The Painter (Paul Anka album) explained

The Painter is a 1976 album by Paul Anka produced by Denny Diante and arranged by Michel Colombier, and featuring Anka's "West Coast" sound. The LP cover was notable for being a portrait of Anka by Andy Warhol,^[1] and was United Artists first release to employ the new Sansui Electric QS Regular Matrix system for Quadraphonic sound and 4-channel pressing technology.^[2] The album reached number 16 on the Canadian charts, and 85 on the US charts.^[3]

Singles included "Happier", written by Anka, which reached No. 46 on the Canadian charts, and No. 60 on the US charts.^[4]

Track listing

All tracks written by Paul Anka, except where indicated.

Personnel

• Paul Anka – vocals
• Michel Colombier – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements and conductor (3-10)
• John Harris – keyboards
• Larry Muhoberac – keyboards
• Joe Sample – keyboards
• Ronald Feuer – organ
• Larry Carlton – guitars
• Jay Graydon – guitars
• Dean Parks – guitars
• Lee Ritenour – guitars
• Mike Stewart – guitars
• Henry Davis – bass
• Wilton Felder – bass
• Jim Gordon – drums
• Ed Greene – drums
• Jim Clayton – percussion
• Tom Roady – percussion
• Jim Horn – saxophones
• John Ellis – oboe
• Herb Alpert – trumpet solo (6)
• Gayle Levant – harp
• Jimmie Haskell – arrangements and conductor (1)
• Don Costa – arrangements and conductor (11)
• Edgar Lustgarden – concertmaster
• Sid Sharp – concertmaster
• Ginger Blake – backing vocals
• Kim Carnes – backing vocals
• Odia Coates – backing vocals
• Pat Henderson – backing vocals
• Julia Tillman – backing vocals
• Maxine Willard – backing vocals

Production

• Denny Diante – producer
• Ron Malo – engineer
• Jerry Hudgins – additional engineer
• Glenn Berger – assistant engineer
• Artisan Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California) – mastering location
• Ria Lewerke – art direction, design
• Andy Warhol – cover painting
• Moshe Brakha – photography

Notes and References

1. Stereo Review – Volume 38 – Page 92 1977 "Performance: Glossy Recording: Excellent Here is Paul Anka in one of his glossier egotrip albums — cover by Warhol, ... (Yes, in Every Way); a melancholy reflection on The Painter, one of those dedicated souls who will never live to enjoy the ...
2. Billboard – 16 Oct 1976 Vol. 88, No. 42 "Paul Anka's Album First QS From UA LOS ANGELES-Uniled Artists has released Paul Anka's latest album "The Painter," in Sansui QS quad, marking the label's initial venture inlo 4-channel pressings."
3. Web site: RPM Top 100 Albums - February 19, 1977.
4. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - January 15, 1977.