Letters from a Flying Machine is an album by American singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey, released in 2009. Letters from a Flying Machine is a collection of new songs and spoken-word "letters" by Mulvey, the letters written while in flight to his nieces and nephews.
Reception
AllMusic's review of the album wrote of the spoken word sections "Most are painful to listen to, lacking the grace and lighthearted humor that mark his songwriting," but wrote the songs "aren't as heavy-handed, even when they take on weighty subjects."
Track listing All tracks by Peter Mulvey unless noted. "Kids in the Square" (Peter Mulvey, Tim Gearan) – 3:43 "Some People" – 3:17 "Letter from a Flying Machine" [spoken] – 3:02 "Windshield" – 3:42 "What's Keeping Erica?" (Mulvey, Paul Cebar) – 3:08 ". . . Plus the Many Inevitable Fragments" [spoken] – 2:40 "Dynamite Bill" (Mulvey, Gearan) – 3:21 "Shoulderbirds (You Know Me)" (Mulvey, Gearan) – 3:37 "Bears" (spoken) – 3:54 "Mailman" – 3:15 "Vlad the Astrophysicist" [spoken] – 5:40 "On a Wing and a Prayer" (Mulvey, Tim Fagan) – 3:42 "Love Is Here to Stay" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 1:55
Personnel Peter Mulvey – acoustic guitar, vocals, bells Kris Delmhorst – vocals David "Goody" Goodrich – guitar, slide guitar Chris Wagoner – mandolin, violin, viola Randy Sabien – violin Mary Gaines – cello Steve Yarbro – clarinet Nathan Kilen – percussion
Production notes Produced by Dave Chalfant and Peter Mulvey Engineered by Ric Probst and Al Williams Mixed by David Chalfant Mastered by Ian Kennedy Art and design by Peter Nevins
References