Together at the Bluebird Café
Encyclopedia
Together at the Bluebird Café is a live recording
of an "in-the-round" concert by three critically acclaimed Texan singer-songwriters, Steve Earle
, Townes Van Zandt
, and Guy Clark
. Each of the three songwriters alternate between solo performances. The album is unique for the camaraderie between the three artists whose personal lives and musical careers are very much intertwined.
, low-income, working people
and their children in the greater Nashville
area." In the liner notes Clark indicates, "When I asked Guy, Townes, and Steve to help me raise money for the Interfaith Dental Clinic, I had no idea what a stir it would cause." The clinic is mentioned in the program by Townes Van Zandt who apparently had been a recipient of their services. Van Zandt tells a story of an incident in which he lost a gold tooth
while shooting dice.
The recording took place on September 3, 1995 at Nashville
's nationally renowned venue for songwriters, The Bluebird Café. Owner and manager, Amy Kurland, described the show as "one of the best" in 19 years.
The concert took place just 15 months before Townes Van Zandt's death. As was true 22 years earlier in his Live at the Old Quarter, Van Zandt's humor, wedged between some very sad songs is a prominent feature. The stripped down versions of Earle's songs are also unique. Earle's own live performances and albums rarely offer the listener so many chances to hear his music without the backing of a full band. Guy Clark spends the least time talking between songs, allowing his songs to tell their own stories. Occasionally the artists interact, like when Clark joins Earle on the "Mercenary Song".
A female vocalist not credited in the liner notes, but apparently Emmylou Harris
adds a harmony vocal to Guy Clark's "Immigrant Eyes" and on Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road". Earle names Mark Stuart
as the additional guitarist on "Copperhead Road".
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of an "in-the-round" concert by three critically acclaimed Texan singer-songwriters, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
, and Guy Clark
Guy Clark
Guy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
. Each of the three songwriters alternate between solo performances. The album is unique for the camaraderie between the three artists whose personal lives and musical careers are very much intertwined.
History
The event was organized by Susanna Clark (Guy Clark's wife) as a benefit for the Interfaith Dental Clinic, an organization that works to "restore, protect, and improve the oral health of uninsuredHealth insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, low-income, working people
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
and their children in the greater Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
area." In the liner notes Clark indicates, "When I asked Guy, Townes, and Steve to help me raise money for the Interfaith Dental Clinic, I had no idea what a stir it would cause." The clinic is mentioned in the program by Townes Van Zandt who apparently had been a recipient of their services. Van Zandt tells a story of an incident in which he lost a gold tooth
Crown (dentistry)
A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. They are typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement. Crowns can be made from many materials, which...
while shooting dice.
The recording took place on September 3, 1995 at Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
's nationally renowned venue for songwriters, The Bluebird Café. Owner and manager, Amy Kurland, described the show as "one of the best" in 19 years.
The concert took place just 15 months before Townes Van Zandt's death. As was true 22 years earlier in his Live at the Old Quarter, Van Zandt's humor, wedged between some very sad songs is a prominent feature. The stripped down versions of Earle's songs are also unique. Earle's own live performances and albums rarely offer the listener so many chances to hear his music without the backing of a full band. Guy Clark spends the least time talking between songs, allowing his songs to tell their own stories. Occasionally the artists interact, like when Clark joins Earle on the "Mercenary Song".
A female vocalist not credited in the liner notes, but apparently Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
adds a harmony vocal to Guy Clark's "Immigrant Eyes" and on Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road". Earle names Mark Stuart
Mark Stuart
Mark Stuart is the name of:*Mark Stuart , ice hockey player in the National Hockey League*Mark Stuart , lead singer of Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline...
as the additional guitarist on "Copperhead Road".
Track listing
- "Baby Took a Limo to Memphis" (Guy ClarkGuy ClarkGuy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
) – 3:31 - "My Old Friend the Blues" (Steve EarleSteve EarleStephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
) – 3:03 - Townes: Introduction to "Katie Belle" – 1:44
- "Katie Belle" (Townes Van ZandtTownes Van ZandtJohn Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
) – 3:13 - "The Cape" (Guy Clark, Susanna ClarkSusanna ClarkSusanna Clark may refer to:* Susanna Clark, American songwriter and wife of Guy Clark* Susanna Clarke, British novelist...
, Jim Jonosky) – 3:29 - Steve: Introduction to "Valentine's Day" – 1:03
- "Valentine's Day" (Earle) – 3:10
- "Ain't Leavin' Your Love" (Van Zandt) – 2:55
- "Randall Knife" (Clark) – 4:46 (a reference to Randall Made KnivesRandall Made KnivesRandall Made Knives, usually referred to as Randall, is an American manufacturer specializing in custom handcrafted knives founded by Walter Doane "Bo" Randall, Jr. The factory and showroom is located in Orlando, Florida. Randall offers 28 models of knives for different applications, each...
) - "Tom Ames' Prayer" (Earle) – 3:22
- Townes: The Interfaith Dental Clinic – 4:29
- "A Song For" (Van Zandt) – 3:29
- "Dublin Blues" (Clark) – 4:29
- "I Ain't Ever Satisfied" (Earle) – 4:00
- "Pancho and LeftyPancho and Lefty"Pancho and Lefty" is a song written by country singer and songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Van Zandt first recorded it for his 1972 album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt...
" (Van Zandt) – 5:22 - "Immigrant Eyes" (Clark, Roger Murrah) – 4:08
- Steve: Sirocco's Pizza – 1:42
- "Mercenary Song" (Earle) – 3:02
- "Tecumseh Valley" (Van Zandt) – 4:36
- "Copperhead Road" (Earle) – 3:20
Charts
| year | chart | peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Top Internet Albums |
21 |
Credits
- Executive ProducerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
s: Amy Kurland, Len Handler, Phil Kurnit - Compilation produced by: Vinny Adinolfi
- Edited by: Elliott Federman & Vinny Adinolfi
- Mastered by: Elliott Federman at Saje Sound, New York, New York
- Recorded at the Bluebird CaféBluebird cafeThe Bluebird Cafe is a music club in Nashville, Tennessee that opened in 1982. The club is famous for intimate, acoustic music performed by its composers...
, Nashville, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
by: Neil Fagan & Phil Smith - Production coordinator for The Bluebird Café: Fran Overall
- Art Direction & Design: Amy Bennick, Anything You See, Inc.
- Photography: Señor McGuire, Al Clayton, Steve Luvkin, Michael Wilson, and Anthony Lathrop
Releases
| year | format | label | catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | CD | American Originals | 4006 |
| 2001 | CD | Catfish Catfish Records Catfish Records was a UK record label, initially devoted to reissuing blues records, mostly from the era of 78 rpm records. They concentrated on country blues and delta blues during the heyday of the late 1920s and the early 1930s, with forays into later eras up to the arrival of rhythm and blues... |
214 |
| 2004 | CD | Snapper Snapper Music Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996 by former head of Castle Communications Jon Beecher, Dougie Dudgeon and funded by the late Mark Levinson from Palan Music Publishing. In 1999 Snapper broke away from its parent company in an MBO in association with ACT and CAI venture... |
161 |