Introduction
Rufus Wainwright discographyRufus WainwrightStudio albums11EPs3Live albums7Compilation albums3Singles22Video albums4Music videos9Contributions81 The discography of Rufus Wainwright, a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, consists of eleven studio albums, seven live albums, three compilations, three extended plays (EPs), three video albums, twenty-two singles, and nine music videos. Wainwright's self-titled debut album was released through DreamWorks Records in May 1998. Wainwright reached number 24 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart, and Rolling Stone named him 1998's Best New Artist. Wainwright's second album, Poses, was released through the same label in June 2001, resulting in a number one on the Heatseekers Chart and number 117 on the Billboard 200. With material recorded from the same session, Want One was released through DreamWorks in September 2003, and Want Two was released through Geffen Records in November 2004. Wainwright's first EP, Waiting for a Want, was released through DreamWorks in June 2004, previewing songs that later appear on Want Two. His first music DVD, Live at the Fillmore, accompanied Want Two and features live concert footage from a March 2004 performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California. Wainwright's second EP, Alright, Already: Live in Montréal, was released by Geffen via iTunes in the United States and Canada on March 15, 2005. All I Want, released through Geffen in April 2005, contains various pieces of work, including a documentary (A Portrait of Rufus Wainwright), live performances, and music videos. Want, a repackaging of Want One and Want Two as one album, was released through DreamWorks/Geffen in November 2005, and contains two extra tracks. Release the Stars, Wainwright's self-produced fifth studio album, was released through Geffen in May 2007. His most successful album to date, Release the Stars charted in 12 countries and was certified gold in both the United Kingdom and Canada. To promote the album, Tiergarten was distributed digitally and in limited vinyl format as Wainwright's third EP. Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall became Wainwright's sixth album, a live recording released through Geffen in December 2007. The album earned Wainwright his first Grammy Award nomination, the 2009 award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Coinciding with the album, Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!: Live from the London Palladium is a DVD release of Wainwright's tribute concert to Judy Garland recorded in London in February 2007. Wainwright's August 27, 2007, performance at Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was released in September 2009 as a live CD and video album titled Milwaukee at Last!!!. Wainwright's sixth studio album, All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu, was first released in Canada through Decca on March 23, 2010. House of Rufus, a career-spanning box set, was released on July 18, 2011. Wainwright's seventh studio album, Out of the Game was released in May 2012. In 2014, Wainwright released the compilation album Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright and live album Rufus Wainwright: Live from the Artists Den.
Albums
[edit] Studio albums[edit]
Title
Album details
Peak chart positions
Certifications(sales thresholds)
US
AUT
BEL
CAN
DEN
FRA
GER
NLD
NOR
UK
Rufus Wainwright
Released: May 19, 1998 Label: DreamWorks Formats: CD, LP
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—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
171
BPI: Silver
Poses
Released: June 5, 2001 Label: DreamWorks Format: CD
117
—
—
—
—
—
Extended plays
[edit]
Title
EP details
Notes
Waiting for a Want
Released: June 29, 2004 Label: DreamWorks Format: Digital download
Contains four songs that later appeared on Want Two
Alright, Already: Live in Montréal
Released: March 15, 2005 Label: Geffen Format: Digital download
Available only on iTunes in the US, Canada, and Germany Contains six live tracks, recorded in Montreal
Tiergarten
Released: October 29, 2007 (UK) Label: Geffen Formats: Digital download, vinyl
Contains one track: "Supermayer Lost in Tiergarten" remix Available digitally and in limited vinyl release (500 copies)
Technopera
Released: 2021 (UK) Label: BMG Management Formats: Digital download
Contains four tracks with Ampersounds
Singles
[edit]
Title
Year
Peak chart positions
Album
USRock
BEL(FL)
JPN
NLD
UK
"I Don't Know What It Is"
2004
— — — — 74
Want One
"Oh What a World"
— — — — —
"The One You Love"
2005
— — — — —
Want Two
"Crumb by Crumb"
— — — — —
"Hallelujah"
2007
16 — — — 97
Shrek soundtrack
"Going to a Town"
— — — — 54
Release the Stars
"Rules and Regulations"
— — — — —
"Tiergarten"[a]
— — — — —
"Hallelujah" (re-release)
Video albums
[edit]
Title
Video details
Notes
USVideo
Certifications
Live at the Fillmore
Released: November 16, 2004 Label: Geffen Format: DVD
Accompanied the release of Want Two 20 songs performed live; recorded at The Fillmore in March 2004
8
All I Want
Released: April 8, 2005 Label: Geffen Format: DVD
Features documentary, live concert footage, and music videos
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CAN: Gold
Rufus! Does Judy!...
