Potato Help

Subject: Potato Help
From:
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 12:52 PM

Dear Mudcats-- I hope you can help me...I was listening to a Massachusetts public radio station, (didn't hear the call letters while I was listening) about two weeks ago, and heard an interview of a woman singer-songwriter whose name was not mentioned during the time I was listening. I only heard one of her songs, which is wildly funny, and I'm trying to get more info...I know she toured with some artists from Philo records, but beyond that, I am ignorant. The one song I heard was about POTATOES, and was set to the tune of the MEXICAN HAT DANCE. The refrain is simply the word "potato" repeated over and over, and verses are hysterically funny.

If you know who this singer-songwriter is, please email me her name so I can get some of her music!

Muchas Gracias!

Vicki Baker [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Potato Help
From: Anne
Date: 12 Dec 98 - 12:02 AM

I can't believe I'm actually sharing this info BUUUT, the singer you heard was none other than Cheryl Wheeler. She's incredible. She's wildly funny on stage but can be just as tender in songs such as "Arrow" and "Aces." I don't believe that she has ever recorded that song about potatoes; but I THINK that Christine Lavin might have recorded it on one of her humorous compilations. Christine has these 2 CDs of Folk Musicians singing their funny songs or telling stage stories, all done live I believe. Anyway look up Cheryl Wheeler and you won't be dissappointed. Circles and Arrows is my favorite Cheryl CD. Definately catch her live if you can.

Anne

Subject: RE: Potato Help
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Dec 98 - 10:09 PM

Baker, heard the same interveiw, didn't remember the singer either. The radio station would've been WERS or WUMB, they're all I can get in the truck. Barry

Subject: RE: Potato Help
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Dec 98 - 05:55 PM

Hi - You'll find the lyrics at the Cheryl Wheeler Web Site. It's a little hard to figure out how to access the lyrics, so here is a link to the lyrics. She certainly is quite an entertainer. I like her song about guns, and I think it was she who did another wild one about not being able to watch TV.
She also does have many serious songs that are really moving. Her "Summer Fly (or Summerfly)," recorded by Maura O'Connell, is one of many great songs Cheryl has written. Not traditional folk, I suppose, but good stuff nonetheless.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Potato Help
From: Anne
Date: 17 Dec 98 - 10:17 PM

Dear Mr. Potato Head: I was at the Music Store last night and I looked at Christine Lavin's Laugh Track and I found the Potato Song. It is on a Shannachie Release 8023--Laugh Tracks 2. Hope you find it.

Anne