Fearless [Taylor's Version]

by Taylor Swift

Overview

Taylor Swift left her longtime home of Big Machine in 2018, setting up shop at Republic Records. Usually, such changes in label are only of interest to trainspotters, but once Swift departed Big Machine, the label was acquired by a group owned by Scooter Braun, a nemesis of Taylor's. The singer attempted to regain rights to her original recordings to no avail, leaving her with one option: she could re-record her records, thereby undercutting the value of her catalog in terms of syncs, placements, and licensing. Swift carried through on the promise in April 2021, releasing Fearless (Taylor's Version), a brand-new version of her 2008 breakthrough. Swift recorded all 19 songs from the 2009 Platinum Edition of Fearless, adding a new version of "Today Was a Fairytale" from the Valentine's Day soundtrack, then six additional songs ("From The Vault") -- songs that were written around the time of Fearless but not released. These tracks are of greatest interest, as they certainly have a younger, dewy-eyed perspective but were recorded with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, the producers of Swift's mature work. The blend of youth and experience is appealing, and it can also be heard in the newer renditions of the Fearless material. Swift largely re-creates the arrangements and feel of the original 2008 album, yet her voice and phrasing has aged, giving the music a hint of bittersweet gravity. That said, it's only a hint; Fearless (Taylor's Version) serves the purpose of offering new versions that could be substituted for the originals for licensing purposes. It's to Swift's credit that the album is an absorbing (if long) listen anyway. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/01/2021
Label:	Republic
UPC:	0602435845104

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Taylor Swift   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Vocals
Maren Morris   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Keith Urban   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Colbie Caillat   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Lowell Reynolds   Primary Artist
Dan Burns   Percussion,Electronic Percussion,Guitar
Aaron Dessner   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Drum Machine,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (String),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Mikey Freedom Hart   Celeste,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Pedal Steel,Piano,Guitar,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String Acoustic),Bass,Drums
Max Bernstein   MIDI,Banjo,Guitar,Vibraphone,Synthesizer,Glockenspiel,Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Electric)
Jack Antonoff   Bass,Drums,Piano,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Matt Billingslea   Electronic Percussion,Drums,Guitar,Percussion,Finger Snaps
Mike Meadows   Banjo,Dobro,Piano,Guitar,Strings,Mandolin,Synthesizer,Finger Snaps,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Sean Hutchinson   Drums
Christopher Rowe   Vocals (Background)
Clarice Jensen   Cello
Eric Slick   Drums
Amos Heller   Bass
Yuki Numata Resnick   Violin
Josh Kaufman   Harmonica,Lap Steel Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Elvira Anderfjaerd   Bass,Drums,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Caitlin Evanson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jonathan Yudkin   Cello,Fiddle,Strings
Paul Sidoti   Piano,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Evan Smith   Flute,Strings,Saxophone,Percussion,Synthesizer
Matt Bernstein   Guitar (Electric)
Michael Riddleberger   Percussion
Bobby Hawk   Violin
Sean R. Badum   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Taylor Swift   Art Direction,Executive Producer,Repackaging Design,Composer,Producer
Dan Burns   Programming,Drum Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Aaron Dessner   Engineer,Producer,Recording,Electrician,Programming,Drum Programming
Tommy Lee James   Composer
Brett Warren   Composer
Max Bernstein   Synthesizer Programming
Jack Antonoff   Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Colbie Caillat   Composer
Lowell Reynolds   Composer,Engineer,Assistant,Digital Editing,Assistant Engineer
Jonathan Low   Mixing,Engineer
Mike Meadows   Synthesizer Programming
Scooter Carusoe   Composer
Derek Garten   Engineer,Digital Editing,Assistant Engineer
Nathan Barlowe   Composer
Chris Rowe   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Engineer
Sam Holland   Vocal Engineer
Christopher Rowe   Producer,Recording,Vocal Engineer
Randy Merrill   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
David Payne   Engineer,Recording
John Rooney   Assistant Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
John Hanes   Engineer
John Rich   Composer
Liz Rose   Composer
Julian Burg   Vocal Engineer
David Hart   Recording
Mike Williams   Recording,Recording
Elvira Anderfjaerd   Engineer,Producer,Programming
Beth Garrabrant   Cover Photo
Jon Gautier   Recording
Caitlin Evanson   Producer
Brad Warren   Composer
Hillary Lindsey   Composer
Cary Barlowe   Composer
Greg Kurstin   Vocal Engineer
Brian Pruitt   Drum Programming
Matt Billingslea   Programming,Drum Programming
Evan Smith   Synthesizer Programming
Laura Sisk   Engineer,Recording
Jon Sher   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Bella Blasko   Engineer,Recording
Sean R. Badum   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Nick Rowse   Vocal Engineer