Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)

Subject: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: DonMeixner
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 06:31 PM

Well here I am breaking what I think of as a solid rule when reviewing a CD. I don't have it infront of me to give all the titles. I hope Jed will forgive me this social gaff.

Jed sent me a preview copy for which I am eternally greatful. Much as I enjoyed his first CD, The Streets of Fall River, I had a few problems with it. There were some stylistic changes from one song to the next, front half to back half. About the time I decided I was listening to a song about the southern Irish perspective on the Civil War we jumped up to Fall River Mass. The heart breaking Prayer from Little Round Top and Fighting Tigers of Ireland being prominent in this direction. Then we shifted a few gears and took off in to the world of Bluesical finger style. Then some how I discovered that that was the dis arming charm of Streets. An while not perfect it is
an exceptional recording.

While the same charm exists in in Soul of A Wanderer the CD seems more cohesive over it's length. There is a more consistent style from one song to the next even tho it is quite ecclectic in his choice of songs.

Once again I like everything on the CD. Jed's almost quirky take on Sweet Wyoming Home with a cowboy chorus is a standout. Angus Fraiser by Rick Fielding ( I hope I'm right here) has a near Bluegrass feel to it. And all I can say about Rose of San Antone is Jed sings it like a Texan. Jed even pops some new life into a few delicious old chestnuts. Phil the Fluters Ball by Percy French, Where the Praties Grow, and Drill Ye Tarriers Drill could only sound so good because of the obvious affection Jed has for the songs. A strong standout is Jed's Soul of A Wanderer. And if it has an intentional Kate Wolf feel to it, I forgive Jed. Beside some of the finest lyrics regarding love and devotion I have heard, there is a cello or baritone fiddle part that makes your breath stop.

Two exception CDs from Jed Marum and I endorse them highly. Particulary Soul of A Wanderer.

Don

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 06:45 PM

I love the whole CD, but I'm MADLY in love with the title track and the arrangement. Beautiful song, and the way the cello hands over to Brian McNeill's soaring fiddle...I get chills just about every time I hear it.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Big Mick
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 07:59 PM

Yep, yep, yep..............but I admit to a certain bias. Still, from the reference tape Jed sent me before we went to Toronto to the finished product, this is one fine CD.

I understand what you mean, though, Don. Listening to Jed's music, let alone performing with him, is disorienting to say the least. My dear friend has very eclectic tastes. I remember when he played my local, and the damn songs he sprung on the lads and I had us reeling to keep up. And just as you said, Don, at the end you go back and listen again......and again.........and again.........and again.

One thing I can tell you, from an insiders perspective, is that while the soul of this CD is definitely Jed, yet the collaborative effort cannot be understated. When you listen to Jed, you are hearing the caring guidance of Paul Mills, Rick Fielding, Brian MacNeil and others. Once one knows this wonderful man, they want to give their very best to his project. And when it happens to be folks with the level of talent as these folks, well, it is a foregone conclusion that the result will be exceptional.

It is a good 'un. Strongly recommended.

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Amos
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 10:55 PM

I'd like to add to the raves on this CD -- it brings out the best in every song, and the combined talents of Jed and his backers add up to a really masterful job that just wows me.

A couple of cuts from this CD are included with Jed's permission on the Mudcat Series, but if you want the real impact of pure Jed Marum, get the whole darn thing!! It is an absolute winner of a disk.

A

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: DonMeixner
Date: 30 Nov 02 - 11:24 PM

It should be mentioned that Big Mick sings in the chorus on at least one song on this fine CD. And he is also correct in that as good as Jed Marum is there are others who make him sound even better on this recording. Paul Mills aka Curly Boy Stubbs and Brian Mac Neil(Late of The Battlefield Band?) abetted by Rick "The Fingers" Fielding go along way to give this CD the sound that makes Jed standout.

