2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 01:40 PM

I just received an e-mail from the good folks at Righteous Babe - the problem with their website is all taken care of.

Remember that if you order directly from Righteous Babe, it means a greater benefit for Utah's family. Of course, CAMSCO and Folk Legacy are companies that deserve our commerce as well, so those are also wonderful ways to get hold of it. I haven't seen it on the Folk Legacy website, but that doesn't mean they don't have that. You can always call and find out, and enjoy a lovely talk with Caroline Paton while you're at it!

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:33 PM

You can also call Righteous Babe directly at 1-800-ON-HER-OWN (716-852-7978 for international customers). I've e-mailed and them know about your issue.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Janie
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:18 PM

OK Dick. I'm headed for your website now.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:17 PM

Both CAMSCO and Folk-Legacy are carrying it. Can't get any more upright than that.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Janie
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:07 PM

I went to Righteous Babe and received a warning that their certificate has expired and a caution that it could be a site mascarading as the Righteous Babe site. They probably just neglected to renew the certificate, but I am hesitant to enter credit card information, being of the paranoid persuasion.

Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Andrez
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 07:59 PM

Ok folks, I've just come back from our National Folk Festival in Canberra. Thanks very much for the info and feedback I can rest easy now that I know a little more about how the Singing Through the Hard Times CD came about and that the issues were about logistics of one kind or another, not politics.

I agree completely with Dans statement above that its about Utah and his legacy. I guess I'll just have to play Heart Songs at least as much as the double CD. That shouldnt be too hard to take although it might put my 15 year old on edge a little bit...... sod 'er, but I think she'll come to understand as she gets a little older!

You guys are so privilieged to have known Utah on such a personal basis!

Can you please make sure the concerts are videoed and recorded so that more of the magic of Utahs songs, as well as that of the individual singers, can be presented to the world at large?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 10:52 AM

As others have said, there were no politics involved, just circumstance.

There are a lot of folks who could have participated - Jody and Kate chief among them. They were, as Jacqui said, tough to get hold of - apparently our initial attempts at communication just never got through . By the time we finally did, the CD was already stuffed to the gills and the hour was late. They were nevertheless very generous in donating the songwriter's royalty from "Miner's Lullaby," which they co-wrote, to the cause. I'm glad to say they understood completely held no hard feelings about not having a song of their own on the CD. Everybody was SO gracious.

I have a fantasy that some time in the future there will be another CD, one of Utah Phillips songs that have never before been recorded, or that he never wrote melodies to and that some of the folks who didn't get back to us in time or who we didn't end up having space for will be on that one. But one thing at a time.

Andrez, I'm glad you like the CD. And I was sad too that we didn't get through to Jody and Kate in time - I love that Heart Songs CD.

Personally, I think Singing Through the Hard Times is as much a concept as a collection of performances. It's not about the individual musicians; it's about Utah and his legacy. As we start having some concerts associated with this CD, there's no reason at all why they should be limited exclusively to the musicians on the CD - especially when there are so many good folks singing and recording his songs - folks like Jody and Kate, Laurie Lewis, Kuddie, Anne Feeney, Bob and Diane Suckiel, and so many others.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 09:07 AM

Oops .... cross posted with jacqui. That's what happens when I type on the Iphone. Takes forever.

That little synopsis of mine is very much a fingernail sketch designed to let you know how it came about. In fact there was a lot more work than it shows by Dan, the Morses, and the folks at Righteous Babe. But you get the idea.

Mick

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:54 AM

Andrez, it was nothing like that. The CD was less a planned project than it was a happening. It started out as a discussion between Dan Schatz and Kendall Morse and Jacqui Morse at a gathering in Maine. Gordon Bok was there and he said he would donate a track. Someone suggested they ask me for a track, which I, of course, said yes to. Kendall, Jacquie and Dan started asking around among friends and soon folks like Paxton jumped in. One thing led to another and folks like Seeger and Jean Ritchie hopped in, as well as Emmy Lou and Mary Black, and all the other great artists. Next thing Dan knows, his little producing project with 12 or 14 tracks among friends is now 39 tracks and a major project. And he did a phenomenal job.

There are any number of folks, in retrospect, that "should" have been on it (Anne Feeney, for example) but that isn't how this came about. It sort of took on a life of it's own.

I happened to be doing a couple of benefit concerts for Utah (one just before he died at The Ark and one after he passed in Grand Rapids, MI) when Dan mentioned he was looking for a label to handle distribution. I was working with Jim Fleming who represented Utah. Jim also represents Ani Difranco and got her involved which is how Righteous Babe    became involved. Dan would tell you that those folks have been invaluable.

