Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, JD Foster, Konrad Meissner and Andy Burton

Beautiful Brooklyn Recording! Thanks Andy Taub! This show was pure chaos to organize but went down smooth as glass.

Don Piper, Nobody You Know (Don Piper); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Kate Jacobs, Slow Dancing to Aqualung (Kate Jacobs); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Peter Blegvad, Mind the Gap (Peter Blegvad); performed and recorded by Peter Blegvad; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Stivali Comodi, Where You Are (JD Foster, Alexandra Spaulding, Adrian Olsen); performed and recorded by Stivali Comodi; Copyright Control Stivali Comodi

Jody Harris, Dirty Little Clouds (Jody Harris); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

Dave Schramm, The Dark Spark (Dave Schramm); recorded live; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Amy Allison, Long Island Rocks (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin. Bug Music

Karen Mantler, Catch as Catch Can (Karen Mantler); performed and recorded by Karen Mantler; Copyright Control Karen Mantler

Peter Holsapple, Ashes (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music

Laura Cantrell, Glass Armour (Laura Cantrell/Tracyanne Campbell); performed and recorded by Laura, with live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Universal Music Publishing Ltd. admin. by Universal Music – MGB Songs (ASCAP)/Thrift Shop Songs (BMI) admin. by BMG/Chrysalis

Recorded by Andy Taub at Brooklyn Recording; September 26, 2012
Assisted by Don Piper

Notes:

Peter Holsapple: Ashes. Well, it sounded better than ‘cremains’ I think. I realize people think I sing about death and dying with my tongue planted in my cheek all the time, and thus must believe I’m a callous swine to be so insensitive. This song is kind of personal, though; it took several years for me to inter my father’s ashes, which sat on a bookshelf for a couple years after he died. A part of me maybe wanted to hang on to him a little longer, even though I knew I should get him to the family plot in Hudson, New York. Another part couldn’t get the trip north together.

No drums, too late to put them on, plus it would’ve made it less intimate.

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, Byron Isaacs, Paul Moschella and Andy Burton

Live at The Living Room. Byron Isaacs of Ollabelle was an All Star and guest writer, Dana Kletter was in town with a killer sad song. Dave wrote with Rick Moody again, and Laura with Sam Bisbee. Freedy brought a song about Joey Ramone. We played tracks from Victoria, Peter H and Peter B. Kate sang a song for the Queen’s Jubilee and Amy wrote about a real angel. Dana and Laura honored Doc Watson with Down in the Valley to Pray. RIP Doc.

Freedy Johnston, Time Zone (Freedy Johnston); recorded live the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Peter Holsapple, Didn’t You Used to Be? (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter (see Notes, below); Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music

Dana Kletter, Poison Arrow (Dana Kletter); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Stabat Modern Music (BMI)

Dave Schramm, Honest to a Fault (Dave Schramm/Rick Moody); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Amy Allison, Angel Face (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin. Bug Music

Heather Fae Speaker, Take This Flag (Heather Fae Speaker); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Heather Fae Speaker

Peter Blegvad, Penny Black (Peter Blegvad); recorded live by Edward Haber at The Bowery Poetry Cafe with Dave Schramm, guitar; Joe Ruddick, piano; Dave Hofstra, bass; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Kate Jacobs, I’ve Always Liked the Queen (Kate Jacobs); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Byron Isaacs, The Line the Lie (Byron Isaacs); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Byron Isaacs

Laura Cantrell, When it Comes to You (Laura Cantrell/Sam Bisbee); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Thrift Shop Songs (BMI) admin. Bug Music/Copyright Control Sam Bisbee

Victoria Williams, Seven Pales of Thunder (Victoria Williams); recorded by Vic with overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Mumblety Peg Music (BMI)

Laura Cantrell and Dana Kletter: Down in the Valley to Pray (Doc Watson); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars

Recorded by Jimi Zhivago at The Living Room NYC; June 21 2012
Additional engineering by Gaines Lagair and Milton Ruiz

Special thanks to Jennifer Gilson and everyone at The Living Room.

