Malvina Reynolds tribute

Subject: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Jun 00 - 08:23 PM

I received an email this morning from Red House Records that included information that is sure to be of interest to some 'Catters:

We just got in a new project today that will be released July 8th. Rosalie Sorrels "No closing Chord" the songs of Malvina Reynolds. This was done for what would be Malvina Reynolds 100th birthday. There will be a celebration on the mall in Washington put on by the Smithsonian the week of June 26th.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 17 Jun 00 - 08:50 AM

There is also a new repackaged album of hers out, which I haven't got. One of my true favourites: I would love to know what got her started -- she seems to have turned herself into a songwriting machine at some point (and I mean that in a good sense). Maybe I will find out more during that week. A true original. Pete Seeger was in awe of her, which is saying something. "What Have They Done To The Rain" -- the first really big environmental song. ("God Bless the Grass" a lesser known masterpiece too).

What a woman!!!! yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 17 Jun 00 - 12:34 PM

She had a doctorate in romance philology, but, being a Jewish woman socialist, could not find employment -- according to a documentary that came out some time ago. Her duaghter, Nancy Shimmel, a storyteller, is on it. Malvina was a political person, alwyas.

I use her kids songs all the time.("Everybody Says Sit Down," "Early in the Morning," "If you Want a Friend" -- too many to mention them all) *There's Music in the Air; songs for the Middle-Young,* Schroder Music Co., Berkeley. Has lots of good Pacific Northwest stuff. (She was a Seattleite.)

"Little Boxes" was on that "Womenfolk" album that got mentioned on the Green Mountain Boys thread. Her first claim to fame?

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: harpgirl
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 06:06 PM

reflux

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 06:21 PM

The Smithsonian/Folkways collection of Malvina's recordings is called Ear to the Ground (click). It's a nice collection - just what you'd expect from Smithsonian Folkways.
The Rosalie Sorrels tribute to Malvina is called No Closing Chord: Songs of Malvina Reynolds. Haven't heard that one.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: GUEST,John in Brisbane
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 07:50 PM

In the last week or so I've posted a couple of her tunes to the DT, plus an index to the Survival Songbook which includes a number of her songs. (Peter T mentioned God Bless The Grass which is in there but I don't believe is in the DT).

Is there a published collection of her songs anywhere? I'd certainly be interested in seeing it.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 01:22 AM

She has three songbooks that I am aware of, John, and I own them all. Two for kids,[There's Music in the Air; Songs for the Middle Young and "Tweedles and Foodles for Young Noodles"] and one compilation, "The Malvina Reynolds Songbook". I think you can still get them from Schroeder; Nancy Schimmel runs it these days, and I may have a current address...someplace around here....I'll look.
She also had this little tied with string booklet she used to give out when you did something for her. It was full of words of wisdom. I got one from Nancy for drawing and silk-screening a memorial poster when she died, that and some other stuff... Let me see if I can find it, and I'll share the thoughs with you.
When I lived in Berkeley, she used to show up occasionally at the song circles, and she once spent half a day in my room playing a guitar of mine that was patently unfit for what she wanted (she played a Washburn, I was selling an archtop), and she once invited me in for pomegranate juice and played "If You Love Me" for me on the piano -- she was working on it at the time, very bluesy rendition as I recall... I shared a graphics studio space a couple doors down from her house, and was drawing 'Wimmen's Comix' at that time. The anarchist's block of Parker Street for any of you who know 1970's Berkeley.
I sure did like her and her songs. Still got a few posters, anyone interested?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: WyoWoman
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 01:36 AM

I'd love to have a poster, Barbara. PM me with details .

I admire her a great deal. Hadn't thought there might be an actual songbook of her music.

