''The Wonder'' is the sixth studio album by

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

artist

Tom Verlaine Tom Verlaine (born Thomas Miller, December 13, 1949) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the New York City rock band Television. Biography Verlaine was born Thomas Miller in Denville, New Jersey and ...

. It was released in 1990 on

Fontana Records Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label. History Fontana started in the 1950s as a subs ...

. The album was engineered by Mario Salvati and mixed by Tom Verlaine and Fred Smith except side 1 tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 and side 2 track 1 mixed by

Julian Mendelsohn Julian Mendelsohn is an Australian record producer, audio engineer and mixer. Early life After completing school in Australia, Mendelsohn moved to the United Kingdom. He secured his first job in 1974 at Milner Sound Fulham Rd. Chelsea, run b ...

Recording

Recorded after a three year break, ''The Wonder'' featured Verlaine using a more affected singing style, described by Allmusic’s David Cleary as "an oily manner...suggesting a smarmy

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...

" (Ferry was the lead singer of Roxy Music). Verlaine also used the guitarist of The Church

Marty Willson-Piper Marty Willson-Piper (born 7 May 1958) is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter best known as a former long-time member of the Australian psychedelic rock band The Church. He joined in 1980 after seeing an early gig where they were perform ...

uncredited to fill out the guitar sound on the album. Willson-Piper recalls playing on "Stalingrad" with

Jay Dee Daugherty Jay Dee Daugherty (born March 22, 1952) is an American drummer and songwriter most known for his work with Patti Smith. As a member of the Patti Smith Group, he has been nominated twice to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Biography Moving to N ...

, who also wasn't credited.

Track listing

All songs written by Tom Verlaine

Side one

# "Kaleidescopin'" - 3:27 # "August" - 5:22 # "Ancient Egypt" - 4:32 # "Shimmer" - 3:36 # "Stalingrad" - 3:25

Side two

# "Pillow" - 4:27 # "Storm" - 2:37 # "5 Hours from Calais" - 4:35 # "Cooleridge" - 4:17 # "Prayer" - 3:55

Personnel

*Tom Verlaine - guitars, solos and vocals *

Jimmy Ripp Jimmy Rippetoe (born 1956), better known by his stage name Jimmy Rip, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer, who is known for his work with Jerry Lee Lewis, Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Paul Collins & The Beat, Michael Monroe ...

- guitars * Fred Smith - bass *

Andy Newmark Andrew Newmark (born July 14, 1950)

- drums *

Bruce Brody Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album ''Horses''. Called the "punk poet ...

- keyboards ;Technical *Mario Salvati - engineer

References

http://www.thewonder.co.uk/wonder.htm 1990 albums Tom Verlaine albums Fontana Records albums {{1990s-punk-album-stub