Don

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: alanabit
Date: 01 Dec 02 - 02:34 PM

It's a lovely album. I think the "Banks of the Mobile" is a standout track. My three and a half year old son remarked, "Daddy, that man sings well, doesn't he?" That's praise for you. He has never remarked on anyone else's music.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Dec 02 - 02:53 PM

Your son is a wise, wee, man, Alanabit. I struggled trying to describe Jed's vocal and instrumental style. His competence on the fretboard is astounding but not in a "look at me" flashy kind of way. His singing is the same. I was trying to describe it once, when Jeri came up with the best description. It is like he is saying, here, let me make that prettier. Everything he does is done to enhance the song. It is the secret of the best singers, tellers of tales, bards. Sink into the song.............it is about the music and the tellin'.

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Dec 02 - 07:24 PM

I forget who said it when describing Jed's instrumental style but it is accurate: "Some play the guitar; Jed makes love to it." This CD along with Radriano's, Mick's, et al are on my "to buy" list. It gets longer and longer.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 01 Dec 02 - 07:44 PM

Wow!

Thanks all for the high praise and kind comments. I guess I need to check Mudcat threads more often!

I have been watching as closely as I can the radio charts and playlists, trying to get a feel for what tracks are playing. I have to say that it is very gratifying to see that all the tracks are getting airtime! Banks of the Mobile is one that I see listed quite a bit, Alanabit - obviously you and your song have uncommon insight! ;-)

Please let me know if you hear any tracks on your radio stations. I am trying to get a handle on where it is playing - and I'm pushing to keep it playing, where I can.

It was a treat working on this record and having the help and support of so many Mudcatters, key to the project were Rick, Mick and Jeri - but several others were around as well during the recording and it was a great thrill to meet/visit with so many.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Marion
Date: 02 Dec 02 - 01:55 PM

My favourite track on this one is "Letter from Lilac Acres".

So who's this Sarah chick, and what happened to her?

Marion

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 09:25 AM

Sorry Marion - I've not been paying attention!

I love Lilac Acres too. I am glad to see it is getting a bit of airtime (Rick said it would).

Sarah was a young woman I worked with - just a few years ago. She was a lovely young woman; one of those rare kind that tuned all the guys heads, and all the women loved. She came to me one day to tell me she had been diagnosed with cancer, and it was terminal. She wanted to work as long as she could and stay in Dallas (I was her boss, and we were a large, several hundred million$ per year, public corporation). I went to the corp chairman and told him the story. Asked for his support in keeping her wish. He said Yes, and they honored her request. She worked with us right until a few days before she died. She was absolute delight during this time. She was a shining example to so many - and they all loved her for it.

I had been asked to sing at her funeral, and I wrote the song for her (Sarah's Mountain Time). I choked up a little during the ceremony, wile singing it and was angry with myself, because I wanted the lyrics to be clear to everyone. So I determined to record it.

It's still a hard song for me to sing.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 09:29 AM

From the perspective of one that has seen you choke up (both when you were singing it, as well as when you were just listening to it), I can tell you that your tears only enhanced the wonderful feelings you had for this young lady.

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 10:17 AM

Mick, it's getting awful soggy around here, but yeah, I was there too and I'd guess it took a few cuts to get this one recorded.

I loved Letter From Lilac Acres the first time I heard it. The story's wonderful, but the tune makes a beautiful waltz all on it's own. I'd be sorely tempted to keep playing after the story had finished and the words had run out.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 08:09 PM

You know, there's a Mudcat story behind Lilac Acres! I had developed the melody with idea of capturing one of the Civil War letters home, and there were several I knew and had in mind ... I had started work on the lyrics and liked where it was going, but right about then I came across Mudcatter Kim C's song called Last Letter Home. Well it was a beautiful song and she had aced it. She had captured very much what I ahd wanted to say, and I loved the song. So I started sining hers instead - and put this one on ice. I even developed an alternative melody and another song ... but then when the World Trade Towers were hit and I heard a young woman tell a TV camera she's just discovered her husband was alive and OK, after spending the morning convinced he was killed - she expressed feelings I'd read in some of the CW letters; that is she felt absolutely and clearly blessed by his survival even in the sorrow and pain of loss to others. It was beautifully and neatly expressed by this young woman, and I decided I had a new tack for the song. I placed her sentiments in CW backdop, and used some of my own family's story to tell the tale.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Amos
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 12:39 AM

