Beth Sorrentino

In 2010, Beth discovered the ’60s sunshine pop of the late Curt Boettcher when she first heard the magical 1968 Millennium album Begin. She proposed recording a collection of songs associated with Boettcher, with most written or co-written by him. She enlisted her friend and mentor, producer Sean Slade, who had worked with suddenly, tammy! in the 1990s (Slade’s production credits include RadioheadPixiesHoleThe Mighty Mighty BosstonesJuliana Hatfield, Lou ReedWeezer, Warren Zevon, and others). Sorrentino and Slade crafted an approach that did not attempt to replicate the Boettcher sound, but instead represented a brilliantly idiosyncratic take on the artist’s legacy. The arrangements pay homage to Curt’s genius for vocal harmony, with Sorrentino’s sweet soprano providing all lead and backing voices. Tandyn Almer, who wrote “Along Comes Mary,” called Beth’s version “one of the best I’ve heard. Love her phrasing.” The album showcases Sorrentino’s deft keyboard work on a Mason & Hamlin 1904 upright piano, Mellotron, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B3, and Fender Rhodes.