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Woodstock, NY-based composer and musician Will Epstein joins Al to introduce him to Lou Reed’s 1982 album The Blue Mask. Will talks about when he first got acquainted with the Velvet Underground and how he eventually started listening to Reed’s solo material and The Blue Mask specifically. He breaks down several of the album’s tracks, illustrating what impresses him about Reed as a songwriter and performer. Will also discusses his recently-released album Yeah, mostly and talks about his upcoming plans.

You can follow Will on Instagram at @willcrushwater and find his music on Bandcamp at https://willepstein.bandcamp.com/.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first seven episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum

1:15 Will's introduction

1:55 Will talks about how he first got interested in the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed

5:24 Will explains why The Blue Mask impressed him when he first explored it

13:04 Al and Will discuss the album’s track sequencing

16:35 Will explains how “My House” inspires him

20:44 Will discusses the contradictions of “Women” and “Underneath the Bottle”

24:36 Will sees Reed as being connected to Larry David

26:50 Al is impressed by the fluidity of the moods on The Blue Mask

28:03 Will hears contradictions in “Waves of Fear,” too

32:15 Will talks about how listening to The Blue Mask had an impact on the making of Yeah, mostly

40:25 Will explains why he name-checked Reed in “Socks in LA”

42:23 Will revisits some of the times he saw Reed perform

44:07 Did Will channel Reed on “Dishwasher”?

49:03 Will explains why he chose Yeah, mostly as the album title

53:12 Will talks about his plans for the coming months

Outro music is from “Brideshead Revisited Revisited” by Will Epstein.

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This is an excerpt from the first-ever Patreon-only episode of You, Me and An Album, aka Bonus Tracks. On the original version of this episode, Mary Beth and Al Melchior discuss four songs, two that Mary Beth experiences as sad and two that Al experiences as sad. Al's choices were “Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" by James and “Murmurations” by Amy Millan. Mary Beth’s were “Remember My Name” by Sons of Legion and “Hallelujah” by k.d. lang (specifically, her performance of the song at the 2005 Juno Awards). This excerpted version features the discussions of "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" and "Hallelujah." Mary Beth and Al wound up having very different reactions to each of the songs, and they try to figure out why each song made one of them sad but not the other.

To hear k.d. lang's Juno Awards performance of "Hallelujah," you can find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE&list=RDP_NpxTWbovE&start_radio=1.

Mary Beth has a wonderful poetry channel on YouTube! Check it out and subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@OnThePath88.

You can also follow Mary Beth on Instagram at @mbmelchior.

To hear the full version of this episode, plus all of the other Bonus Tracks episodes, join the YMAAA Patreon at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

1:47 What to expect from Bonus Tracks

4:38 Mary Beth joins the show

5:57 The theme of this episode was Mary Beth’s idea

7:05 Mary Beth and Al deal with sadness in music very differently

Discussion of specific sad songs

8:37 James, “Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)"

29:36 k.d. lang, “Hallelujah”

45:10 Other versions of “Hallelujah”

48:39 Mary Beth helps Al to understand why he doesn’t get “Hallelujah”

58:15 Mary Beth’s final thoughts about comparing reactions to the songs

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Woodstock, NY-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Storey Littleton joins Al to talk about Madi Diaz’s 2021 album History of a Feeling. Storey explains why she chose to discuss this album, even though she doesn’t always listen to it regularly, and she highlights certain tracks that are among her favorites. She also talks about how the album is a departure from the breakup albums that she used to listen to. Storey and Al chat about Storey’s soon-to-be-released debut album At a Diner (Feb. 6 on Don Giovanni Records), and Storey goes into detail about how the writing and recording process for her recent single “January” developed.

You can pre-order At a Diner from Storey’s website, and while you’re there, you can also check out her videos, tour dates and more. Just go to https://storeylittleton.com/.

