American Gothic

by David Ackles

American Gothic cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: July 1972
  • Label: Elektra
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 43:58
  • Community rating: 3.88/5 from 7 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Produced by Bernie Taupin, this highly ambitious project saw the American singer-songwriter utilizing the London Symphony Orchestra to frame his uniquely theatrical compositions. Drawing heavily from vaudeville, Aaron Copland-style Americana, and cinematic show tunes, the dense lyrical narratives explore the dark underbelly and forgotten corners of American life. While commercially disastrous at the time, it is retrospectively hailed as a brilliant, idiosyncratic triumph of orchestral pop.

Genres

Descriptors: melodic, orchestral, storytelling, theatrical, piano, literary

Tracklist

  1. American Gothic (3:22)
  2. Love's Enough (3:19)
  3. Ballad of the Ship of State (4:21)
  4. One Night Stand (2:53)
  5. Oh, California! (2:41)
  6. Another Friday Night (4:32)
  7. Family Band (2:38)
  8. Midnight Carousel (3:43)
  9. Waiting for the Moving Van (3:39)
  10. Blues for Billy Whitecloud (2:41)
  11. Montana Song (10:04)

Credits

  • F.C.F. - primary artist
  • Mauro Farina - vocals [uncredited], written-by
  • Giuliano Crivellente - written-by

More from David Ackles: full discography