Radio Free Song Club

All new music from:
Eszter Balint, Howe Gelb, Don Piper, Victoria Williams, Peter Holsapple, Kate Jacobs, Dave Schramm, Franklin Bruno, Chris Cochrane, Amy Allison and Freedy Johnston

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Konrad Meissner, JD Foster, Don Piper, Franklin Bruno, Chris Cochrane, Dave Schramm and Eszter Balint

We recorded this show last July at Andy Taub’s majestic Brooklyn Recording. Eszter Balint, Chris Cochrane, and Franklin Bruno were the wonderful guests. Eszter brought chaos, thankfully, Chris ran into Oren, Franklin brought heartbreak, and oh yeah, Howe broke out the Fun Machine. Best line was Victoria’s, from her song, Wonderin‘ — “I’ve been wondering about all those women who were burned at the stake — maybe it was a mistake?” Imperfect rhyme, perfect question.

Don Piper, Standing Near (Don Piper); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Victoria Williams, Wonderin’ (Victoria Williams) recorded by Victoria; Mumbletypeg Music

Eszter  Balint, All You Need (Eszter Balint); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Towing Pound Music/ASCAP

Peter Holsapple, Chappy’s Song (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music

Kate Jacobs, Every Single Time (Kate Jacobs); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI) admin. Bug Music

Dave Schramm, The Other Side of What (Dave Schramm); recorded live; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Franklin Bruno, Heartbreaking Business (Franklin Bruno); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Stopgap Measures (BMI) admin. Pacific Electric Music

Chris Cochrane, Running into Oren (Chris Cochrane); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; (BMI) Copyright control Chris Cochrane.

Eszter Balint, Departure (Eszter Balint); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Towing Pound Music/ASCAP

Howe Gelb, Cry 2 Cry; recorded by Howe Gelb with live overdubs by some All-Stars; scatterland my little darlin’ (BMI)

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

Freedy Johnston, Promises Promises (Pete Byrne/Rob Fisher); performed and recorded by Freedy Johnston

 

Recorded by Andy Taub at Brooklyn Recording, July 22, 2014

Assisted by Nick Nagurka, Chris Northrop, and Teresa Lam

Edited and Mixed by Dave Schramm

___________________

Note from Peter Holsapple:

Happy New Song! Took me long enough, but here you go.

News from the home front: I got a ton of drum mics finally, so I used them on this one. Note: on next recording, I will find a way to make them sound less like clay pots. The new P Bass makes its debut here, as does the Emu Proteus that allowed me to indulge in ‘trombones’ and ‘saxes,’ and as a nod to Jonathan and Darlene Edwards’ percussionist, ‘timpani.’ (Like ‘krab.’) I had a thoroughly excessive good time layin’ it on thick, and I think the song supports the weight I added. Special thanks go out to my brother-in-law Tom Webb for the name and Dave Schramm for the vetting.

Chappy is just your happy hapless pal, generous and remaining unaccountably aloft for years until he finally doesn’t, which changes him and your attitude toward him. His friends have always known better but chose not to share that with him because it wouldn’t have been as much fun.

Lyrics are attached. I hope you like it, it sure was fun to do.

All new music from: Jonathan Spottiswoode, Laura Cantrell, Chris Cochrane, Kate Jacobs, Amy Allison, Dave Schramm and Rick Moody, Peter Holsapple, Timothy Hill, and Jody Harris

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, David Mansfield, Chris Cochrane, Timothy Hill, Paul Moschella, JD Foster, Dave Schramm, Jimi Zhivago

Number 31 was recorded live at The Living Room on the very last night of that wonderful venue on Ludlow Street — we happily anticipate its official renaissance in Brooklyn. Jonathan Spottiswoode was a guest. Chris Cochrane was a guest and first-time All Star, and Jimi Zhivago emerged from the control booth to make an All Star cameo. Dave and Laura were present and accounted for, but brought pre-recorded tracks for live over-dubbing. Both Peter Holsapple and Jody Harris had laryngitis. Peter bravely sang his song anyway to great effect and acclaim. Jody was able to perform his song, but with only a ghost of a vocal. Sadly he refused to do his Barry White. He recorded his vocal later, making this show a particularly mashed up mash up of the Live, the Later, and the Prior.