Also, you can follow Storey and her bands on the following platforms…

Storey:

@storeylittletn on Instagram

@storeylittleton on YouTube

Monogamy:

@m0nogamy on Instagram

Ida:

@talesofbraveida on Instagram

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first six episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum

1:33 Storey’s introduction

2:17 Storey chose History of a Feeling, even though she doesn’t always listen to it frequently

6:25 Storey’s mother was instrumental in her discovery of this album

9:01 Storey explains why she has such a strong affinity for the album

10:40 Storey talks about her most recent experience with listening to History of a Feeling

16:57 Al explains why he listened to the album backwards

20:27 Storey expounds on the indirectness of some of Diaz’s lyrics

21:54 Storey found listening to History of a Feeling to be a shocking experience

27:49 Al talks about a lyric that stood out for him

30:07 Storey and Al take note of the harmonies on “Do It Now’

30:49 Storey explains why “Man in Me” is one of her favorite songs on the album

35:39 History of a Feeling was a gateway to other music for Storey

37:51 Storey talks about a couple of other tracks that are among her favorites

40:33 Storey mentions the various drummers who performed on At a Diner

42:33 Storey discusses her parents’ contributions to At a Diner

43:27 Storey talks about the development of “January”

51:11 Why does Storey like playing at Tubby’s?

53:13 What’s next for Storey?

Outro music is from “At a Diner” by Storey Littleton.

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This is an excerpt from a Bonus Tracks episode published on the You, Me and An Album Patreon on Sept. 25, 2025. You can hear the entire episode, plus all of the other Bonus Tracks episodes, by joining the YMAAA Patreon at patreon.com/youmealbum.

Dulcimer player Sam Edelston joins Al to talk about listening to albums that are off the beaten path. Whether we're listening to genres we're unfamiliar with or music that we come across unexpectedly, finding the key that allows us to enjoy that music can be a challenge. Sam and Al talk about their experiences with listening to albums on a list that Sam created, which features artists ranging from Tom Lehrer to Bobby Bare to Kazuhito Yamashita. Sam also discusses how he has discovered and reimagined music through the fretted dulcimer—and he and Al chat about his terrific dulcimer rock album Making Waves.

You can keep up with Sam and his music at the following places:

https://www.samthemusicman.com/

@contemporarydulcimer on Instagram and YouTube

@Sam.Edelston.Music on Facebook

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

0:17 Introduction: Sharing excerpts from Bonus Tracks

2:55 Sam joins the show

3:08 Al explains how he is approaching this episode

4:36 Sam talks about why he took up fretted dulcimer

7:44 “Mellow Yellow” got Sam started on his exploration of rock songs on dulcimer

9:20 Sam talks about the advantages of playing a three-stringed instrument

11:49 Sam explains how he varies some of the arrangements on his cover songs

16:09 Sam aims to take the integration of dulcimer into rock music to another level

19:33 Al didn’t connect with some of the music on Sam’s list

24:02 Sam found each of the albums on his list in unexpected ways

28:03 Hearing a cappella versions of songs sometimes gets Sam to explore the originals

35:49 Sometimes record store recommendations fill in the gaps that radio listening leaves

37:05 Al highlights some of the music from Sam’s list that he liked the most

39:09 Arranging songs for dulcimer enhances Sam’s enjoyment of songs that are new to him

Outro music is from “Wild Horses” by Edelston & Dulcimer.

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On this episode, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Maia Sharp gets Al acquainted with Lord Huron’s 2018 album Vide Noir. (Maia was previously a guest on Ep 124, when she and Al talked about Historian by Lucy Dacus.) Maia explains why Vide Noir is on heavy rotation at her home and how this album—and Lord Huron’s music more generally—has informed her own songwriting. She also discusses the making of her latest album Tomboy, delving into some of the lyrical themes, arrangements and songwriting processes.

Learn more about Maia and her music at https://www.maiasharp.com/! To hear exclusive songs, previews and much more, check out Maia’s Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/maiasharp.

You can also follow Maia on Instagram at @maiasharpmusic and on Facebook at @maiasharpofficial.