Wow!! Jed, I am so happy to hear that!! When I was revieing all these wonderful songs, I could not shake the impression that Last Letter Home and Lilac Acres had some deeper jopining between them. ANd of course, anyone would say, well, that's just a similar theme, nothing special there. But I jes' KNEW there was some link there!!

And let me add they are both beautiful songs, and you aced yours as well!!

A

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 01:23 AM

Jed, the album is in my car for road trips where I can play it over and over to my heart's content.It shortens the trip and puts me in a great mood when I have to do a gig. My favorite - Banks Of The Mobile, with Lilac Acres a close second.And bless your li'l shit-kicking heart, you do a fine job on San Antonio Rose, aahh-haahh!
Has anybody mentioned the typo on the tray-card? *G*
Hint, track 15.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 10:47 AM

Seamus, you made me go dig my car out of the snow to play the "find the typo" game! Soul of a Wanderer, Wings of a Dove and the Eyes of a Hawk. Ah well, everybody should collect something.

I'll see your track #15, which is also on the CD label, and I'll raise you a #14. (It may just be the way Jed spells the word and there may not be A correct way but it looks odd to me.)

Now I'll have to listen to it. Oh darn.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 04:39 PM

Wow - Seamus; you do have sharp eyes!!

Mountain is spelled mountian!! I thought you missed that I purposel switch Thyme to Time ... there is another typo too. Banks Of The Mobile is listed as Banks Of The The Mobile!

I can't believe those errors slipped through. We checked and rechecked and cross checked!

I think the other spelling are correct, or spelled that way on purpose; eg Fluther as opposed to Fluter and Praities as opposed to Praties ...

Amos - are both Lilac Acres and Last Letter Home on the Mudcat CDs? That would be cool. I guess I should have told you that story before you did the artwork!

I am proud to be in your cars, Seamus and Jeri. Truly! Now, please tell you favorite DJs they need to be playing songs from album. With a bit of airplay and a lot of luck, I may actually sell a record or two!

;-)

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Marion
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 02:24 AM

You know what annoys me about both of Jed's CDs? They're never around when I want to listen to them. As soon as one person returns one, I think of someone else who needs to hear it, and lend it out again...

Marion

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 04:01 AM

Jed, Shit! I Missed the double "the" on The Banks Of the Mobile.
"Praties" and "Time' didn't bother me at all.
It's a super collection of songs any way you spell it.
I love it, man.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Amos
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 11:24 AM

JEd --

Yes, BOTH of 'em!! IF we ever do a composite of the Notes and lyrics file this vignette has to be in there!

A

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Genie
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 08:40 AM

Marion was kind enough to send me this CD months or two ago, and I just now discovered this thread. The CD is everything all you folks have been saying it is! I, too, have been especially goose-flesh-ified by "Soul Of A Wanderer," and I love every cut on the CD. "Lilac Acres" is especially moving, too, and I love Jed's versatility in going from "Phil The Fluther" to "Sarah's Mountain Time" to "San Antonio Rose", etc., etc. The eclecticism of the CD is a great part of its charm, and the title track is hauntingly beautiful.

Genie

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: radriano
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 12:27 PM

After I heard "Letter from Lilac Acres" on one of the Mudcat CDs for the first time I kept hitting the "repeat last track" button and must have listened to it five times in a row. Still haven't heard the rest of the tracks on that CD yet.

So, Jed, how can I order the CD from you? I still haven't received a Christmas present from myself yet.