Dave Schramm, I Will Dream Blessed Dreams (Dave Schramm/Rick Moody); Performed and recorded by Dave, augmented live by the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)/Grow Your Own Music (BMI)

Amy Allison, Goodbye Lovers’ Lane (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin. Bug Music

Jonathan Spottiswoode, So Much to Do (Jonathan Spottiswoode); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Super Pitch, SACEM

Jody Harris, What Your Friends Say (Jody Harris); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars, Jody’s vocal recorded weeks later after his flu relented; Copyright Control Jody Harris

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

Chris Cochrane, Things Change (Chris Cochrane); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Chris Cochrane

Peter Holsapple, Susie Taxi (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music/Chrysalis

Laura Cantrell, Secret Language (Laura Cantrell); Performed and recorded by Laura, augmented live by the Radio Free All Stars; Thrift Shop Songs (BMI) admin. Bug Music

Timothy Hill, Where We Are (Timothy Hill); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Timothy Hill

Jonathan Spottiswoode, It Doesn’t Take Long (Jonathan Spottiswoode); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; J SPOT music, ASCAP

Recorded live at The Living Room in NYC on October 26, 2013 by Jimi Zhivago with Steve Ha and Gabe Wilhelm

Note from Peter Holsapple about Susie Taxi:

Slinging this over the transom at an ungodly hour.

I could tell things were in bad shape when I got the miserable cold early this week. Though the song was nearly assembled, it was not yet recorded, as real life had intruded, as often it does, on my studio time. So when I started blowing my nose incessantly and feeling as though I’d swallowed a brick, I was feeling peril at hand. But I’m a diehard and rather than risk having to delve into my sordid recorded past one more time (because I didn’t finish the new song on time), I got most of the track done on Tuesday night, just as the symptoms were beginning to take me out. I had a couple days to incubate lyrics, which you will sense from their depth and vast emotional reach. But I had no voice to speak of. At the job, my comrades suggested that I look for new employment as a phone sex worker. Still I soldiered on.

Then it became Friday night. You remember, right? Last night. No vocals recorded. No ostensible voice with which to record. What to do, what to do.

It occurred to me that, in the condition my voice was in, the only thing left for an approach would be idiotic whimsy and self-abasing, so I came up with the voice you’ll hear here. It is not the eventual destination for [...]

All new music from: Joe McGinty, Will Musham, Karen Schoemer, Dan Bryk, Lianne Smith, Amy Allison, Peter Holsapple, Freedy Johnston, Kate Jacobs, Peter Blegvad and Dave Schramm

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: Dave Schramm, Jeremy Chatzky, Paul Moschella, Joe McGinty and Don Piper

The not-quite-so-final-next-to-last show at The Living Room’s Ludlow Street digs. A fine time was had by all.

Joe McGinty, Incident at Food Court (Joe McGinty); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Tralfaz Music (ASCAP)

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

Peter Holsapple, 15 Minutes (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music/Chrysalis

Will Musham, Downriver (Will Musham); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Will Musham

Karen Schoemer, Third Floor Walk Up (Karen Schoemer); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Karen Schoemer

Freedy Johnston, Diamond, Diamond Blue (Freedy Johnston); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Kate Jacobs, Uhura (Kate Jacobs); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Dan Bryk, E-R-I-N (Dan Bryk); ©2014 Dan Bryk (Socan/BMI) Performed and recorded by Bryk in Kinondoni, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania except electric guitars which Dave Schramm laid down in a basement in Brooklyn.

Dave Schramm, What Appears to be a Song About a Tree (Dave Schramm); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Peter Blegvad, Simon at the Stone (Peter Blegvad); performed and recorded by Peter Blegvad; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Lianne Smith, No Stopping, No Stopping (Lianne Smith); Copyright Control Lianne Smith

Recorded live at The Living Room in NYC on July 24th, 2013 by Jimi Zhivago with Steve Ha and Gabe Wilhelm

Notes:

Dan Bryk on E-R-I-N:

E-R-I-N is not entirely coincidentally the name of my wife, but the scenario is fictional, at least for the time being. I always wanted to get around to writing one of these, after having insisted to musician friends over the years that a spelled-out chorus almost guarantees a hit! Who could forget YMCA, Beechwood 4-5-6-7-8-9, G-L-O-R-I-A, 1-2-3-4, T-R-O-U-B-L-E, Method of Modern Love, A-E-I-O-U (and sometimes Y) . . . I could go on.

In your iTunes playlist, I suggest my song be followed by either L.O.V.E Love or D-I-V-O-R-C-E. Your call.