Notes:

Peter Holsapple on Didn’t You Used to Be?
Recorded at home (Tele, Dano 63 bass, real drums, tambourine) and camping at Chincoteague VA. I brought the ProTools rig with me, having not finished the lyrics or the singing. So I finished the lyrics on the way home from a couple dB’s gigs in the back of a van, and I recorded the vocals in the driver’s seat of my van, running power to the computer and hard drive across the campsite. I could only think of Ben Vaughn and his album recorded in his Rambler. I’m missing a horn section repeating the riff, but otherwise, it’s pretty close to what I want.

How can you be the person you were ever again? Is change so bad or unnatural, even if it produces something entirely different from what you were?

Peter Blegvad on Penny Black:

I’ve never released a recording of this song so in that sense it’s ‘new’ but this was recorded by Edward Haber at a gig in NYC  (The Bowery Poetry Café, I think) several years ago. Many thanks, Ed! And thanks to all the musicians who were in the band that night — Dave Schramm on guitar, Joe Ruddick on piano, Dave Hofstra on bass.

The song, “Penny Black” , is about an irresistible but deadly stamp. It’s a bit like the “black spot”  — the paper token which means death to the recipient – in Treasure Island.

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Star Orchestra: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, JD Foster, Konrad Meisner, Ted Reichman, Don Piper, Matt Horn, and Franklin Bruno

Back in the Chop Shop, thank you Gary! Rick Moody and Simone White were our guests, throwing themselves into the instant nature of the thing and reveling in the All Star experience. Because what happens is: you bring in a new song, tender and green, and in a few minutes you’re singing it with a great band giving it their glorious all. Nicholas honored Levon Helm with a Levon and the Hawks tune. Further elegies from Don, Kate and Peter B. Dave collaborated with Rick, and Laura with Franklin Bruno. Freedy and Jody got band do-overs of earlier songs. And Rick read from his new collection of essays on music, an exhortation to the drummers of Europe, with band accompaniment.

Nicholas Hill, He Don’t Love You and He’ll Break Your Heart (Levon &  the Hawks); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars

Kate Jacobs, Hipshot (Kate Jacobs, arr. Dave Schramm); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Rick Moody, Ravensway (Rick Moody); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Grow Your Own Music (BMI).

Dave Schramm, He Pulled the Ladder Up (Dave Schramm/Rick Moody); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI) / Grow Your Own Music (BMI).

Simone White, Rain, Rain (Simone White); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Domino (ASCAP)

Peter Blegvad, Simon at the Stone (Peter Blegvad); recorded by Peter with overdubs from the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Laura Cantrell, No Way There from Here (Laura Cantrell/Franklin Bruno); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars and Franklin on piano; Thrift Shop Songs (BMI) admin. Bug Music/Stopgap Measures (BMI) admin. Pacific Electric Music

Peter Holsapple, Bluesy Mama (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music

Don Piper, H (Don Piper); recorded live with Matt Horn and the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Freedy Johnston, I Really Miss Ya Blues (Freedy Johnston); recorded by Freedy with overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Rick Moody, Europe Forsake Your Drum Machines (Rick Moody); live reading from his book On Celestial Music – and Other Adventures in Listening. With the Radio Free All Stars featuring Konrad Meissner; Grow Your Own Music (BMI).

Jody Harris, What Love Can Do (Jody Harris); recorded by Jody with live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

Recorded by Gary Arnold at Gary’s Chop Shop NYC on May 8th, 2012.

Special thanks to Gary Langol for the Hammond M3

Notes:

Peter Blegvad, on Simon at the Stone -

I was hoping to work on an idea… a sketch I recorded a few weeks ago, but I never got round to it.
I attach the sketch – rough, a bit distorted.
It wants to have different lyrics for the second verse.
One day…

Simon is Simon Marsden, an old friend – photographer, “ghost hunter” – a very romantic figure.

The Stone is the Blarney Stone on Fulton St where Simon and I were regulars in the 70s and 80s.

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, JD Foster, Paul Moschella, and Joe McGinty

Back in the tiny yet brilliant Maid’s Room, with Prosperity Dumplings just around the corner. Finally got Mary Lorson in the studio with two songs (one new and wary, one older and happy as a summer movie). Joe McGinty back for an All Star turn and another piece of post-pop lovelornity. Freedy was there, explaining the value of putting the word California in your chorus. JD Foster premiered his new band Stivali Comodi with a fresh track hot off the press.