Radriano

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Genie
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:21 PM

www.jedmarum.com

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:46 PM

Thanks Genie and Radriano. I much appreciate the comments and the interest!

The album is available at CDBaby. Also at amazon.com

I have been holding my breath watching the early radio airplay charts - but I made the FOLKDJ Top 70 albums played for Nov and Dec - at number 37 and number 24 respectively. That is very good news indeed, and I hope it will continue to get airplay. I haven't been able to learn much about Europe airplay yet, but I have been selling some in Ireland and the UK - so I hope that is a good sign, too.

The Soul of a Wanderer track has been playing a lot, and I am very glad of that. I love the song and the arrangement - but I have to say the fiddle work that Brian McNeill did on it is simply beautiful. It makes the track.

Thanks again for the comments. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that it'll sell.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:52 PM

oh - and there are a few sound samples available on the CDBaby link, above.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 09:07 PM

Ooh! The clip of "Soul of a Wanderer" opens with McNeill's fiddle break! No matter that the fiddle is a stand out. McNeill had to hear something beautiful in the song to be able to play that part. Sounds like the song - both words and tune - did a pretty good job of inspiring his imagination.

Funny, but my favorite tracks are all the newly-written songs. Songs by Jed, by Rick, by Dan Milner and Bill Staines. I want to learn some of them and I want to keep playing the tunes after the song's over.

Jed, congratulations on making the FOLKDJ list. I haven't been around to listen to the shows here or call and ask 'em to play cuts from the CD, so I don't know if they've been playing it.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: JedMarum
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 09:42 AM

I haven't seen it appear on any of the lists from NH.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 05:18 PM

I got a bargain today at the record store, and I have mixed feelings about it - Jed's Soul of a Wanderer was in the $3.00 rack. It's a lovely album. Nice to hear Rick and the Beef Brothers again, since it was so much fun to hear them in person at the Getaway.

Where's that fiddler Don Reed from? I'm listening to "Ferry Me Over," and the fiddling is excellent.

It sure is nice to be sitting here by my sunny window this afternoon, listening to my friends and looking at Spring unfolding. Wonderful work, Jed.
One thing, though - on some of the cuts, Jed sounds frighteningly like Mick Lane. Even has that mid-Michigan brogue. Gee, maybe they ARE brothers...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 06:19 PM

Jeez, Joe. You lit up the musical memories in my head again. The week we spent taking a ramble over to Toronto, just one of those rare moments. Jeri, Jed, Paul and Bev Mills, Heather and her wonderful backyard, Paul and Bev's wonderful backyard, singing till after 2:00................

You got the best of that deal, Mr.

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 08:33 PM

Donnie Reid is from Sudbury Ontario. Good fiddler. He does a lot of 'contest' playing as well. Nice guy. I had him on my Borealis album....he played a great line on Patrick Spencer.

Cheers

Rick (yup t'was fun at the Mills's Mick)

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)
From: JedMarum
Date: 05 Mar 03 - 11:41 PM

Holy Sh*t the damn album's not even cold yet and it's already appearing in the $3 bin?

Looks like it's time to make another one!

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 05:59 PM

If it was a main-stream record store, folkie stuff usually winds up in the cheapie bin. Picked up Roger McGuinn, Harry Belafonte, John Prine, and a few other GOOD folks there.

You might stay out of the cheapie bin if you went electric, cussed a lot and wore spandex. Then again, I think spandex is passe. Try performing in a pair of boxers and some boots. Make sure you slap "over 18 only" all over the outside of the CD.

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 06:03 PM

I've been in so many discount sections I've got the words "on sale" permanently etched on my forehead.

Rick

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 06:30 PM

Yeah, Fielding's CD was in there, too - and I didn't buy it...

Jeri, please don't get carried away. The thought of the Beef Brothers in Spandex???

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Review: The Soul of A Wanderer (Jed Marum)
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Mar 03 - 06:38 PM

urp...