Peter Blegvad on Simon at the Stone:

I found myself recording a new version of Simon at the Stone as if drugged (which, alas, I yam not). Might have sucked all the life out of it, but then it is about a dead friend.

It was early June 2013 and we were back at Gary’s Chop Shop. Richard Buckner was our guest. Jon Graboff was an All Star for the first time. Summer was about to begin.

All new music from:
 Richard Buckner, Victoria Williams, Howe Gelb, Jennie Lowe Stearns, Timothy Hill, Dave Schramm, Kate Jacobs, Peter Holsapple and Don Piper.

The Radio Free All Stars: Jon Graboff, Konrad Meissner, Don Piper, JD Foster, Timothy Hill and Dave Schramm

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

 

Peter Holsapple, Bride School (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Ilene Markell, bass; Carlo Nuccio, drums; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music/Chrysalis

Jennie Lowe Stearns, Rag and Bone (Jennie Lowe Stearns); recorded and performed by Jennie, live overdubs by Timothy Hill and Jon Graboff; Porchbone Publishing (BMI)

Richard Buckner, Higher Ground (Richard Buckner); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars;

Kate Jacobs, Cool Thing (Kate Jacobs); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)

Howe Gelb, Lost Love (Howe Gelb); Performed and recorded by Howe, with live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; scatterland my little darlin’ (BMI)

Victoria Williams, People Who Love Jesus (Victoria Williams); Recorded with JC Hopkins and friends; Mumblety Peg Music (BMI)

Dave Schramm, Mad, Mad World (Dave Schramm, with lyrics based upon the poem Mad Song by William Blake); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI).

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

Timothy Hill, Live Through Twice (Timothy Hill); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Melihodos Music (ASCAP)

Richard Buckner, Now That I Know (Ted Lucas); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars;

Recorded live at Gary’s Chop Shop in NYC on June 3, 2013 by Gary Arnold. Mixed by Gary Arnold.

Happy Summer to you all. It was July outside, but cool and dark in The Living Room. Goodbye Ludlow Street? Not so fast. The first of three “final” shows at The Living Room’s Ludlow Street haunts got Chris Stamey out of the house. Laura wrote about nuns, Kate referenced Supertramp, Freedy studied the lava flows, and Steve Goulding debuted as an All-Star. And then after the show half of the participants hightailed it across the river for a farewell performance at Maxwell’s, which was in it’s final week of existence. Sigh.

All new music from:
 Chris Stamey, Freedy Johnston, Dave Schramm, Jody Harris, Amy Allison, Kate Jacobs, Peter Holsapple and Laura Cantrell

The Radio Free All Stars: Jeremy Chatzky, Steve Goulding, David Mansfield, Timothy Hill and Dave Schramm

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

 

Laura Cantrell, Sister What’s Her Name (Laura Cantrell); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Thrift Shop Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music/Chrysalis

Peter Holsapple, The Ongoing Blues (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music/Chrysalis

Chris Stamey, I Wrote This Song for You (Chris Stamey); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; ShangMoto Songs (BMI)/administered by Bug Music

Chris Stamey, Lovesick Blues (Chris Stamey); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; ShangMoto Songs (BMI)/administered by Bug Music

Freedy Johnston, I Got to Get Out of the Lab (Freedy Johnston); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Dave Schramm, He’s a Leaf in the Western Wind (Dave Schramm/Rick Moody); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Hot Stove Music (BMI)/Grow Your Own Music (BMI).

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

Jody Harris, Not For Nothing (Jody Harris); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

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

Recorded live at The Living Room in NYC on July 24, 2013 by Jimi Zhivago with Eric Feigenbaum and Gabe Wilhelm. Mixed by Dave Schramm, except I Wrote This Song For You and Lovesick Blues, which were mixed by Chris Stamey.

Notes:

Peter Holsapple on The Ongoing Blues:

It’s been a crappy month. Such overwhelming sadness from so many sources. And still I can’t seem to cry. So I wrote a song for the song club as partial therapy. I don’t feel one iota better, so I will do what the song says and soldier on.

No guitars were abused in the recording of this tune. Electric piano, organ, electric bass, singing (if you can call it that) and a lonely hi-hat in lieu of waking the family up with my ham-fisted drumming in the middle of the night. Seems fine without them, but a drummer might think otherwise.

Unsolicited advice: tell your friends and family that you love them because they need to know it.