Someone up higher in the thread said she was a Seattleite? I thought the Bay Area...

ww

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 08:57 AM

Thanks Barbara, I'll now chase it up. It's quite amazing what you can find in this country, Regards, John

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 10:09 AM

I just found a bio sheet on her, she was born Aug 23, 1900 in SF and rode out the 1906 SF quake on a 4 poster bed on casters; and stepped out the second floor window to the street when it was over.
She didn't learn guitar until she was 40, and started writing songs at 45. She sold her first song at the age of 57 -- it was "Turn Around" -- to Harry Belafonte. She certainly spent her songwriting years in the Bay Area. As far as I know she always lived at 2020 Parker. Little Boxes was written about Daly City, south of San Francisco, other songs mention other local sights.
Bud, her husband was a union organizer and Wobbly. In the epitaph she wrote for herself she calls herself "a working class woman and a Red".
More later, gotta take the kid to school.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 12:49 PM

Here are some resources, current as of 1995.
Schroder Music
704 Gilman St,
Berkeley, CA 94710
510 524-5804, Fax:[phone]
(albums, books, tapes, information)

Love It Like A Fool, a documentary film is available from the filmmaker, Susan Wengraf, 14404 LeRoy Ave, Berkeley CA 94708.

Second Stories: conversations with Women Whose Artistic Careers Began After 35, by Gloria Frym, Chronicle Books, SF, 1979. Contains an interview with Mal.

Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: harpgirl
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 02:03 PM

Wow! Barbara, you were of the Parker Street Wimmen???? A belated salute!!!! and thanks!!! )harpgirl (waves bra overhead)

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 03:03 PM

And here's a box of matches, babe.

I didn't actually live there, just used the studio space. But I do remember the banners hanging from the upstairs windows, and the old powder green pickup with the "There's No Government Like No Government" bumpersticker that was always parked [broken down?] out front...
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: harpgirl
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 06:09 PM

comforting to know you are still an active part of Mudcat, too, Babs! When you coming back to Florida?

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 09:22 PM

Permit me to gloat that I have TWO Malvina Reynolds songbooks:

• Little Boxes and Other Handmade Songs, Oak Publications, 1964
• There's Music in the Air: Songs for the Middle-Young, Schroder Music Company, 1976

www.bookfinder.com lists Malvina as author of several books, including a Malvina Reynolds Songbook from Schroder that may (or may not) still be available new from Borders for less than ten bucks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 10:10 PM

She kept recompiling them, Joe, and there may be more if they were published after her death. I don't remember the Oak one, but maybe I just bought the Schroder (named after the Peanuts musician) ones. And there are songs of hers that aren't in any of the books, too. Does your Oak one have Andorra, or One Little Mouse (about the mouse that chewed through the cable at Reuters)? Had the F word in it. Shocking.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: WyoWoman
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 10:29 PM

This is so great.

thanks, y'all.

ww

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 10:53 PM

G'day,

Joe: This is a worry ... I too have Little Boxes and Other Handmade Songs (bought it new around 1965) and was getting concerned about my memory when no one else mentioned it.

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Barbara
Date: 06 Oct 00 - 12:29 AM

Sorry guys. I was using the list of published materials in the back of the Schroder book, and I guess she chose not to list the Oak book. I should have done a search first.
There used to be broadsides of some of her songs around Berkeley, too, and though I don't have them anymore -- too many moves -- Schroder may know something about them.
If I can get a friend to scan a poster for me, I'll post a picture of one, and you can have one for a $15 donation to Mudcat. PM me if you're interested.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: GUEST,Maura
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 04:10 PM

It is great to read all this stuff about Malvina. I, myself am on a quest to keep her material and her memory alive, as I run into more and more people who don't know anything about her. Some know "Little Boxes" but that is too small a sample of what she did.

I wanted to stage a big tribute concert in 1998 (20 years after she died) but didn't get it together. Then I thought about 2000 (100 years after she was born) but had just moved from Vancouver to Ottawa and couldn't pull something like that off. Now I wonder if anyone would come. So my current strategy is to try to get into some folk festivals with a tribute workshop. Gradually I will bring her to the awareness of the under-fifties, and build the audience for a really big show.