Don Piper, Yes I Do (Don Piper); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Stivali Comodi, Round and Round (Foster, Olsen, Spaulding); Alexandra Spaulding, Adrian Olsen, JD Foster; Copyright Control Stivali Comodi 2012

Mary Lorson, Theme from Whatever You Like (Mary Lorson); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; JaneDogSongs (BMI)

Amy Allison, After the Tone (Amy Allison); recorded in Scotland with David Scott producing. David plays all instruments except drums, by Jim Gash; Shop Girl Songs (BMI)

Freedy Johnston, When We Get to California (Freedy Johnston); recorded  live with the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Jennie Lowe Stearns, Paper Nest (Jennie Lowe Stearns); recorded by Jennie Lowe Stearns, and amended by the Radio Free All Stars, live; Porchbone Publishing (BMI)

Dave Schramm, You Seem to Want to Say Goodbye (Dave Schramm); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Kate Jacobs, Not Even Seventeen (Kate Jacobs); recorded by Kate, additional vocal by Madeline Novak; live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Peter Holsapple, Goodness Gracious (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter Holsapple except a keyboard part by Tim Sommer who produced this track. Recorded at Ground Control by Mike Mayeux in Scenic St. Bernard Parish, LA before the storm…; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music

Joe McGinty, Party Girl (Joe McGinty); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Tralfaz Music (ASCAP)

Mary Lorson, Anything Can Happen (Mary Lorson); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; JaneDogSongs (BMI)

Recorded by TJ Doherty at The Maid’s Room NYC; assisted by Jason Candler, on March 21st, 2012.

Thanks to Jack McKeever

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Joe McGinty, David Mansfield, Jeremy Chatzky, Clem Waldmann, Mike McGinnis, Dave Schramm

Back at The Living Room in NYC for a wonderful night with new All Stars Clem Waldmann and the 100% unrehearsed Mike McGinnis (listen for the clarinet solo on Dave’s second gorgeous song). Joe McGinty was both guest and band. His songs are so many things at once, and his piano playing divine. We went country with Anna Coogan in from Ithaca — what a voice! — and Jody Harris showing his roots. Freedy flew in a bit of blues just as we were hitting the stage, and come to think of it more blues from Peter Blegvad. Kate is still developing her musical, and got Joe and Anna and Amy to sing with her. Nicholas sang Hey War Pig.

Dave Schramm, That Way (Dave Schramm) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Peter Blegvad, The Way to Play the Blues (Peter Blegvad) performed and recorded by Peter; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad; live overdub by David Mansfield, National steel guitar.

Anna Coogan, Never Make Her Wait (Anna Coogan) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Yeah Say Yeah Music (BMI)

Joe McGinty, D Train Rider (Joe McGinty); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Tralfaz Music (ASCAP)

Kate Jacobs, There’s a Train (Kate Jacobs, arrangement by Andy Burton); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars with vocals by Joe McGinty, Amy Allison, and Anna Coogan; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Peter Holsapple, The Donkey Song (Peter Holsapple) performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin Bug Music

Amy Allison, Nightingale (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music

Jody Harris, One More Time (Jody Harris); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

Freedy Johnston, I Really Miss Ya Blues (Freedy Johnston); performed and recorded by Freedy; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Dave Schramm, 3 A.M. Slant (Dave Schramm) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Nicholas Hill, Hey War Pig (Kimberly Rew) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Kate Jacobs and Anna Coogan, background vocals;

Joe McGinty, This Song Is Three Days Old (Joe McGinty); recorded live with the Radio Free All-Stars; Tralfaz Music (ASCAP)

Engineered by Jimi Zhivago, Steve Ha, Milton Ruis and Gaines LeGerve at The Living Room, NYC January 25, 2012

Special thanks to Jennifer Gilson and everyone at The Living Room.

Notes:

Peter Blegvad, on The Way to Play the Blues:

A paean to the Stones – with a quote from John Cage as chorus. The song was an attempt to update the age-old musical question, expressed by the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band as “can blue men play the whites?”