Peter H.

Dave Schramm on He’s a Leaf (unfortunate rock variant):

Impulsive/spontaneous often = fresh/exciting. Sometimes not. I had a different song prepared for this evening. One that Rick wrote the lyric for, that we had crafted over the course of weeks. Considered, fretted over, finally grew to love. It had the same title as the song that appears here. But then, because I rather wanted to MAKE NOISE that day -sometimes you just want to make a loud noise – that morning I quickly fashioned a ROCK song hung on Rick’s lyric, a lyric for a folk song. Is that relevant? Possibly. Certainly the tone of the thing has changed with the delivery. In the end I think I have saddled the verse with noisy mediocrity. And apologies to Rick for that. And he didn’t even know about my treason until long after the deed had been done. But there is a consolation prize. I quite like the bridge bit – “A constant love, such precious thing” and am happy that it appeared from wherever these things appear from. [...]

All new music from:
 Peter Stampfel, Ed Rogers, Amy Allison, Jody Harris, Don Piper, Peter Blegvad, Kate Jacobs/Ted Reichman, Peter Holsapple, Laura Cantrell, and Dave Schramm/Rick Moody

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

The Radio Free All Stars: JD Foster, Konrad Meissner, Andy Burton, Mark Spencer, Don Piper and Dave Schramm.

Peter Stampfel brought his banjo and his fiddle and his rainbow bow, along with a tune copped from Prince Albert Hunt’s Texas Ramblers via the Harry Smith Anthology, and another old favorite he completely re-imagined. Ed Rogers brought us all to the street where he was born, channeling the Village Green. Peter Blegvad brought his God Detector. Jody sang the blues. Amy, Don, Kate and Ted, Mr. Holsapple, Dave and Rick, Laura brought daisies, thirteen year-olds, telecasters played with abandon, tremelo, hidden sorrow, and tales of West Eighth Street.

Peter Stampfel, Wake Up Jacob (trad. arr. by Peter Stampfel) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Peter Stampfel.

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

Jody Harris, Read Before You Sign (Jody Harris); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Jody Harris

Don Piper, The Less I Know is Real (Don Piper); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Peter Blegvad, God Detector (Peter Blegvad); performed and recorded by Peter Blegvad; trombone is played by Pascal Wyse; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Ed Rogers, My Street (Ed Rogers); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Edward F. Rogers (ASCAP)

Kate Jacobs, When You’re 13 (Kate Jacobs/Ted Reichman); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Small Pond Music (BMI)/Early Nothing (ASCAP)

Peter Holsapple, Only You Would Know (Peter Holsapple); performed and recorded by Peter; Hospital Music (BMI) admin by Bug Music/Chrysalis

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

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

Peter Stampfel, New Fiddler’s Dram (Peter Stampfel) recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Copyright Control Peter Stampfel.

Recorded live at The Living Room in NYC on Febraury 6, 2013 by Jimi Zhivago with Milton Ruiz and Steve Ha.

Notes:

Peter Holsapple on Only You Would Know: It tried to write itself, but it tripped over its own shoelaces and waited for me to help it back up. I think it’s an advisory song to a certain someone who would seem to have all the answers already. Rock me Sisyphus. If this were to pass beyond the demo/RFSC stage of its nascence, it would require more retooling of the words, possibly with a band saw. But for now, to use today’s vernacular, ‘it is what it is.’ (I still prefer ‘I yam what I yam’ uckguckguckguckguck.) Two telecasters (the same one twice, I mean), the Squier modified Jag bass, the drums which, after the vivacious “Pictures of My Mother” last month, are sporting a woefully taped together bass head. My new cheap vocal mic. No keyboards were harmed during the recording of this tome except to rest my drink on, nor did I once consult a thesaurus. Much love to all who sail the RFSC line this day, and I hope to see you all again in the foreseeable future, presuming we will all have one.

Peter H.

 

Dave Schramm on Electric Ladyland: Most fun I’ve had writing in a long, long while. Working from lyric to music rather than the usual music to lyric, especially with verses and meter so fluid as these, was a treat. Why don’t I always write the lyrics first? Well, because I don’t, that’s why. Anyway, thanks to Rick for asking me along on this one. And to Mark, JD, Andy and Konrad for making it real.

