Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle is the second solo album by American musician Bill Callahan under his own name, released on April 14, 2009 via Drag City.

Recording
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle was recorded by John Congleton and arranged by Brian Beattie. In an interview with Uncut, Callahan described the recording of the album:

I recorded the basic tracks with a band, in August I think. Then gave the tracks to the arranger Brian Beattie to write some string and horn parts while I was on tour in South America and North America. When I got back we put the overdubs on, in an old fashioned way – four or five string players gathered around one microphone. The basic band is a couple fellers who I'd been touring with a bit lately, Jaime Zuverza on fine and pretty guitar – Brian described his playing style as "unmacho" which I thought was great. And Luis Martinez on special drums. The bassist was Bobby Weaver who was a friend of the engineer John Congleton.

Reception
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle received very positive reviews from music critics and made several publications' year-end best album lists, notably being named the second best album of 2009 by Mojo magazine.

In 2013, NME listed the album at number 443 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Track listing
All songs were written by Bill Callahan.


 * 1) "Jim Cain" – 4:39
 * 2) "Eid Ma Clack Shaw" – 4:19
 * 3) "The Wind and the Dove" – 4:34
 * 4) "Rococo Zephyr" – 5:42
 * 5) "Too Many Birds" – 5:27
 * 6) "My Friend" – 5:12
 * 7) "All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast" – 5:52
 * 8) "Invocation of Ratiocination" – 2:41
 * 9) "Faith/Void" – 9:44

Personnel

 * Musicians
 * Bill Callahan – vocals, classical guitar, acoustic steel guitar, electric guitar, piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
 * Brian Beattie – electric guitar, pump organ, electric piano, keyboards, percussion, string and horn arrangement
 * Luis Martinez – drums
 * Bobby Weaver – bass
 * Jaime Zuverza – electric guitar


 * Recording personnel
 * John Congleton – recording
 * Roger Siebel – mastering


 * Artwork
 * Bill Callahan – lettering and drawings
 * Chris Taylor – front photograph


 * Additional musicians
 * Brian Brown – French horn
 * Tamara Cauble – violin
 * Douglas Edward – violin
 * Becki Howard – violin
 * Buffi Jacobs – cello
 * Maureen Nilsen – violin
 * Deanna Sarkar – soprano vocals
 * Heather Test – French horn
 * Chris Youmans – cello