And while we’re on the subject, let’s savour this description (below) by Benjamin Piekut of the play Rockgroup, written in 1965 by Amiri Baraka:

It featured “4 boys in whiteface” wearing “Beetle suits” in a band called The Crackers. The action of the play is relatively straightforward: a band is introduced, takes the stage, sets up, and performs a song (“White shit white shit white shit / hocus-pocus in the clouds allright”). After their brief concert, The Crackers bow to the effusive applause of the crowd, “dainty and faggish and removed from reality swaggering like toygirls.” As dollars rain down from above, the band collects the money and packs up their instruments; it is revealed that their “geetahs” were plugged into the rear end of a black man who had been slumped underneath a black cloth at the back of the stage during the performance. The man wears tawdry remnants of a showbiz career: “falling down conk and raggidy [sic] sequined stage evening clothes.” The Crackers place this secret source of their power into a travelling case, placating him with a little money, some “white powder,” and “then one of the white boys put on a lady outfit, and kiss him on lips, then nigger, he swoon dead away in box, and white boys carry him off with them.”

— from “October or Thermidor” in “Experimentalism Otherwise, The New York Avant-Garde and Its Limits” by Benjamin Piekut

Peter Holsapple on The Donkey Song:

About The Donkey Song — this tune’s from a couple years back, recorded at the old house. Just a guitar, a slide guitar and a vocal. I believe this was inspired by a news item. Nobody ever tells the donkey’s story. I figure, I’m an ass, so it behooves me to do that (rimshot).

Dave Schramm on That Way and Three A.M. Slant:

Why two songs? Couldn’t decide which one to do, so what the hey.

That Way is a list song. Kind of a snippy little number. A compendium of haughtiness and disdain. Didn’t know how it would all turn out. Thanks to the newly minted All-Stars for the groovy big rock band interpretation.

Three A.M. Slant was an instrumental until recently. Suppose it was meant to be cinematic, perhaps a soundtrack to some imaginary Italo-Western photoplay. The sudden Mike McGinnis nails it. Kills it even. Grazi.

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, Jeremy Chatzky, Paul Moschella, and Rob Burger

Nicholas went out to the woods and picked up Dave Weckerman who entertained us mightily throughout the evening. Freedy kept his promise to attend the 20^th taping — albeit virtually — sending a Carveresque song and providing the title for the program. Melaena Cadiz from Brooklyn via Kalamazoo came and did a beautiful home town song. High school students Ruby Edlin and Noah Dunton brought piles of books and studied in the control room until called upon to sing a duet by Kate Jacobs.  Dave Schramm recorded his new song STANDING UP. Don Piper once again cranked it. Peter Holsapple sent a happy song about the evil man does and Blegvad collaborated with John Paul Jones on a moody piece from the North.

Freedy Johnston, Twenty Radios (Freedy Johnston); vocal and guitar recorded by Freedy in Madison; live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Don Piper, We Are You (Don Piper); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Dave Weckerman, Victory Dance (Dave Weckerman); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Dave Weckerman

Kate Jacobs, She Wears Black (Kate Jacobs, arr. by Andy Burton); sung by Ruby Edlin and Noah Dunton, recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Peter Blegvad, Ice Fishing at Night (words: P. Blegvad; music: John Paul Jones); performed and recorded by Peter Blegvad; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Dave Schramm, Point A to Point B (Dave Schramm); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Melaena Cadiz, Hometown (Malaena Cadiz); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Melaena Cadiz Music (ASCAP)

Peter Holsapple, The Devil You Know (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter Holsapple; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music

Dave Weckerman, Morning Call (Dave Weckerman); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars;

Jody Harris, See What Happens (Jody Harris); performed and recorded by Jody Harris, live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

Recorded by Dan McLoughlin at The Vault, Hoboken NJ; assisted by Brian Knox on December 13, 2011.

Notes:

Peter Blegvad on Ice Fishing at Night:  I wrote the words, John Paul Jones wrote the music. His more developed and expanded version can be found on his album, “The Thunderthief”.

