Woke on a Whaleheart is the first record released by Bill Callahan under his own name instead of his nom de plume Smog. It was released by Drag City on April 24, 2007, and released a week earlier in Callahan's home state of Texas.[6] A single, "Diamond Dancer," preceded the release of the album on March 20, 2007.

Woke on a Whaleheart
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 24, 2007
RecordedNovember 2006
GenreLo-fi
Length40:29
LabelDrag City
ProducerBill Callahan, Neil Michael Hagerty
Bill Callahan chronology
A River Ain't Too Much to Love
(2005)
Woke on a Whaleheart
(2007)
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
(2009)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic76/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Pitchfork Media(6.9/10)[3]
Spin[4]
Uncut[5]

The arrangements of labelmate and former Royal Trux vocalist and guitarist Neil Michael Hagerty are featured on the album, and Callahan's band consists of vocalist Deani Pugh-Flemmings, guitarist Pete Denton, violinist Elizabeth Warren, percussionist Thor Harris, bassist Steve Bernal, and keyboard/lap steel player Howard Draper. The album was recorded by Jeremy Lemos, who previously recorded the Smog albums Rain on Lens and Supper. Woke on a Whaleheart's sound, according to Callahan, touches upon "gospel, tough pop and American Light Opera."[7]

Joe Grillo of the art collective Dearraindrop created the album artwork.[8]

Track listing

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All songs written by Bill Callahan.

  1. "From the Rivers to the Ocean" – 6:35
  2. "Footprints" – 2:47
  3. "Diamond Dancer" – 4:00
  4. "Sycamore" – 5:35
  5. "The Wheel" – 4:03
  6. "Honeymoon Child" – 4:40
  7. "Day" – 4:32
  8. "Night" – 3:04
  9. "A Man Needs a Woman or a Man to Be a Man" – 5:13
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Notes

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  1. ^ "Woke On A Whaleheart by Bill Callahan". Metacritic. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ Pitchfork Media review
  4. ^ Spin review
  5. ^ Uncut review
  6. ^ Bill Callahan Drops Whaleheart a Week Early in Texas, pitchforkmedia.com (2007-04-17, retrieved on 2008-01-14)
  7. ^ "Bill Callahan, "Woke On a Whaleheart"", brainwashed.com (2007-01-11, retrieved on 2008-01-14)
  8. ^ Peppermint Store: Bill Callahan (2007-11-12, retrieved on 2008-12-04)