So the answer to your question is that, no, there were no intrigues or purposeful exclusions. Dan, Kendall, and Jacqui just went to work and this is where it ended.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 08:35 AM

I actually tried to contact Kate and Jody by email relatively early on in the process but got no reply from them. Having had success in contacting others, such as Finest Kind and Rosalie Sorrells in the same way, and in view of the fact that the CD quickly became over subscribed with those who wanted to take part, we didn't follow up on those who did not reply to the initial request.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Andrez
Date: 14 Apr 09 - 01:49 AM

So being so far away in Australia, I am curious as to why there wasnt any contribution by Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin? Was it an omission, something to do with "local" musicians politics or what?

I have a copy of Heart Songs, a great individual tribute to Utahs songs by Jody and Kate and from the distance of Australia I just fail to understand why their work was not included as part of the testimonial recording.

Please be clear though that I dont want to take away one thing from all the contributors to this album but for the life of me I just dont understand. Could someone please make this a little clearer?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: topical tom
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 11:56 AM

I just purchased the cds from Righteous Babe and am looking forward to a treasury of music. It will bring back fond memories of seeing and hearing Utah's stories and songs live. Truly a master of story-telling and song and a great humanitarian as well.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 04:26 PM

Well, yes, 10 out of 10 for prose style, but only 5 out of 10 for spelling. You should see the Dutch review. Still - "homagerie!"

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Mark Ross
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 04:17 PM

Good reviews. But that last one Dan, well, they credit the music to LOOK FOR ME IN BUTTE to Mark MOSS! Hope they don't send him the royalties(Yuk, yuk, yuk, as Curly used to say).


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 12:21 PM

It is so good to see that this set has been so favourably commented on, so soon after release. Hopefully that will engender sales, which will benefit Joanna. I feel priviledged to have played a small part in bringing this to fruition.

This is truly Folk at its best.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 11:50 AM

It's hard to believe it's only been a little over a month since the official release of this CD. We've had some very nice reviews, including one from the All Music Guide which highlighted our own Jacqui as an "AMG Track Pick." There's also a wonderful review from About.com, and two from the UK: NetRhythms and Fatea Records Magazine. There are others.... My current favorite, though, has to be from the Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange, not just for what it says about he CD, but for what it says about Utah. And because it uses the word "homagerie."

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 03:25 PM

I just got this CD in the mail and popped it into my Mac, loaded it into my iTunes, and am gonna take it out to the car and listen to it over and over and over--I kinda wish I were starting on a driving trip around the country--the miles would just fly by. What an absolute treasure! I know what each of the Monday Night at Sally's members are gonna get for their birthdays for the next year (all purchased, of course, from Righteous Babe).

Charles

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 12:02 AM

< For today "Starlight On The Rails" is my favorite cut. It will change.
This was Kendall's copy. I will be ordering my own this week.
SINS>>


So glad you liked it! Thrilled to be part of the tribute. I have many happy memories of Phillips, especially of my two years (70-71) on the road with him playing harmonica.

I'm still around, though I haven't been touring as widely as I did in the 1970's, 80'and 90s, when I used to do a lot of North American festivals and clubs as well as overseas gigs.

Cheers,

Saul Broudy
Philadelphia, PA USA

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 09:48 PM

I haven't asked recently how they're doing - I figured at this point it's mostly between Righteous Babe and Joanna. I do know that we've been getting a fair amount of airplay and attention on radio stations in the US and the UK, which is encouraging.
Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Mar 09 - 11:39 PM

Dan, How are you doing with this? I hope well--or at least decently.

Folks. I hope we're thinking of picking up this set of CDs. Remember, the cash is going to Joanna Robinson, Utah's wife, to pay bills and for other pressing needs. Personally, I'm loving it. Mary Black's voice is just the best.

On we go.

Art

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: bbc
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 04:34 PM

Yes, Duane & I had the pleasure of hearing Kat at Chocolate Church in Bath, Maine. She has a lovely voice!

Barbara

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Nancy King
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 03:42 PM

I agree about Kat's voice, Karen. Simply beautiful. And believe it or not, she's even better in person. We'll need to see more of her!

Nancy

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: karen k
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 01:02 PM

Me again. Just got to the song by Kat Logan. What a voice! Never heard her before. Can't wait to get these 2 cd's into my iPod. I'm pretty sure that I've heard Utah sing all of these at one time or another and that is what makes this collection so special for me. Love them.

k

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: karen k
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 12:52 PM

WOW! Just got a copy. Listening to it right now. Bodie Wagner, a good friend of Utah's. Brilliant job, Dan, Jacqui and Kendall. Wonderful voices I've heard for years, and some wonderful voices I've never heard. Many good friends grace this set. The only thing missing for me would have been a something sung by Utah himself to end the set. Be very proud. This is wonderful.

karen kobela

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: C. Ham
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 02:26 PM

Why have I never heard Saul Brodie before

The first few times I ever saw Utah Phillips perform was at a Smithsonian program in 1971 at the American Pavillion at Man & His World (the old Expo '67 site) in Montreal.