Peter Holsapple on The Devil You Know: Delivered 10 minutes after the deadline of 12/10/11, ‘docked a notch for time.’  This one may be somewhat lightfingered. Hopefully homage doesn’t read as pilfering; I thought that it would be somewhat bipartisan to have a happy little song about ultimate evil and its present-day incarnations. (On the ultimate evil scale, I suppose theft is not so vile.  You could do a lot worse.)  2 direct electrics, the Dano 63 bass, a faraway tambourine and the sound of one man clapping. I preferred not to play drums.
PH

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Doug Wieselman, Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, JD Foster, Andy Burton, and Peter Moser

Martha Wainwright came and played two new, beautiful, sad, mad, songs about marriage and mothers, accompanied gorgeously by the All Stars. Marvin Etzioni sang an honest to god love song — hadn’t heard one like that in years! — and a tambourine-thwacking sing-a-long protest song (come to think of it, haven’t heard one of those either).  Kevin Avery read from his new book about rock critic Paul Nelson.  NEW MEMBER Amy Allison — yeah! — played a classic beauty about rain. Don Piper sent one from China, recorded on his phone. Peter Holsapple sent a drinking song and Peter Blegvad sent Karen Mantler who sang irregular French verbs. Dave Schramm sang of 13 years and Kate Jacobs of 13 year olds. Andy Taub of Brooklyn Recording made everything sound wonderful as usual.

Amy Allison, The Rain is My Friend (Amy Allison) performed live with the Radio Free All-Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music

Peter Holsapple, Happy the Drunk (Peter Holsapple) performed and recorded by Peter Holsapple; Hospital Music (BMI) admin Bug Music

Martha Wainwright, Can You Believe It? (Martha Wainwright) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control- Martha Wainwright (SOCAN)

Dave Schramm, 13 Years Were Not Enough (Dave Schramm) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Marvin Etzioni, You Possess Me (Marvin Etzioni) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars, plus Marvinetz Martha Wainwright, Amy Allison & Kate Jacobs; Peer International

Marvin Etzioni, I Wanna Hear Protest Songs Again (Marvin Etzioni); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars, plus Martha Wainwright, Amy Allison & Kate Jacobs; Copyright control Marvin Etzioni (ASCAP)

Kevin Avery, talks with Nicholas and reads from his new book about Paul Nelson, Everything is an Afterthought: the Life and Writings of Paul Nelson; Fantagraphics Books 2011; www.kevinavery.com;  http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Afterthought-Life-Writings-Nelson/dp/1606994751/ref=pd_sim_b1

Kate Jacobs, We Own This Town (Kate Jacobs) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Karen Mantler, Speak French (Karen Mantler); composed, performed and recorded by Karen Mantler; Grog Kill Music  (ASCAP)

Don Piper, Float Through Passersby (Don Piper) recorded by Don Piper with live overdubs from the Radio Free All-Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Martha Wainwright, All Your Clothes (Martha Wainwright) live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control- Martha Wainwright (SOCAN)

Recorded by Andy Taub assisted by Sean O’Brien and Alex Thompson at Brooklyn Recording NYC, October 19, 2011

Notes:

Don Piper from China:

Hello radio free song club listeners. Don Piper here reporting from gorgeous Yangshuo, China.  I am delivering my latest song via the wonderful interweb. Its called Float Thru Passersby. I came up with the chords and melody back in New York before leaving on our adventure. The lyrics were written partially in Kunming,China and Hanoi, Vietnam. Then I put the finishing touches here in Yangshuo where I then recorded the demo entirely on my iPhone. I’ll leave it to the listener to interpret the lyrics on this one. Rock on allstars.

Peter Blegvad re: Karen Mantler

Rose Blake, the artist daughter of Sir Peter Blake (the artist who designed the Sgt Pepper cover) has set up a nice website of playlists chosen by a whole slew of creative types – songs they like working to – her site is called STUDIO MUSIC – http://www.studiomusic.fm/

I chose songs by the Who, Ry Cooder, Robert Wyatt, Hendrix, Nick Lowe, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone… and Karen Mantler (my selection from her oeuvre was “My Cat Arnold is Dead”).

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Karen several times over the years. (Just a few weeks ago she played two memorable gigs with me, John Greaves and Chris Cutler here in London). Her French may not be perfect, but she’s one of the most original composer/instrumentalist/singers around,

I hope you all will dig her too.

Karen Mantler:

My mother and I have been studying French for 20 years and still can’t speak it. We decided to give up on learning common phrases and concentrate on irregular verbs.

