The name Loudon Wainwright can produce all sorts of reactions and familiarization. If you’re old enough, then you’ll easily remember the AM Radio hit, “Dead Skunk”, merely a novelty song. If you’re younger, then names like Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright (the EXTRAORDINARY Martha Wainwright), and Lucy Wainwright Roche might strike the bell in your mind. Of course, there’s the relationship to Sloan Wainwright (singer brother), and to the sadly deceased Kate McGarrigle (ex-wife). Regardless, there’s no doubt that you’ve run across the name of Loudon Wainwright III at some point.
Over the course of almost fifty years, Loudon has released twenty-three studio albums. His first two were with Atlantic Records, his next three with Columbia Records, and the remaining a scattering of labels that included Arista, Rounder, Virgin, and a handful of others. One thing was certain. his folk music style was immensely likable and anticipated for a strong period. And of course, there’s that “Dead Skunk” song.
On September 14, a 2CD collection of rare Loudon Wainwright III tracks will be made available. This set, called Years In The Making, brings together 42 songs and interview pieces, many previously unreleased. this set makes for a nice slot next to devout Wainwright fans’ revered classic albums in a respectable library. This set will be housed in a 60-page hardbound book with art, photos, scans of documents, and new notes.
Over the course of this set, you’ll find a few songs recorded with various members of the previously mentioned and talented Wainwright family, including Kate McGarrigle. I would call this a possibly essential treasure trove of songs. All of the songs have been meticulously unearthed from a variety of sources.
Years In The Making – Loudon Wainwright III
CD1
01 – Rosin the Bow
02 – You Ain’t Going Nowhere (feat. Kate McGarrigle)
03 – East St. Louis Tweedle-Dee (feat. Steve Goodman)
04 – Everybody I Know
05 – Philadelphia Lawyer
06 – Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
07 – Love Gifts
08 – Stewball
09 – Floods of Tears
10 – Station Break (feat. George Gerdes & Kate McGarrigle)
11 – Have You Ever Been to Pittsburgh?
12 – Two Song Set
13 – Cardboard Boxes (feat. Chaim Tannenbaum)
14 – Smokey Joe’s Cafe (feat. Slow Train)
15 – You Hurt Me Mantra (feat. White Cloud)
16 – Rambunctious
17 – Wanna Be on MTV
18 – Birthday Poem / Happy Birthday / Animal Song (feat. Rufus 18 – Wainwright, Martha Wainwright & Lucy Wainwright)
19 – Your Mother & I (feat. Bill Frisell)
20 – Button Nose
21 – The Ballad of Famous & Harper
22 – Teenager’s Lament
23 – Things
CD2
01 – Unrequited to the Nth Degree (feat. Kate McGarrigle)
02 – Ulcer
03 – You Can’t Fail Me Now
04 – No
05 – Rowena (feat. Bill Frisell)
06 – Cheatin’
07 – Idttywlm
08 – Down Where the Drunkards Roll
09 – POW
10 – Meet the Wainwrights (feat. Lucy Wainwright Roche, Suzzy Roche, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright & Sloan Wainwright)
11 – Liza Minnelli Interview
12 – Hollywood Hopeful
13 – Valley Morning
14 – Trailer
15 – God’s Got a Shit List
16 – Thank You, Mr. Hubble
17 – It Ain’t Gaza
18 – Out of This World
19 – Birthday Boy