Saul Broudy on harmonica was Utah's back-up musician.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 10:31 AM

Hiccup!
It is in the auction.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 12:05 AM

I just got my copy last week. It's wonderful.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 06:07 PM

Mine arrived last week while I was on holidays & I've played it 2 or 3 times since i collected it.

I love it! It's great to hear a few more Mudcatters (gidday, jacqui!), & some other previously unknown performers. More CDs that I need are on my list for when I get my replacement card (I reported it lost after an incresingly frantic search then found it a few hours later in a place here I'd looked! mutter, mutter, mutter)

congratulations to all concerned.

sandra

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Midchuck
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 01:48 PM

I got mine in this morning's mail. But I had to come in to the office.

I'm going to sneak out and go home and play it.

Peter.

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 01:38 PM

There is a now a signed copy of the CD set up for Mudcat auction. Even if you already have a copy, or intend to buy one, this is a real collector's item.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: bbc
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 09:09 AM

What a spectacular collection--of songs & of performers! I haven't listened to all of the songs yet, but they are blowing me & Duane D away! I would highly recommend this recording! Thanks to the many folks involved in making it happen. I know that there are stories behind the songs contributed that make them even more special & I'm really glad folks took the trouble to put this together. And thanks to Dan for putting the information up on Mudcat. I still drop in, now & then, & I wouldn't have learned about it, otherwise.

best to all,

Barbara

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 10:20 AM

I finally sat down and listened to the two cds. What an incredible collection of songs and artists. Why have I never heard Saul Brodie before?
For today "Starlight On The Rails" is my favorite cut. It will change.
This was Kendall's copy. I will be ordering my own this week.
SINS

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 07:57 PM

Don't worry Art. The album and the Folk Legacy website are both listed in the CD notes, which far more people will see. I hope you sell many CDs because of the publicity.

Jim Fleming was a great help in this project, connecting us with Righteous Babe Records and providing a good deal of sage advice and support. He is one of countless folks without whom this just would never have come to be.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 04:41 PM

It seems I left all mention of my own recordings out of the paragraph bio I concocted to go up on the website for these CDs. I'd not realized it could've been a longer piece of doggerel that was wanted. It's been a dozen years since I made music and thought in terms of trying to sell 'product' --- something I never ever did well enough.

To old friends Sandy and Caroline at Folk Legacy Records who made my earlier recordings for them available on CDs -- plus the new one; and to Andrew Calhoun at Waterbug Records---I am truly contrite and sorry.

Art

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 02:12 PM

I was sitting and thinking about this marvelous project, and realized that there is a person in the mix who got the thanks of those of us involved, but I believe needs more attention. That person is Jim Fleming. Jim is the owner/founder of Fleming Artists. He loved Utah as a friend, and represented him as his agent along with Ani Difranco and many others. Dan, who did amazing amounts of work on this project, and I were talking about finding distribution, and I told him I was working with Fleming on the fundraisers in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. I mentioned it to Jim, and he told me to put Dan in touch with him. Those two went to work and got Righteous Babe onboard. As I have said, it was Dan that provided the brainpower and determination to see this through, but I want to thank Jim for all he did behind the scenes to assist the Ark and Wealthy Theater concerts (all of our "name" acts came from his assistance), as well as on this CD. He is truly the unsung hero, and we are all grateful for everything he did.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 07:56 PM

Check your mailbox Jean - you should have received some copies from Righteous Babe Records.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 07:52 PM

Dear Dan- and all your UP Record Collegues, We've been away, and without a computer too, so missed your announcement of the Utah Phillips CDs-coming-out on my birthday, Dec. 8th! First, I want to thank you for letting me be a part of this- it's an honor for ME to pay honor to UTAH in such a way!

So, Mudcat Friends, I offered to sing Utah's choice for me (remember, this project was begun while he was still in this life),- a favorite of mine of his lovesongs- what is that title? But I had one of my endless colds, voice only a whisper. Dan suggested my contribution be a song from one of my own recordings, and he himself chose, "Old George's Square," because he felt that it described a period in Utah' life and so would fit in. I hope it did! I haven't heard the recordings yet- I'll order one tomorrow. I know it must be a great achievement, Dan. You must be still reeling from all the work and time that went into it. From the comments here, everyone seems to love the finished product, and I can't wait.....and we hope it sells a million!   Love, to your crew, to Joanna, to you all,    Jean

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: MikeT
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 12:42 PM

My copy came yesterday. It is wonderful. I especially like Elizbethe LaPrelle's singing on Jesse's Corrido. thanks to Dan, Jacqui and Kendall for all the work. I'm very grateful that Bruce's legacy is so well recorded. Between this effort, Rosalies loving cd, his own Songbook, I'm confident his message and music will be around for a long long time.

