RED BEETS AND HORSERADISH is inspired by a relish or side-dish usually served around the holidays of Easter or Passover by various ethnicities of Eastern Europe. For the Serbs, for example, the red of the beets is symbolic of the blood of their people, and the horseradish the bitterness of their suffering. For others, the symbolism involves the blood of their savior and the bitterness of His suffering. People in the Jewish tradition also enjoy the dish, but there is no blood involved—the beets are merely for flavor—but the horseradish does represent the memory of bitter suffering in bondage.

The songs on the album involve vignettes and portraits of people who’ve suffered—old people, sick people, crazy people, people who are alone—but the heart of the songs lies not in the suffering of the characters but in the indomitable faith and humor that sustains them.

Drums--Mike Madden

Bass--John Carson

Piano--H.K. Hilner, Hollis Greathouse

Guitars--Robert Andrew Wagner

Lead Vocals—Robert Andrew Wagner and Rosa Colucci

Background Vocals—Emma Golebie, Jack Erdie, Rosa Colucci, Robert Wagner

Produced by The Little Wretches

Recorded by Hollis Greathouse

Mastered by Tom Dimuzio

All songs by Robert Andrew Wagner except RISE by Jack Erdie (with additional traditional lyrics), WINTER’S GRACE by Annette Dietz and Robert Andrew Wagner, and OLD HUNDREDTH by Traditional, arranged by Robert Andrew Wagner