She has inspired me for thirty-five years and I have always sung, but have not followed a career path with my music. So her legacy is increasingly relevant to me as I have become determined to launch a music career in my old age. I am now fifty, and whenever I feel like it won't be possible to break into the business at this age, I think about her.

My favourite is "No Hole In My Head," the first truly feminist song in my repertoire, and another I just love and have never heard anyone sing (I learned it from the book) is "Green Shadows."

If I ever get to record a CD I will sing it.

Maura

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Reiver 2
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 06:08 PM

This has been great reading about a great and talented lady! I was fortunate to meet her once and hear her sing... can't remember where or when... probably in the Bay Area somewhere and, I think, at some kind of Quaker "do" in the 50s or 60s. Enjoyed singing some of her songs to my kids when they were growing up... their favorites were "Little Boxes" and "Morningtown Ride."

For those interested in her books, I just checked with BookFinder (http://www.bookfinder.com) They had the following titles listed:
Cheerful Tunes for Lutes & Spoons
Little Boxes and Other Handmade Songs
THE MUSE OF PARKER STREET.
THERE'S MUSIC IN THE AIR Songs for the Middle-Young
TWEEDLES AND FOODLES FOR YOUNG NOODLES Children's Songs
Little boxes, and other handmade songs, by Malvina Reynolds. Illus. by Jodi Robbin.
Magic Penny Big Book: Black and White Nellie Edge I Can Read and Sing Big Book
Malvina
Malvina Reynolds Songbook
Morningtown Ride
THE MUSE OF PARKER STREET: More Songs By Malvina Reynolds
Not in Ourselves, nor in Our Stars Either
Song in My Pocket
There's Music in the Air
Tweedles & Foodles for Young Noodles

I copied that from their site. Some are new and some are used copies. Go to the webpage and type Malvina Reynolds in the "Author box, then click the "search" button. Also checked Powells Books (http://www.powells.com) They list 5 titles "not in stock", but you can click a button and they will notify you when (and if) they get them in. Just type in her name at the "search" button. Their list is:

Little boxes and other handmade songs.
         
Malvina Reynolds Songbook
         
Morningtown ride
         
Muse of Parker Street More Songs
   
THERES MUSIC IN THE AIR

Hope this will help those who are interested in obtaining her books.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 10:19 PM

I have a Malvina Reynolds tribute show - "From Way Up Here" - with pianist Sue Porter (devised for a few Australian festivals in 2000, the centenary of her birth), was a guest at her house on my first two trips to the US in the '70s, accompanied her on guitar at one concert, bought one of her Washburn guitars after she died.....
Also recorded her "If You Love Me" and three lesser-known songs: "The Moment", "Alone", and a blues she sent me, "Two Ways" (a co-write with Janet Small).
Needless to say, only the first currently issued....
Great memories of an inspiring woman... worth visiting the website set up by her daughter & grandaughter - sisterschoice.com

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: open mike
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 03:14 AM

i was fortunate to hear her perform in chico california.
it was at the recreation center...she was perched on a stool
as wonderful as can be!! with white hair and a
sparkle in her eyes that wouldn't quit!
then within the last few years, rosalie sorrells
performed pieces from that red house tribute at
strawberry music festival!! hooray!!
i love her "love is something if you give it away..
it's just like a magic penny, hold it tight and you
won't have any, lend it, spend it and you'll have
so many, they'll roll all over the floor!!"

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: open mike
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 03:17 AM

Red House Records toll free number is 1-800-695-4687.
http://www.redhouserecords.com/

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 09:25 PM

i recentley watched this movie called around the fire and it had this song called i dont mind failling in this world it says itwas written by malvina reynolods but yet i cant find it any where

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 10:14 PM

Hello Guest, check out this thread.

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 05:25 PM

Hi folks:

Many of the questions above and of similar type can be answered through the new website I and Nancy Schimmel have created called "Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems." The URL is: http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/MALVINA/homep.htm

--Charles H. Smith

Subject: RE: Malvina Reynolds tribute
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 09:47 PM

And a fantastic website it is, too!