Cruel Inventions is the sixth studio album by American singer and songwriter Sam Phillips. Critical reception Cruel Inventions received mostly favorable reviews from critics. At Entertainment Weekly, David Browne gave the album an A, writing that it "...is fraught with both beauty and tension, making it one of the year's most beguiling records." Browne named it his sixth favorite album of 1991. Track listing Personnel Sam Phillips – vocals, Chamberlin, guitars T Bone Burnett – Chamberlin, guitars Van Dyke Parks – Chamberlin, string arrangements Jim Goodwin – acoustic piano Elvis Costello – guitars Marc Ribot – guitars Jerry Scheff – bass Alex Acuña – drums, percussion Michael Blair – drums, percussion Mickey Curry – drums, percussion Ralph Forbes – drums, percussion David Kemper – drums, percussion Scott Musick – drums, percussion Sandy Bull – oud The Sid Page Strings – string quartet Larry Corbett – cello John Acevedo – viola Sid Page – violin Joel Derouin – violin Production T Bone Burnett – producer Stacy Baird – recording Rik Pekkonen – recording Joe Schiff – recording Tchad Blake – mixing Kevin Killen – mixing Max Garcia – assistant engineer Mark Guilbeault – assistant engineer Julie Last – assistant engineer Tom Nellen – assistant engineer Chris Niswander – assistant engineer Eric Rudd – assistant engineer Brian Soucy – assistant engineer Jeff Ward – assistant engineer Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk (New York City, New York) Melanie Nissen – art direction Inge Schapp – design Kathleen Philpott – design Anton Corbijn – photography Borman Entertainment – management References 1991 albums Sam Phillips (musician) albums Albums produced by T Bone Burnett Virgin Records albums