When I rolled out of bed at 4 AM this morning in preparation for the radio show I had some dark thoughts. Am I too old to be doing this? Couldn't I use the extra few hours of sleep? Was I really excited about getting back to spinning the music?
These thoughts haunted me the entire ride to the radio station, and I thought, really thought, maybe it's the time to retire.
When I arrived, after two weeks of vacation, there were at least 80 new CDs waiting to be logged in. I was able to manage doing the data base log-in for forty of them, which means printing 40 labels, and affixing all of them, plus at least two other stickers, to the CDs and cases. That's well over 120 stickers.
Out of necessity, some of this busy work leaked over into the beginning of the show, so I decided to spin new music until I got the job done.
It took me 40 minutes, and in that time, my dark mood was blown clear out of the studio by the quality of music by groups and musicians I had never heard before - Elliott Brood, Cara Dillon, Madison Violet, Allen Thompson and The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank.
I was smiling, and filled with the hope that only new music can generate.
I won't be retiring soon. I want to spin more of these songs.
Well, we didn't make the goal, but we came close enough, considering the times. In fact, we raised a lot of money during the three hours of Caterwaul Marathon Fundraising - $5500. Thanks to everyone who called and donated.
Thanks too, to musicians Nerissa Nields and Pete Lehndorff who took part in a successful Skype Me A Song experiment. And to Jim Mercik and Abu Alvin Carter Sr. who joined me live in the studio.
I hope those of you who were watching the radio show enjoyed it. We won't be doing that too often.
The slightly-grand experiment happens this morning as I attempt to juggle the annual Marathon fundraiser, with a show goal of $6,000, running the board, Skype-ing songs with willing musicians, hawking t-shirts, chatting on facebook, and streaming the show with a video webcast at ustream.tv. Well see just how sane I am at the end of the three hours which begin at 6 a.m.
If you want to contribute, call 860-768-4008. Please call.
This year I break with a tradition that has always perplexed and frustrated listeners. For the past 24 years, I've started the year with a list of thirteen of my favorite folk, roots, americana albums of the previous year. Initially it was the Fringe Folk Top 13, and then the Caterwaul Top 13.
Trouble was, I never actually had only 13 albums on the list. Inevitably, the list of actual albums would run to more than 20, a problem I solved with double and triple ties.
This year, I'm announcing the list of my favorite albums of the year the day before I feature them on the air on my Wednesday morning show (Caterwaul, WWUH-FM, 91.3, wwuh.org, 6-9 a.m. Eastern US Standard Time)
This year there are 31 albums on the list, and I do have a favorite, which you'll have to scroll to the bottom of this post to find.
But here they are, in a year when single song sales have far outdistanced traditional album sales, Caterwauler's favorite albums of 2008 with some video accompaniment.
Randy Newman - Harps and Angels (Nonesuch)
Various - Awake My Soul/Help Me To Sing (Awake)
American Music Club - Golden Age (Merge)
Old Crow Medicine Show - Tennessee Pusher (Nettwerk)
For 22 years I've made an end-of-year list of my favorite albums which included 13 entries, but from the beginning it's been a fraud. I've been called on it often, but I really don't care. The truth is, I have never been able to limit my selection to 13 albums, so there are lots of ties, and I usually end up with 25 or more albums on the Top 13 list.
This is the first year that this list appears on January 1, on the web, in a preview of tomorrow's show.
Here's the list, and a few words about each of my favorite albums of the year.
Caterwaul Top 13 of 2007
1. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raising Sand (Rounder) When I heard about this album I thought it was a really bad idea. But leave it to T Bone Burnett to create something in which two distinctive musical talents find parts of themselves we've never heard before. It's an astonishing piece of work, and a triumph for little old Rounder Records.
2. The Avett Brothers – Introducing Emotionalism (Ramseur) Part punk, part string band, this trio produces amazing, agressive mountain music.
3. Joni Mitchell – Shine (Hear) In spite of her self-imposed retirement, Joni Mitchell returned with a mature and wonderful set of songs with roots in a world gone wrong. Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem – Big Old Life (Signature Sounds) Rani and a the band created a collection of songs which are a celebration of life and a warning to enjoy what we have, while we have it.
Nerissa and Katryna Nields – Sister Holler (Mercy House) These sisters have been creating ethereal, intetwining harmonies for years, but in their "renovation" of some classic folk music themes, they've never been more at home with their music.
4.Loudon Wainwright III – Strange Weirdoes (Concord) One can only hope for a bit of good fortune for Wainwright. Maybe he'll get an Oscar for this soundtrack recording he co-produced with Joe Henry for the film Knocked Up. BTW, Wainwright plays the obstetrician in the film.
5. Levon Helm – Dirt Farmer (Vanguard) This former essential member of The Band, proves he is still making vital music despite having been laid low by a serious bout with cancer of the vocal chords. Mavis Staples - We’ll Never Turn Back (Anti) Now that Rick Rubin is Mavis Staples represents a legendary rhythm and blues output from a legendary music family. Here she re-makes classic protest music from a turning point in American history.
6. Steve Earle – Washington Square Serenade (Artemis) Earle's left Nashville for NYC, and this is the proof. An edgy earful of city ecstacy.
7. Richard Thompson – Sweet Warrior (Shout Factory)Linda Thompson – Versatile Heart (Rounder)Teddy Thompson – Up Front and Down Low (Verve) Ex-spouses Richard and Linda, and their progeny, Teddy were all busy this year creating albums as different from each other as albums can be. Richard produced a rocker which yoked the political to the pedestrian concerns of living life, Linda's is soulful and colored by heartache and reality, and Teddy went all old-country on us.