Released: December 4, 2007 Label: Geffen Format: DVD
Wainwright's tribute concert to Judy Garland Recorded in London in February 2007
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Milwaukee at Last!!!
Released: September 22, 2009 Label: Decca Format: DVD
23 songs performed live; filmed August 27, 2007, by Albert Maysles at Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Music videos
[edit]
Year
Title
Album
Director
1998
"April Fools"
Rufus Wainwright
Sophie Muller
2001
"Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"
Poses
Giles Dunning
"California"
2002
"Across the Universe"
I Am Sam
Len Wisemen
2005
"The One You Love"
Want Two
George Scott
2006
"The Maker Makes"
Brokeback Mountain
Doug Biro
2007
"Going to a Town"
Release the Stars
Sophie Muller
"Rules and Regulations"
Petro Papahadjopoulos
2008
"Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart"
Other contributions
[edit] Soundtracks[edit]
Year
Album
Song(s)
Label
Ref.
1988
Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (Les Aventuriers du Timbre Perdu)
"I'm a-Runnin'"
Les éditions La Fête
1997
The Myth of Fingerprints
"Le Roi D'Ys" "Banks of the Wabash"
Velvel Records
1999
Big Daddy
"Instant Pleasure"
Sony
2001
Moulin Rouge!
"Complainte de la Butte"
Interscope
Shrek Original Soundtrack
"Hallelujah"
DreamWorks
Zoolander
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
Hollywood Records
2002
I Am Sam
"Across the Universe"
V2/BMG
2003
Why Rufus Wainwright belongs in your Christmas rotation
Wainwright’s lush, operatic pop sensibility gives traditional carols an indulgent, almost theatrical makeover. His soaring falsetto and intricate arrangements turn familiar melodies into grand, tell‑all‑the‑world‑story moments that sound right at home in a candle‑lit living room. Unlike many contemporary holiday releases that chase trend‑iness, his renditions feel timeless, echoing the Victorian‑era grandeur that still defines much of British Christmas décor. The result is a soundtrack that feels both intimate and cinematic, perfect for everything from a cosy fire‑side sing‑along to a posh office party.
Buying guide: the best way to collect Wainwright’s festive output
If you’re after the fullest picture, start with the 2005 compilation that groups his holiday recordings alongside rarities – it’s the most straightforward entry point. For audiophiles, seek out the limited‑edition vinyl re‑press, which preserves the warm resonance of his orchestral backing. Digital platforms often bundle the tracks with bonus live cuts, so weigh whether you prefer the polished studio feel or the raw energy of a live performance. Keep an eye on seasonal re‑issues in late November; retailers frequently bundle the album with festive merchandise, offering better value than a stand‑alone purchase.
What listeners often miss in Wainwright’s Christmas songs
Many fans focus on the vocal fireworks and overlook the subtle lyrical twists that re‑interpret classic verses. Wainwright injects clever wordplay and contemporary references, turning a simple ‘Jingle Bells’ into a commentary on modern consumerism. Additionally, his use of unconventional instruments—harpsichord, choir‑like backing vocals, and muted brass—creates layers that reward repeat listens. Pay attention to the arrangements; the quiet bridges often hide a fleeting violin solo that adds emotional depth, turning an otherwise cheerful tune into a bittersweet moment of reflection.