At the end of this episode, Al mentioned the song that Maia co-wrote as part of the Songwriting With Soldiers program. To learn more about the making of “Strumming Hand,” see the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDhW4szERds. To learn more about Songwriting With Soldiers, visit their website at https://songwritingwithsoldiers.org/.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first six episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum

1:19 Maia’s introduction

2:19 Al had heard of Lord Huron before…barely

6:03 Maia explains why she picked Vide Noir for this episode

11:02 Maia talks about songwriting lessons she has learned from Lord Huron

16:04 Al and Maia compare the experiences of listening to Lord Huron and Bon Iver

21:20 Al and Maia talk about the lack of action in Ben Schneider’s story

24:51 Maia loves the slackness of the drums on Vide Noir

30:16 Why doesn’t Maia usually like music that sounds theatrical?

32:18 Maia and Al note the album’s blend of retro and futuristic sounds

34:21 Maia appreciates how listening to Vide Noir is a full experience

39:04 There’s not much suspense as to how the protagonist’s story is going to end

40:13 Maia took a different approach to listening to Vide Noir in preparing for this episode

43:13 Maia talks about the use of percussion on Tomboy

48:08 Maia recounts the process of writing “Better Story” with Matthew Perryman Jones

52:30 Maia talks about her upcoming plans

Outro is from “Strumming Hand” by Maia Sharp.

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For the final YMAAA episode of 2025, music photographer, podcaster, entrepreneur and record collector Scott Dudelson introduces Al to Dillard & Clark’s 1968 debut album The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark. Scott talks about how he first encountered the album, why it had special significance for him during an important time in his life and why it continues to be a favorite album of his. He also discusses how bluegrass legend Doug Dillard and rock icon Gene Clark became a duo and how Bernie Leadon came to be an important contributor to their work. Scott also talks about his Legends podcast, his work as a music photographer and rebuilding his substantial record collection after losing his home in the Palisades Fire.

You can check out Scott’s interviews on his @alldayvinyl YouTube channel or at the home for his Legends podcast, https://musiclegendspodcast.com/.

Scott mentioned his Instagram account, and you can follow him there at @alldayvinyl. He also has an IG account for his photography at @photos_by_the_dude.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first five episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum

1:15 Scott’s introduction

2:08 Scott explains why he picked this Dillard & Clark album for this episode

3:40 Learning about Dillard & Clark helped both Scott and Al to better see the connections between country and rock

5:24 Scott revisits his experience of buying The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark

9:08 Scott recalls what impressed him about the album initially

10:33 Scott talks about Bernie Leadon’s role on the album

13:10 Scott discusses some of the details regarding the album that he learned from interviewing Leadon

17:21 Scott explains why this album resonates for him personally

22:35 Scott spotlights the songs that stand out for him

25:58 “Train Leaves Here This Morning” sent Al on a musical exploration

27:44 "The Radio Song” reminded Scott and Al of other songs

30:41 The Dillard & Clark album inspired Scott to explore other music

33:35 Scott talks about starting All Day Vinyl and interviewing Leadon

35:30 Scott discusses the process of rebuilding his record collection with help from donations

39:44 Scott doesn’t just listen to music on vinyl

41:33 Scott mentions some interviews he has done for his Legends podcast

43:02 Scott explains how he got started as a music photographer

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Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Madison Cunningham joins Al to introduce him to the 1968 debut album by Silver Apples, Madison talks about how she became acquainted with the album, the unusual way the album was made and why it has become a meaningful album for her personally. She and Al highlight their favorite tracks and discuss how they relate to the album’s lyrics. Madison also discusses the making of her latest album, Ace, and the process of selecting its three singles.

For Madison’s tour info, merch, newsletter and more, go to her website at https://www.madisoncunningham.com/.