I wrote this song because memorizing them by rote didn’t seem to be helping. I jumbled them all up so you would really have to think about each one. But it didn’t really work because now the only way I can remember them is by singing through the song to find the one I want!

best,
Karen

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, Jeremy Chatzky, Paul Moschella, and Mark Spencer

Recorded in company with a full house at The Living Room. Ed Askew sang his warm and elevating songs (with a tipple!) & Emily Arin came in from both north and south. The author Leslie Daniels crossed the mighty Susquehanna several times at flood stage, to read an essay about kitchen implements and blow jobs, Don Piper and David Mansfield brought us to China, Amy Allison charmed utterly, romantic New Yorker that she is. And Mark Spencer on keys! Dave Schramm, Laura Cantrell, Peters Blegvad and Holsapple, Kate Jacobs, Nicholas Hill time traveling again and more.

Peter Blegvad, Too Much (Peter Blegvad) performed and recorded by Peter; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Ed Askew, For The World (Ed Askew) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars and Tyler Evans on the tipple; Copyright Control Ed Askew 2011.

Emily Arin, Nothing’s the Same (Emily Arin) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Emily Arin

Nicholas Hill, Wild Geese (Mary Oliver) reading of a poem

Dave Schramm, Under the Influence (Dave Schramm) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Laura Cantrell, Space (Laura Cantrell); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Thrift Shop Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music

Peter Holsapple, Game Day (Peter Holsapple) performed and recorded by Peter Holsapple; Hospital Music (BMI) admin Bug Music

Kate Jacobs, The Bad Day (Kate Jacobs, arrangement by Dave Schramm and the RFAS); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Don Piper, Bamboo (Don Piper) recorded by Don Piper with live overdubs from the Radio Free All-Stars featuring David Mansfield on an unnamed Chinese reed instrument; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Amy Allison, No Stars in New York City (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music

Leslie Daniels, Smoothie; Copyright 2010 Leslie Daniels

Nicholas Hill, I’m a Drifter (Travis Edmondson) live with the Radio Free All Stars; Haymarket Music Company (BMI)

Ed Askew, Little Eyes (Ed Askew) live with the Radio Free All Stars and Tyler Evans on the tipple; Copyright Control Ed Askew 2011.

Engineered by Jimi Zhivago and Ed McEntee at The Living Room, NYC, September 10, 2011

Thanks to Jennifer Gilson and everyone at The Living Room.

Notes:

Peter Holsapple: This is probably the most elaborate mix I’ve ever done on one of my recordings; I’ve learned a few new tricks and have decided to show them off, miscues and all.  Sadly, one thing I have not yet learned is how to coax those MIDI-fied trumpet sections and exotic percussion onto my tracks. Later for that. I played plenty of stuff on here, and I might’ve put more on had I not left myself too little time. As my late brother used to remind me, “nothing exceeds like excess.”

The drums, in particular, are a personal triumph. My inner B.J. Wilson revealed itself in the midst of a Saturday drum session when the kids were playing in the Eno river with their mother.

The song is a kind of pep talk one might give a member of a reuniting band who is having doubts. Nobody you know. The sports metaphor is a direct result of my many years with Hootie and the Blowfish who are diehard fans of all sports, so far as I have determined.

Holsapple syndrome is in play, as usual. I hate it when that happens with a song I wrote (?) that I really like.

Have a fun show! Please spread my love around. And sorry I didn’t get the RFSC alternate version ready yet, it’s well underway.

PH

Don Piper: Hello radio free song club from Chengdu, China. I’m happy to present my latest offering to you while traveling around China and Vietnam. That’s how we roll. It’s my first song written on a ukulele. I hope it captures a bit of the Asian vibe that surrounds me right now. I was able to find a recording studio while in Chengdu and throw it down. The engineer was an ex-pat named Jovian. He’s now the proud owner of a RFSC t-shirt. Represent. Now I can’t wait to hear what the all stars bring to it. Onward.

