Hello Starling

Hello Starling is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Ritter. It was Ritter's second album release nationally on the label Signature Sounds. It was originally released on September 9, 2003, a two-disc deluxe edition was re-issued on January 17, 2010

Hello Starling
Studio album by Josh Ritter
Released	September 9, 2003 January 17, 2010 (Deluxe Edition)
Recorded	February 17, 2003 – March 3, 2003, at Black Box Studios, La Dionnaie, France
Genre	Folk rock Americana
Length	43:09
Label	Signature Sounds (2003) Stetanta (2003) Independent/RMG (2003) V2 (2005)
Producer	David Odlum
Josh Ritter chronology
Come & Find Me EP (2002) Hello Starling (2003) 4 Songs Live EP (2005)
Singles from Hello Starling
"Hello Starling (Snow Is Gone)" Released: May 31, 2004

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Guardian	[2]
Now	[3]
Pitchfork	8.3/10[4]
Uncut	[5]

As Ritter's previous albums have done, Hello Starling was compared to other Americana greats such as Woody Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt,^[4] Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen.^[2] His voice on the album was described as smooth with sleepy, rough edges.^[6] George Graham praised the lyrics and vocal delivery.^[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Josh Ritter.

1. "Bright Smile" – 3:01
2. "Kathleen" – 4:08
3. "You Don't Make It Easy Babe" – 2:32
4. "Man Burning" – 2:47
5. "Rainslicker" – 4:13
6. "Wings" – 4:07
7. "California" – 3:10
8. "Snow Is Gone" – 4:03
9. "Bone of Song" – 5:30
10. "Baby That's Not All" – 5:59
11. "The Bad Actress" – 3:39

Credits

Personnel

• Josh Ritter – voice, guitar, violin
• Zack Hickman – bass, guitar, mandolin
• David Hingerty – drums
• Sam Kassirer – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, piano, accordion
• David Odlum – guitar, mandolin, vocals
• Darius Zelkha – drums on "California", vocals

Production

• Mixed by David Odlum
• Mastering by Jonathan Wyner
• Artwork by Ed Braverman

Deluxe Edition

Hello Starling was reissued on January 17, 2010, as a two-disc Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes the complete original studio album and a second bonus disc. The bonus disc contains solo acoustic versions of all the original tracks (re-recorded by Ritter in Nashville of June 2008) as well as four live bonus tracks, an introduction by Dennis Lehane, and a full color lyric and photo booklet with never-before-seen photos.^[8]

Track listing of Deluxe Edition (Bonus CD)

1. "Bright Smile (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:14
2. "Kathleen (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:10
3. "You Don't Make It Easy Babe (Solo Acoustic)" – 2:51
4. "Man Burning (Solo Acoustic)" – 2:50
5. "Rainslicker (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:09
6. "Wings (Solo Acoustic)" – 4:33
7. "California (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:20
8. "Snow Is Gone (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:40
9. "Bone of Song (Solo Acoustic)" – 5:14
10. "Baby That's Not All (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:21
11. "The Bad Actress (Solo Acoustic)" – 3:19
12. "Kathleen (Live)" – 4:35
13. "Golden Age of Radio (Live)" – 4:40
14. "You Don't Make It Easy Babe (Live)" – 3:38
15. "Snow is Gone (Live)" – 4:17