You can also follow Madison on the following platforms:

Instagram: @madicunningham

Facebook: @madisoncunninghammusic

Tiktok: @madisoncunningham_

YouTube: @madisoncunningham

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first five episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum

1:26 Madison’s introduction

2:21 Madison explains what makes Silver Apples special for her

4:49 Madison shares how she first discovered this album

5:52 Madison talks about her initial experiences with listening to the album

9:08 Al describes his listening experience

11:35 Madison got some songwriting insights from listening to Silver Apples

13:39 Sliver Apples reminded Al of another artist covered on YMAAA

16:19 Madison and Al talk about the surprisingly human quality of the music, even though it’s electronic

19:09 Madison talks about Silver Apples' performance in Central Park for the moon landing

21:29 Madison recounts how Silver Apples disbanded after the release of their second album

23:57 Al explains why he finds “Oscillations” amusing

25:51 Madison and Al discuss their favorite tracks from the album

31:07 “Dancing Gods” left both Madison and Al confused

34:09 Madison appreciates Danny Taylor’s approach to drumming

36:39 Madison talks about her reactions to the album’s lyrics

41:52 Madison sees bands like Silver Apples as an antidote to the negative side of the singer-songwriter scene

43:46 Is there a common link between Silver Apples and Madison’s work?

47:36 Madison talks about her mindset during the time of making Ace

50:58 Do the singles from Ace feel like singles?

54:51 Madison explains why she recorded new live versions of songs for music videos

59:28 Madison talks about her upcoming tour and plugs one of her favorite albums of 2025

Outro music is from “Goodwill” by Madison Cunningham

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On this episode, UK-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Jack Cooper of Modern Nature introduces Al to the 1997 Michael Head Introducing The Strands album The Magical World of the Strands. Jack talks about how and when he first learned about Head’s work and how he eventually became familiar with The Magical World of the Strands. He explains why he thinks this particular album stands out in Head’s discography and why it has a timeless quality. Jack also discusses Modern Nature’s latest album, The Heat Warps, and the ways in which it is a departure from the band’s prior releases.

To learn more about Modern Nature, their music and tour schedule, visit their website at modernnature.band. Also, you can follow the band on Instagram at @m0dernnature and on Facebook at @modernnatureuk.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

1:18 Jack’s introduction

2:11 Jack was first introduced to Head’s music through Shack

6:58 Head’s music was never heavily marketed

8:54 Jack recalls how he wound up exploring The Magical World of the Strands

15:06 Jack explains what makes The Magical World of the Strands stand out among Head’s albums

17:32 Al shares his initial reactions to the album

20:33 Jack theorizes how Head and the Strands were able to make an album that sounded like it was from a different time

23:02 Jack and Al talk about the album’s “horizontal” nature

25:42 Al discusses the circumstance in which he did most of his listening to the album

27:49 Jack is a fan of Head’s more recent work with the Red Elastic Band

33:33 Jack shares his final thoughts about the album

36:13 Al sees a link between a comment made by Miki Berenyi and the themes on The Heat Warps

38:45 Jack talks about his perception of the U.S. based on his tour experiences

41:16 Jack stresses the importance of artists showing solidarity with those who resist the rise of fascism

43:37 Al explains why he finds The Heat Warps to be a rewarding listen

45:16 Jack talks about the importance of making albums sound cohesive

48:39 Jack explains why he referenced a line from “Stairway to Heaven” in “Jetty”

54:54 Jack shares the upcoming plans for Modern Nature

Outro music is from “Pharaoh” by Modern Nature.

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On this episode, English alternative rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer Wreckless Eric talks to Al about Tom Petty’s 1989 multi-Platinum solo debut Full Moon Fever. Eric explains how he was belatedly introduced to the album, and what he loves and doesn’t love about it. He also makes the case for Full Moon Fever being the original Dad Rock album. Eric talks about his new solo album, England Screaming, which is a remaking of A Roomful of Monkeys, the lone album released by his mid-‘80s project Captains of Industry.

You can find all things Wreckless Eric-related on his website, wrecklesseric.com. You can also follow Eric on Instagram at @thewrecklesseric. For Eric’s videos, check out his YouTube channel at @wrecklessericericgoulden6001.

You can buy or stream England Screaming—and some of Eric’s other work—on Bandcamp at https://wrecklesseric.bandcamp.com/.

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

1:25 Eric’s introduction

2:11 Eric explains why he chose Full Moon Fever for this episode

5:10 Eric talks about the homemade nature of the Full Moon Fever recording

9:24 Eric was not listening to Petty around the time that Full Moon Fever came out

12:47 Eric recalls what impressed him about the album when he first listened to it

15:28 Eric talks about the unique way the drums were recorded

20:40 Eric thinks Full Moon Fever could be the first Dad Rock album

28:06 Does “Free Fallin’” fit the theme of the album?