Peace

don piper

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, JD Foster, Paul Moschella, Timothy Hill and Doug Wieselman

This show was recorded on a hot August evening in NYC and has a distinctly loopy late summer quality. A positive blessing of songs. Laura Poe came with Don Piper and a wonderful country song (oh that David Mansfield fiddle on a country song . . . );  Greggory Stockert came from Oregon with a song and Nicholas’ brother Timothy Hill joined the All Stars on piano for the night, and guested with his own fresh tune; recorded pieces from Dave Schramm (the evil that man does?) Peter Holsapple (silk and organdy and tulle and things) Peter Blegvad (kill the trombonist); tracks overdubbed by the All Stars from guest Howe Gelb (oh so sweet, and that clarinet), Greg Trooper on a steel deck bridge and his warm wonderful voice, Kate Jacobs requesting and receiving a sweet sad sixties sound from the All Stars; the incurably romantic Jody Harris being as incurable and inscrutable as ever, and most romantic.

Howe Gelb, Reality or Not (Howe Gelb); recorded by Howe Gelb at home. Howe – piano and vocal, Thøger T. Lund – stand up bass. Live overdubs by Doug Wieselman, clarinet, and David Mansfield, thingy;  scatterland my little darlin’ (BMI)

Dave Schramm, The Terrible Hole (Dave Schramm); performed and recorded by Dave Schramm; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Laura Poe, We (Laura Poe); recorded live with Don Piper and the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Laura Poe

Peter Holsapple, Cinderella Style (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin Bug Music

Kate Jacobs, This Time Last Year (Kate Jacobs, arrangement by James MacMillan); vocals and acoustic guitar (James) recorded by Kate, live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Greggory Stockert, Falling Birds (Greggory Stockert); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Greggory Stockert (BMI)

Peter Blegvad, The Cryonic Trombone (Peter Blegvad); performed and recorded by Peter and Andy Partridge; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Greg Trooper, Steel Deck Bridge (Greg Trooper); performed and recorded by Greg with live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; 52 Shakes Music (BMI)

Timothy Hill, Conguero (Timothy Hill); live with the Radio Free All Stars;  Melihodos Music (ASCAP)

Jody Harris, She Walks It Like She Talks It (Jody Harris); recorded by Jody Harris with live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

Radio Free Song played live by the Radio Free All Stars

Engineered by Gary Arnold at The Chop Shop, NYC August 16, 2011

Notes:

Howe Gelb:

My piano is from 1888 and tuned down a whole step intentionally … so my C is really Bb … Thøger T. Lund plays stand up bass.

Dave Schramm:

I suppose this tune is my entry in the Michael Hurley anti-Monsanto song campaign, though that’s just the second verse.

Peter Holsapple:

Here’s the skinny:

I had a verse of music I liked — the melody was low, but it could’ve been a samba and sounded all right. I opted for my usual ‘folk rock’ style because my kids hid my egg shakers which made a samba out of the question. Lyrics were forthcoming, nothing too great and maybe a little artificial. It was a love song, and it needed to be less about love and more about ancillary events. On the way down to the studio, I passed my smart wife’s sewing room and began to think of cloth and its variances. It all fell together about 1:00 in the morning when I should’ve been long abed; my eyes were drooping and there were long pauses between the words I was trying to write. When it was done, I slept on it and finished the track the next day with only minor revisions.

Radio Free Song Club game: two lines remain from the original artificial version, see if you can spot them!

Instrumentation – four of me singing two parts, two Guild acoustics (one capo VII), the new Squier Modified Jaguar bass, my accordion and, for the first time EVER since ninth grade, flute. My embouchure pretty much stinks, which barely matters since my flute has shed some of its pads, limiting its playability to the notes you hear here (hear! hear!). No drums or percussion (see above for failed samba experiment).

Have a large time at the taping, and say hello to everyone from me.

Love

Peter H.

Peter Blegvad:

For our LUCKY THIRTEEN program, I contributed a track called “The Cryonic Trombone” — me reading a story over my own lo-fi guitar and keyboard riff. Andy Partridge liked the text — he called it “machine porn” — and suggested we re-record it for “Gonwards”, the album we’re making with Stuart Rowe. And, wouldn’t you know, Andy had a piece of music which gave the story a new slant and a much richer atmosphere…

I worry that it might bore regular listeners to hear the same story again, but Andy’s music is so gorgeous… plus I hope some folks might be intrigued to hear the Before and After versions, to witness the process whereby a sketch or demo has become a more ambitious and polished artifact.

About the image : As a kid, my daughter Kaye played trombone. I’ve always loved this wonky papier maché model she made of her instrument at the time…