Pretty Little Head Explained

Pretty Little Head
Type:	studio
Artist:	Nellie McKay
Cover:	Pretty Little Head (album).jpg
Released:	October 31, 2006
Recorded:	2005
Genre:	Pop, Rock
Label:	Hungry Mouse, SpinArt Records, Rykodisc Records (2006-2007) Sony Records (2008-)
Producer:	Robin Pappas/Nellie McKay
Prev Title:	Get Away from Me
Prev Year:	2004
Next Title:	Obligatory Villagers
Next Year:	2007

Pretty Little Head is the second album by singer Nellie McKay. It was released October 31, 2006, on Nellie's own Hungry Mouse label. It features duets with Cyndi Lauper ("Beecharmer") and k.d. lang ("We Had It Right"). Other songs include "Columbia Is Bleeding", "Cupcake" ("...about gay marriage..."), and "The Big One" ("...about a tenant's rights activist...").

Pretty Little Head was originally set to be released October 18, 2005. The release date was subsequently delayed until December 27, 2005 and finally January 3, 2006.

However, McKay announced on December 19, 2005, that she had left Columbia/Sony Records after a dispute over the length of the upcoming album.^[1] Just over two weeks following this announcement, a New York Times article surfaced stating McKay said she had been dropped by Columbia Records.^[2]

The album was being marketed and manufactured on the SpinArt Records label until the label's bankruptcy in 2007. Pretty Little Head is now being distributed by Sony in its original, 23-track 2-CD version, effectively bringing the album back to Columbia.

Track listing

Columbia's version

1. "Cupcake" (4:44)
2. "Pink Chandelier" (1:38)
3. "There You Are in Me" (2:46)
4. "The Big One" (4:02)
5. "G.E.S." (1:42)
6. "I Will Be There" (2:55)
7. "The Down Low" (3:36)
8. "Long & Lazy River" (3:47)
9. "Beecharmer" featuring Cyndi Lauper (4:02)
10. "Real Life" (2:49)
11. "I Am Nothing" (1:47)
12. "we had it right" featuring k.d. lang (2:20)
13. "Columbia Is Bleeding" (3:41)
14. "GLADD" (3:06)
15. "Happy Flower" (2:27)
16. "Tipperary" (2:56)

spinArt/Hungry Mouse version

Disc One

1. "Cupcake" (4:44)
2. "Pink Chandelier" (1:38)
3. "There You Are in Me" (2:46)
4. "Yodel" (1:36)
5. "The Big One" (4:02)
6. "G.E.S." (1:42)
7. "I Will Be There" (2:55)
8. "The Down Low" (3:36)
9. "Long & Lazy River" (3:47)
10. "I Am Nothing" (1:47)
11. "Beecharmer" featuring Cyndi Lauper (4:02)
12. "Swept Away" (1:53)

Disc Two

1. "Real Life" (2:49)
2. "Tipperary" (2:56)
3. "Gladd" (3:06)
4. "Food" (3:00)
5. "We Had It Right" featuring k.d. lang (2:20)
6. "Columbia Is Bleeding" (3:41)
7. "Lali Est Paresseux" (2:33)
8. "Happy Flower" (2:27)
9. "Mama & Me" (4:11)
10. "Pounce" (0:56)
11. "Old Enough" (1:45)

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Billboard Heatseeker Albums	10
Billboard Independent Albums	24

Notes and References

1. Web site: Singer McKay Leaves Sony in Album Dispute. Los Angeles Times. 20 December 2005.
2. News: Songwriter Says Columbia Dropped Her in Fight over Album. The New York Times. 3 January 2006. Light. Alan.