8.Something ‘Bout You – Amy Gallatin and Roger Williams (Happy Appy) Amy and Roger abandoned Connecticut for a few weeks and went to Nashville to record this superb collection of old country chestnuts. Wow.
9. Look Out – The Hackensaw Boys (Nettwerk) If you like your bluegrass punchy, impolite and in-your-face, then you'll love the Hackensaw Boyrs.
Adrienne Young – Room To Grow (Addie Belle) I'm awfully glad that Adrienne abandoned jazz singing for country music. She just keeps getting better and better.
10. Lyle Lovett and His Large Band – It’s Not Big, It’s Large (Lost Highway) It's always an occasion when Lyle puts out an album of new and original music. He's got one of the most distinctive voices in music, and his attack is always smart and innovative. Here's an old favorite, with the Eraserhead look.
Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch (New West) Isbell was a singer and songwriter with Drive-By Truckers. He carries it all well on his own.
11. Peter Case – Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John (Yep Roc) Rolling around the country in rented cars packed with old guitars, Case is another in a long and respected line of American troubadours.
Patty Griffin – Children Running Through (ATO) This fiery Maine-to-Texas transplant proves again that a great singer can be a great songwriter.
Michael Fracasso – Red Dog Blues (TMG) Another Austin transplant, Fracasso keeps writing amazing songs that he sings with the musical ghosts of the Louvins, the Everlys, Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney hovering nearby.
12. The Gourds – Noble Creatures (Yep Roc) The Band channeled throught the hearts and minds of a psychedelic, Austin, acoustic, retro-country jam band. The Imagined Village – The Imagined Village (Realworld) English country music re-imagined by the likes of Billy Bragg, the Carthys, Sheila Chandra, the Copper Family and others. Watch the Bragg video of Hard Time of Old Englandhere. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch) The greatest American band, great again. 13. Pine Leaf Boys – Blues de Musicien (Arhoolie) Ann Savoy and Her Sleepless Knights – If Dreams Come True (Memphis International)
Red Stick Ramblers – Made In the Shade (Sugar Hill) Listen to these together or separately and you'll discover the distinct and diverse genius alive on the prairies of Soutwest Louisiana
Every year for 22, I've attempted to broadcast an atypical holiday show in my Wednesday morning slot.
This year will be no different. The rules are simple:
1. Try to avoid traditional holiday songs the likes of which you hear repeatedly when you stop to pump gas 2. Play any song which has a Christmas/solstice message, the more oblique, the better 3. Play Merry Christmas From the Family, at least twice
It's our, low-key, autumnal effort, which means we interrupt programming less, and ask for money less. However, we still need the dough to keep us the station we want to be. As a station with only two paid personnel, we get by mostly on volunteer effort, and on a shoestring budget.
This season's premium is a longsleeve, all-cotton, polo-style shirt, for those of you who play polo, or maybe a rugby shirt, emblazoned with the WWUH logo (which, as far as I'm concerned is past its sell-by date), but here's a picture. You can decide for yourself.
If you enjoy the mix of music and commentary that comes at you each Wednesday morning on Caterwaul, give a call Wednesday morning between 6-9 a.m. Eastern Time U.S. (860-768-4008) and make a pledge.
Today, our Republican governor has declared "Bruce Springsteen Day" in Connecticut. Perhaps she'll show up at the concert tonight for a photo op, so your picture with her can hang on her wall next to those of her with George Bush and Dick Cheney. I've been in her office, those pix are there.
The radio stations have begun playing your music. Even the conservative AM news radio station. Sure it's the same six songs, and great songs they are. I hope you're not disappointed that they haven't played anything from your last two albums, nor have they even considered anything from "Magic." You know, restrictive formats, corporate playlists, and gee, you really shouldn't expect them to play anything as controversial as "Devils and Dust," "Bring 'em Home," "Radio Nowhere," or "The Last To Die," or "Long Walk Home." And Patty's new album is really great, but I'm afraid she's too mature to be considered hip, and too young to be considered "classic."
As for tickets, I know you work hard to keep the brokers from snapping up all the good seats, but you'll probably recognize some of the folks in the first few rows from ESPN, maybe a senator or Congressman (though I suspect Creepy Joe Lieberman will stay away) and the New York TV crowd who will scoff at Hartford, but take our seats. A lucky few of us will get the automatic Springsteen upgrade, but I sure wish there was a way to scalp the scalpers - you don't even get a cut of the elevated price they're charging for the show.
I know you'll take the time to visit a food bank, or a homeless shelter. It's part of your MO, and it's something I appreciate about your work. You might remind the audience that most of the food pantries are coming up empty early this year, and it's a direct result of the "booming" economy that the president is always reminding us about.
If you have time tomorrow, tune in Caterwaul. It's on from 6-9 a.m. and I'll play a couple of Springsteen and Scialfa cuts along with my usual mix of folk and protest music. And if you have the time, grab a guitar and come on up, and we'll have a hoot.
That'll be me tonight screaming from the seats beneath the roof (upper level, section 219, seat M9). I'll be happy just to be in the building. It's my birthday today so I've got a request, sing one for Pete Seeger.
I spent a zany hour in the studio yesterday with some unrepentant Southern souls who call themselves Hackensaw Boys.
The band was in the area to play a Sunday night gig at Cafe Nine in New Haven. They play their traditional bluegrass punk country with a fierce, unfettered joy.
It's wonderful to hear a group of young people find the fire and rhythm in an ancient sound.
The results can be heard Wednesday morning on Caterwaul.
