Give Up The Ghost

Give Up The Ghost was Brandi Carlile’s third full length studio album after self-titled Brandi Carlile and The Story. Released on October 9th, 2009, it was released on LP and CD. The original LP is a sought after album amongst collectors.

The first single off the album was Dreams. As art of the promotion, you could text “Dreams” to a number and get the single as a ringtone.

The album, produced by Rick Rubin, also features Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) , Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) and Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers).

Brookvale Records in New York, subsequently acquired the right to release limited edition re-issues, of which there were 2 in 2016 (Black and Cola colored) and 2 in 2022 (Bone and Tigers Eye Marble).

Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls sang on Track 1, Looking Out.
Paul Buckmaster arranged Strings on Track 3, Pride and Joy.
Elton John played piano and sang on Track 6, Caroline.

Brandi Carlile has said in many interviews how influencial Elton John was in her music. At the beginning of sixth grade she did a book report on Ryan White. Where she proceeded to learn about aids, and Elton John’s role in supporting Ryan White, against a tide of anti-gay rhetoric. Elton John sang his song Skyline Pigeon at Ryan White’s funeral. The lyrics of this song were in the book and as she says in her book Broken Horses, “This is where I really knew I was going to write”. When Brandi Carlile performed at Elton John and Bernie Taupin presentation of the Gerswhin Prize in 2024 – she sang Skyline Pigeon.

In the LA Times review by Ann Powers at the time, she discussed the album with Brandi Carlile. It reports “It’s a little bit glam — the drum part on “Dying Day” and the vocal arrangements on “Oh Dear” were directly inspired by Queen’s “Night at the Opera” album. And like many of John’s greatest hits, it’s pretty, but it’s loud.”

In late 2008 Dying Day was given away as a free download as part of a “Free Music For The Holidays” sampler.

The drummers on the album feature Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) and Victor Indrizzo a session musician and producers who has contributed to many artists work including, Depeche Mode, Marianne Faithfull, Wille Nelson, Macy Gray, Rufus Wainwright.

Track Notes:
Looking Out – Written by Brandi Carlile
The Looking Out Foundation namesake song. This track opens the album, and features backing vocals by Amy Ray from the Indigo Girls.

Dying Day – Written by Tim Hanseroth
Written by Tim Hanseroth and it was the first song written for the Give Up The Ghost album. Tim first played it for Brandi when they werein the studio recording The Story with T-Bone Burnett. In the Veeps special from 2021, Brandi recalls that when she heard it, it dawned on her they have to be careful about not make an album about being on the road. She said, “if we are going to give ourselves one road song, this is the one, because it’s that special”.

Pride and Joy – Written by Brandi Carlile

This track has the string arrangement by legendary Paul Buckmaster (Elton John, Rolling Stones, David Bowie). Brandi went to his house for the day, to discuss the track. When she first rang him to request if he’d do it she was sure “I was talking to the most insane man in the world”. She’d used the word “dreary” as the descriptor for the strings, and his response was “Dreary! Dreary absolutely not! What would you want anything to be Dreary for!”

Dreams – Written by Brandi Carlile, Tim Hanseroth and Phil Hanseroth. We’ve done a deep dive on this track over here.

That Year – Written by Brandi Carlile. We’ve done a deep dive on this track over here.
Written about her teenage friend Blair, who took his own life age 16. She’s told his story a few times, and wrote about the song and Blair in her memoir Broken Horses. The song is rarely played live, but it made it back into set lists a few times during the Silent Days tour of 22/23.

Caroline – Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
Written for her neice (daughter of her brother Jay Carlile). Written after she was born. Brandi shared that they were playing in Minaapilis opening for the Indigo Girls, when she got the news she was being born, and rushed home to hold on her first day. It’s a honkytonk ragtime style music and wrote a letter to Elton John to play the piano, who subsequently played on the track. He signed the song sheet for the song which was later gifted to Caroline by Brandi when she was a teenager.

Before It Breaks – Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
The video clip below has Brandi discussing the recording of this song. The video from Myers Boicourt is from Mothership Weekend in 2024, where the OG drummer (Victor Indrizzo) from Give Up The Ghost – and this song, was performing live with her for the first time. She recounts in the clip that when the song came out, she though it’s a good as it gets – the best song she’ll every write.

Brandi has shared that it took until 2am to get the piano part right as she was just learning how to play.

I Will – Written by Brandi Carlile
Written by Brandi while on tour in Australia, this was a song the twins at first didn’t resonate with.

If There Was No You – Written by Brandi Carlile and Phil Hanseroth
During Mothership weekend in 2024, Brandi recounted that this song was recorded straight after That Year. She spoke about Rick Rubin asking her to record a version every morning and evening in the sessions until she was happy with the take.

Touching The Ground – Written by Tim Hanseroth

Oh Dear – Written by Phil Hanseroth and Brandi Carlile

Track list

Full list of versions :

Give Up The Ghost peaked at 26 on the US Billboard 200