All new music from:
 Bob Musial, Alana Amram, Stuart Moxham, David Mansfield, Peter Holsapple, Kate Jacobs, Don Piper, Peter Blegvad, Dave Schramm, Freedy Johnston, and Amy Allison

Presented by: Nicholas Hill

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

An unusually co-writery bunch of songs for our crew.  Amy Allison and David Mansfield, Don Piper and Ed Rogers, Kate Jacobs and Dave Schramm. Curious. Jody sent us Bob Musial, and Peter Blegvad sent Stuart Moxham. All tucked into the tiny Maid’s Room — truly and virtually — where Prosperity Dumplings are always just around the corner.

Bob Musial, Cuz It’s Christmas (Bob Musial/Dave Hofstra) and Flying Over Denver (Bob Musial); recorded live  — Bob Musial, vocal and guitar; Dave Hofstra, bass; Jake Musial, electric guitar; James Carrol, drums;  Cocoa-Muck Music

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

David Mansfield: U Flipped the Switch (David Mansfield/Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Jocada Music (BMI)/Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music

Kate Jacobs, The Dark Spark (Kate Jacobs/Dave Schramm); vocals, Kate; guitar, Dave; Small Pond Music (BMI)/Hot Stove Music (BMI)

Don Piper, Diana Dors (Don Piper/Ed Rogers); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Situational Sounds (ASCAP)

Peter Blegvad, In the Middle of a Million Things (Peter Blegvad); performed and recorded by Peter Blegvad with Jody Harris on guitar; Copyright Control Peter Blegvad

Stuart Moxham, Adfrencher English Bond (Stuart Moxham); recorded by Stuart Moxham; Copyright Control Stuart Moxham

Alana Amram, Motor Bike (Alana Amram); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Alanasaurus Rex (SESAC)

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

Freedy Johnston, The Girl with the Attitude (Freedy Johnston); vocal and guitar recorded by Freedy; live overdubs by the Radio Free All Stars; Trouble Tree Music (BMI)

Amy Allison, It Doesn’t Matter Any More (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) admin Bug Music

Amy Allison, Drinking Through Christmas (Amy Allison); recorded live with the Radio Free All Stars; Shop Girl Songs (BMI) Administered by Bug Music.

 

Recorded by Jason Candler at The Maid’s Room, NYC, November 29, 2012.

Notes:

Jody Harris, on Bob Musial: My brother Bob is one of those greatest songwriters you never heard of. He grew up in Miami. His dad was a cop who sailed his boat around the islands recording Calypso guys – you can hear it in his stuff.

He was in a top forty band in Florida called Big Red and the Wild Bunch, with Greg Bell on keys. (He also knew Arto and Mark and Connie of DNA and Mars down there — !!)

Bob and Greg came to NY in the early 70s, met Don Christensen and formed a band called the Loose Screws, basically a hard rock band with Bob’s satirical lyrics and over-the-top Calypso screeching. What a band.

I met them on the 4th of July 1976. They were blasting music onto the street from Don’s loft and throwing firecrackers at the crowd below (while skateboarding, with 50 toy robots running around the floor). These people crazy, I thought. I will look more deeply into this. Eventually David Hofstra and I joined the band. In 78 or so Don Christensen and I hived off to do the Contortions. David has played with Bob ever since.

Until a couple of years ago Bob held a kind of daily pow-wow in his basement Clubhouse, where the local talent mixed with the walking wounded and made life interesting for all of us.

His band has gone through many name and personnel changes – Lefty, the House of Strangers, the Band of George. Don and I joined the Band of George in the early 90s and played fondly remembered bar gigs for several years. Lately he’s been playing with his son Jake and [...]

All new music from:
 Don Piper, Kate Jacobs, Peter Blegvad, Stivali Comodi, Jody Harris, Dave Schramm, Amy Allison, Karen Mantler, Peter Holsapple, and Laura Cantrell w/Tracyanne Campbell

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.

All new music from:
 Dana Kletter, Byron Isaacs, Victoria Williams, Freedy Johnston, Peter Holsapple, Dave Schramm, Amy Allison, Heather Fae Speaker, Peter Blegvad, Kate Jacobs, and Laura Cantrell

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)/ Grow Your Own 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.

All new music (mostly) from:
 Rick Moody, Simone White, Freedy Johnston, Don Piper, Kate Jacobs, Dave Schramm, Peter Blegvad, Laura Cantrell, Jody Harris, and Peter Holsapple; Nicholas Hill covers Levon and the Hawks

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.