoothly from track 12 back to track 1, creating an infinite loop that invites repeated listens.
1. Keep It to Yourself (Rigby/Demain) (3:58)
2. While the Music Plays On (Fein/Mills/Heim) (3:10)
3. April Fooled Me (Fields/Kern) (1:56)
4. Dream a Little Dream of Me (Schwandt/Kahn/Andre) (3:32)
5. He’s So Unusual (Sherman/Lewis/Silver) (3:15)
6. Midnight Sun (Burke/Hampton/Mercer) (4:43)
7. Le Vie En Rose (Mack/Louiguy/Piaf) (2:56)
8. That’s the Kind of Guy I Dream Of (Carter/Frigo/Hills) (2:52)
9. Love For Sale (Porter) (4:29)
10. Personality (Van Heusen/Burke) (3:28)
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11. Skylark (Mercer/Carmichael) (2:18)
12. Fantastic Planet of Love (Crenshaw) (4:14)
Personnel: Laura Ainsworth (voc, bgv), Brian Piper (p, kb, bgv), John Adams (b), Mike Drake (dms), Chris McGuire (ts, cl), Milo Deering (vln), Noel Johnston (g on 1-4, 6-12), Chris DeRose-Chiffolo (g on 5)
Produced and arranged by Brian Piper
Engineer: Kent Stump
Recorded at Crystal Clear Studios, Dallas
For details on each song on the CD, click here!
For a one-sheet with info and bio, click here!
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