Mike

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 04:39 PM

..... and the artists bio's are up on the website, as well. Just go to the track listing page, and there is a button at the bottom. Great reading!!!

Folks, I hope you will embrace this one. We always talk about being community, and this is the chance to prove it. Susan at Righteous Babe said they had a fair pre-order, but we need to push it. Step right up. For a mere $15.00 US you get 39 tracks, and some of the great performers out there. By ordering through Righteous Babe the most proceeds go to the family, but use the other services if you prefer. The family still benefits. Please help us get this out there. Then we can say we truly take care of our own.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 10:17 AM

Today is the official release date! Thank you to Righteous Babe and all the performers, engineers, and others who helped make this gift to Utah and his family possible.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Nancy King
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 02:08 PM

Jeez, Art....

My copy just arrived! VERY fast service from Righteous Babe -- ordered on line Thursday 2/19, received in the mail Monday 2/23. Thanks, folks!

Nancy

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 02:44 PM

Actually,Dan,it'd be more accurate if I was Enema's Revolution!!!!

;-)

Art

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 10:52 AM

Oops. The link came out wrong. Can an elf fix it? It should be Righteous Babe.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 10:49 AM

Several of the websites now have 30 second samples of the songs up. Oddly, a few of those seem to have an error in the artist names toward the end. (Art, you're Emma's Revolution, now. OK? You may not look or sound like them, but that's just how it is. So is Taylor Whiteside for that matter. And Caroline Paton. I'll give a heads up to the label.)

Look for itn and listen! (But buy from http://www.righteousbabe.com/artists/utahphillips/tribute/index.asp .)

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 08:28 PM

I assume the folks who buy it from Australia will all be Utah fans & sympathisers & won't worry much about the extra for postage.

sandra

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 11:52 AM

The Righteous Babe website is up, but it will be a bit longer before the artist bios are there. That all needs to be handled separately (it's a little complicated). But as far as ordering the CDs, and even hearing a few sample tracks, you can do that now.

Although Tuesday (the 24th) is the official release date through the major distributor, it is available from Righteous Babe and a few other outlets right now. It is also available, or will be, internationally - not only in the UK, but in Europe and Asia. I don't know about Australia. As much as I hope folks in the know will buy directly from Righteous Babe, so more benefit goes to Joanna, I certainly wouldn't blame anybody overseas who wanted to buy their CDs closer to home. It's a lot of shipping to send a CD halfway around the world.

Here is the link to Righteous Babe.

This project was a great deal of fun to work on, and it has been a real blessing in my life. I've made many new friends, reconnected with old ones, and made other friendships stronger. People have been kind and generous, and forgiving and loving. It says a lot about Bruce that so many people went to such lengths to give this gift to him and to his family.

Dan

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 01:15 AM

I forgot to order mine when Righteous Babe records told me the link was up. I finally ordered it 2 nights ago & have to wait

sandra (waiting almost patiently)

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 08:36 PM

It's a fine couple of CDs and I'm proud to be on it. I do hope it helps Joanna. Kendall and Jacqui's tracks are stunning. And Haywire Brack (Bruce Brackney) deserves to have had several records out through the many crazy folk years. Brack, your voice and presentation is perfect for our music. And it's great to hear Saul Broudy again. --- Everyone is just wonderful.

Dan, thanks for all your work making it happen! Be sure to tell us when the website is up and functioning.

Affectionately,

Art

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: Micca
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 08:12 PM

Mine landaded on the doormat yesterday morning just before I was due to leave to visit Yorkshire so I havent heard it yet, so thats a nice treat in store, A BIG thank you to jacqui for making a prezzie of them and then getting them here so promptly!!

Subject: RE: 2 CD tribute to Utah Phillips!
From: johnadams
Date: 19 Feb 09 - 07:34 PM

The CD set has just plopped onto my UK doormat. What a wonderful compilation.

I've listened to and been stirred by Bruce's 'We Have Fed You All For A Thousand Years' album on and off since it came out. This tribute is a worthy one to someone who was obviously a fine man and a unionist after my own heart. I would like to have met him.

Thanks to Dan and everyone else who contributed to the project. It's much appreciated.

Johnny Adams