33:52 Eric explains how the bright acoustic guitar sound was created on “Free Fallin’”

36:41 Eric recalls an encounter with producer Denny Cordell

41:17 Eric has a theory for why Petty included a cover of “Feel a Whole Lot Better” on the album

45:28 Eric talks about how Full Moon Fever was initially going to have fewer tracks

47:28 Al didn’t realize Full Moon Fever preceded The Traveling Wilburys

49:16 Eric explains why the album wasn’t called Songs from the Garage

52:32 Eric discusses what makes Full Moon Fever a complicated listening experience for him

1:04:17 Eric and Al talk about features of “Runnin’ Down a Dream” they like

1:07:14 Eric recommends that the “haters” listen to the whole album

1:08:13 Eric explains why he remade A Roomful of Monkeys as England Screaming

1:14:33 Eric talks about recording England Screaming with drummer Sam Shepherd

1:21:43 Eric extols the virtues of playing slow

1:25:09 Eric explains why A Roomful of Monkeys didn’t turn out the way he envisioned

1:28:09 Eric talks about his upcoming live events

1:29:29 Eric discusses the importance of the arts

Outro music is from “Land Of The Faint At Heart” by Wreckless Eric.

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On this episode, Nashville-based, Australian-born singer-songwriter Emma Swift introduces Al to Bon Iver’s 2007 album For Emma, Forever Ago. Emma talks about how she first learned about Bon Iver and this particular album as a DJ in Sydney. She explains what drew her to Justin Vernon’s music and what set him apart from other indie artists of the late 2000s. Emma also highlights some of her favorite aspects and moments from For Emma, Forever Ago. She and Al wind up by discussing her latest album, The Resurrection Game, how it came to have its full, cinematic sound, and what she has planned for the months ahead.

TRIGGER WARNING: At 44:47, Emma makes a brief reference to suicidal ideation. Skip ahead to 45:14 to resume with the next topic.

Correction: Al says that For Emma, Forever Ago was Justin Vernon’s solo debut. However, prior to that album, Vernon had made two albums under his own name and one as “JD Vernon.”

There is no shortage of ways to keep up with Emma, so make sure you visit/follow her on the following platforms!

Socials: @emmaswiftsings on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Website: https://www.emmaswift.com/

Blog: https://emmaswiftsings.substack.com/

Be sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. 

The first four episodes of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—are now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.

To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.

1:31 Emma’s introduction

2:10 Emma and Al were not trying to be cute with this episode’s album selection

3:00 Emma shares her reasons for picking For Emma, Forever Ago

6:47 Emma admires the introspective creative process that Vernon employed for making this album

11:40 Al explains why he had a difficult time getting into the album

14:04 Should Al have chosen a different album from Emma’s short list?

15:51 Emma talks about what distinguishes For Emma, Forever Ago from other late-Aughts folk

20:36 Listening to Bon Iver is part of Al’s effort to catch up on music he missed in the 2000s and 2010s

24:31 Emma names some artists that she has caught up on recently

26:23 Vernon’s honesty about his struggles caught Emma’s attention

28:44 Al talks about some of the features of Vernon’s production that he liked

31:47 Emma focuses on two of the tracks she enjoys from the album

37:09 Emma explains why she thinks this album is “uncoverable”

41:03 Emma talks about why she opted for a cinematic approach with The Resurrection Game

46:57 Emma notes the ascendancy of a new model of masculinity in indie music

52:41 Emma talks about her upcoming touring and recording plans

59:02 Emma tells us about the concerts she has recently attended

1:00:58 Emma has another covers album coming out

1:03:24 Emma talks about some of the music she’s been listening to

1:07:27 Emma has a theory about Al’s musical tastes

1:10:28 Emma recommends the Michael Shannon/Jason Narducy R.E.M. shows

Outro music is from “No Happy Endings” by Emma Swift.

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